DC-S boys edge Eagles in finals again

Dundy County-Stratton senior Keegan Krutsinger (35) sends a shot just barely abøve the fingertips of Sotuhern Valley defender Carter Bose (23) on Saturday.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Two schools who know about playing for state championships delivered another terrific RPAC basketball tournament final Saturday night.

Just like last year in McCook, the Dundy County-Stratton Tigers and Southern Valley Eagles chased each other until those final few seasons.

The Tigers were missing two key players along with perhaps some energy from a draining West Division finals win over Paxton Friday night.

Dundy County-Stratton junior Quade Myers (24) celebrated an RPAC tournament title with many Tigers who helped win a Class D-1 state football title last fall.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

“We needed our bench to step up and step up they did,” coach Kris Freeland said as his Tigers again prevailed, 58-55, for a repeat title.

Freeland had to mention Andrew Englot, who showed awesome focus with two four-point plays. He was fouled on another three-pointer during this back-and-forth showdown.

Junior Mark Nelms ignited the 15-2 Tigers early and would total a team-high 13 points.

However, most prep basketball fans should know about the 13-3 Southern Valley Eagles and their terrific lineup that reached last year’s Class D-1 state title game.

They were busy again as senior Carter Bose topped all scorers with 18 points.

Brody Yant returned from injury to strengthen Southern Valley’s resolve while scoring 11 points.

Senior Colton Burgeon also put in 10 though the Tigers held all-around threat Clayton Berry to eight points.

“Bose, Berry and Yant are some of the best players in our conference for sure,” Freeland said. “And the Burgeson kid has really come along.”

The Tigers still matched every momentum change and at winning time: junior Nolan Burrell stepped up to bury two huge free throws.

“Then our defense was really lights out for the last 32 seconds even though it seemed like they had a plethora of timeouts,” Freeland observed. “I am so proud of these boys. They made school history by winning back-to-back conference titles.”

The Eagles won their third consecutive East division title with a 55-33 win over Medicine Valley Friday night.

DC-S (58) — Mark Nelms 13 points, Andrew Englot 12, Nolan Burrell 11, Quade Myers 10, Lincoln Waters 3, Keegan Krutsinger 2, Serbando Diaz 1. Three-pointers: Nelms 2, Englot 2.

S.V. EAGLES (55) — Carter Bose 18 points, Brody Yant 11, Colton Burgeson 10, Clayton Berry 8, Kamden Bose 6, Dakota Coppedge 2. Three-pointers: Burgeson 2, Kamden Bose 2.