The Blair Bears varsity boys basketball team lost a hard-fought home game to Elkhorn North on Jan. 30, with a final score of 51-73. This loss drops the Bears to 7-8 on the season and brings Elkhorn North to 12-3.
Elkhorn North came out strong with senior Will Farrington (#14) winning the tip-off, but the Bears senior Cooper Sorensen (#10) rebounded the missed shot and took it down the court. The Bears junior Bo Meier (#34) scores first with a layup. Elkhorn North’s junior Nike Orgilbold (#13) responded with a layup tying the game. Elkhorn North’s junior Sutton Piatkowski (#34) hitting two threes put the Wolves up 8-2. The Bears junior Aidan Slominski (#30) sank a three pointer and made a layup showing the Bears continuous fight. The Bears freshman Kalan Steinback (#32) hits a three-pointer making the score 10-13 Elkhorn North up. Elkhorn North’s Senior Tyler Nietfeldt (#1) responded with a three-pointer and Piatkowski (#34) added a layup. Steinback (#32) with a layup and made his free throws making the score 13-18 Bears trailing. The Bears freshman Brevin Leggott (#12) came back with a three-pointer. The Bears ended the first quarter down 16-22.
Elkhorn North’s Nietfeldt (#1) made a three to start the second quarter. Meier (#34) was fouled on a missed layup and made both his free throws to make the score 17-25 the Bears trailing. Elkhorn North’s sophomore Kellen Murphy (#23) sank a three-pointer in return. The Bears Hayden Daggett (#24) and Meier (#34) made the score 21-28 by sinking two more free throws. Meier (#34) made a layup continuing the Bears run against Elkhorn North. Daggett (#24) sank a three-pointer closing the gap to 26-31 Elkhorn North up. Steinback (#32) hit a three-pointer bringing the Bears down by only one at the end of first half. An honorable mention from the game was junior Isaac Field (#5).
“It was fun to play with the rest of the team and it’ll keep getting better the rest of the year,” Field said.
Elkhorn Norths Piatkowski (#34) made two free throws starting off the third quarter. Meier (#34) made a layup helping the Bears continue to battle against Elkhorn North. Piatkowski (#34) made a three-pointer in return making the score 33-37 Elkhorn North up. Elkhorn North’s Orgilbold (#13) made one layup and Murphy (#23) made two layups. Daggett (#24) makes a deep two-pointer making the score 35-47 Elkhorn North up. Murphy (#23) and Piatkowski (#34) each made a layup. The Bears ended the third quarter down 35-58.
“I just knew I had to do it for the team to keep the energy up, when I bring my energy up I also bring everyone else’s up,” Daggett said.
The Bears sophomore Andrew Smutny (#20) hit a deep two-pointer to start the fourth quarter. Piatkowski (#34) made three free throws to make the score 39-64 Elkhorn North up. Daggett (#24) made a two-pointer from the free throw line adding two to the Bears score. Elkhorn North’s Piatkowski (#34) responded with a three-pointer. Daggett (#24) adds another layup to make the score 43-67 Bears trailing. The Bears junior Field sank a layup and later brought the ball back down the court for the Bears. Elkhorn North’s junior Ethan Beachy makes a layup bringing the score to 47-69 Elkhorn North up. The Bears senior Nelson Kosch (#42) sank a three-pointer making the gym erupt in excitement.
“We were down a little bit, and when I made the three-pointer the energy in the gym actually sparked, and I felt all their support for me and my support for them, it felt amazing,” Kosch said.