Lady Tigers Rally Past Loomis in 37–36 State Tournament Thriller
The top-seeded Dundy County Stratton Lady Tigers survived and advanced in the first round of the Class D2 State Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. They edged out the #8 Loomis Wolves with a narrow 37-36 victory, thanks to a strong defensive stand in the final seconds.
With this win, Dundy County Stratton (DCS) moves on to the semifinals, scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. (CT) at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The team is now just one victory away from competing in the Class D2 Championship game.
The Lady Tigers, with a record of 26-1, trailed for most of the game and were down by 8 points in the third quarter. However, they refused to lose and kept their hopes for a State Basketball Championship alive. DCS took the lead for just the third time of the game with 43 seconds remaining when junior Emily Schack made a crucial shot, putting her team ahead 37-36.
Loomis controlled the game’s pace for much of the match and effectively limited the Lady Tigers’ inside game, particularly for players Abi and Clara Spargo. Schack had an impressive performance, finishing with 12 points and 14 rebounds, while junior Kimberly Escobar played a key defensive role, applying constant pressure on the ball.
Head Coach Matt Schaub noted that Loomis had a strong game plan and was well-prepared for his team. He praised Schack for her significant contributions and highlighted Escobar’s relentless defensive efforts. Schaub expressed relief that his team is moving on, saying, “It would have been a disaster to go home after the first round, considering the type of season we’ve had. But thank goodness “But, no, thank goodness we’re moving on.”
The #1 seed DCS will face the #5 Archangels Catholic in the Class D2 semifinals on Friday morning at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. The winner will advance to the championship game on Saturday morning back at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
