The North Bend Central Girls Basketball Team took home a 4th straight State Title last week, winning 48-43 over Yutan in the first round from the Devaney Center in action aired on 107.9 the Bull last Wednesday, and then downing Malcolm 48-42 in last Friday’s Semifinals from Pinnacle Bank Arena also aired on the Bull, before defeating Adams Central 45-28 in the State Championship Game at PBA on Saturday in action also aired on the Bull.
The Tigers held Yutan scoreless for the first seven minutes of the game, taking a 17-3 lead after the first quarter.
The Chieftans had a much improved second quarter, outscoring NBC 14-11. The Tigers led 28-17 at halftime.
Yutan continued its turnaround in the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers 11-7 in the period. NBC led 35-28 after three quarters.
Yutan began the fourth quarter with a 5-0 scoring run, trimming the NBC lead to 35-33.
The Tigers answered with an offensive spurt of their own, adding six unanswered points, building their lead to 41-33.
The Tigers were able to keep the Chieftains at arms’ reach for the remainder of the game.
Kaitlyn Emanuel led NBC with 20 points, while Lauren Sterup added 10. Lindsey Emanuel added 9 while Madison Bishop totaled 7.
Head Coach Aaron Sterup says the fast start was the key in that one.
The Clippers led 13-12 after one. The Tigers won the 2nd quarter 8-7 to tie the game at 20 at halftime.
North Bend Central quadrupled up Malcolm 16-4 in the 3rd quarter to go up 36-24 at the end of three.
The Clippers won the 4th quarter 18-12.
Kaitlyn Emanuel had 20 points while Lindsey Emanuel notched 16. Bishop recorded 8.
On Saturday, points were at a premium early, as NBC led 8-3 after the first quarter.
Both teams scored 11 points in the second quarter, and NBC led 19-14 at halftime.
The Tigers outscored the Patriots 11-3 in the third quarter, and led 30-17 after three periods.
NBC went 11-15 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Patriots 15-11, and the Tigers kept Adams Central at a distance to win the game.
Bishop and Lindsey Emanuel each had 13 points to lead NBC. Kaitlyn Emanuel added 12.
Coach Sterup says the Patriots struggled to score, and that was to their advantage.
North Bend Central finishes the season 28-1 overall, on a 28-game winning streak and as the Class C1 State Champions.
The win gave the Tigers their fourth straight state championship in Class C1, having also won titles in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and gives NBC its sixth overall state championship.
What an amazing accomplishment by the Tigers!
Coach Sterup says team did a great job of dealing with the adversity of him losing his Father and Josie Cleveringa getting hurt.
Coach Sterup says this year’s Senior Class has meant a lot to this team and this program.
Anytime you win 4 State Championships in a row you’re in Elite Company.
North Bend Central should be extremely proud of what they accomplished as not many teams can say they’ve won 4 State Titles in a row.
I think a big key to the Tigers getting the 4th title and maybe the play of the State Tournament was Lauren Sterup’s steal against Malcolm late in the game. That was a super clutch play and couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Tigers say goodbye to Abby Johnson, Brooklyn Shaw, Kaitlyn Emanuel, Bishop, and Haley Johnson.
5 seniors who will be missed dearly, but yet accomplished so much for this program.
Key returners for next year include Sterup, Lindsey Emanuel, Cleveringa, Jayla Van Ampting, and Kathryn Gaughen.
The Tigers should still be very good once again next year.
Is a 5th consecutive State Title in the cards? You never know, but for right now these girls should enjoy winning 4 in a row as a 4-peat is absolutely amazing and incredible.
