Pender Girls win Class C-2 State Championship

Pender Girls win Class C-2 State Championship
March 10th, 2023 | Jeff Axtell and Joel Janecek

The Pender Girls Basketball Team had a State Tournament to remember last week, winning the whole ball of wax in Class C-2.

The Pendragons defeated Clarkson/Leigh 56-37 in the first round last Thursday from the Devaney Center in action aired on 107.9 the Bull, before coming out with their hair on fire against GACC in last Friday’s Semifinal Game from Devaney also aired on the Bull, winning 54-41, before downing fellow East Husker Conference foe Oakland-Craig 45-42 in the State Championship Game from Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday in action also aired on the Bull.

The Pendragons led the Patriots 15-14 after the 1st quarter and 31-24 at halftime.

Pender outscored Clarkson/Leigh 16-6 in the 3rd quarter to extend their lead to 47-30 at the end of three.

The Pendragons won the 4th quarter 9-7.

Lillie Timm had 13 points while Avery Wegner recorded 11. Olyvia Nelson notched 9 points and 12 rebounds while Madalyn Dolliver and Maya Dolliver added 9 and 7 points, respectively.

Head Coach Jason Dolliver says his team had to be ready to go.

The Pendragons raced out to a 22-4 lead on the Bluejays at the end of the 1st quarter. GACC won the 2nd quarter 14-9 to make it a 31-18 game at halftime.

Pender won the 3rd quarter 10-7 to extend their lead to 41-25 at the end of three.

The Bluejays won the 4th quarter 16-13.

Maya Dolliver led the way with 24 points while Timm and Wegner registered 9 and 7, respectively. Nelson posted 7 rebounds.

Coach Dolliver feels his team created their own luck at the start.

The Oakland-Craig game was tied 10-10 at the end of the first quarter.

The Pendragons caught fire in the second quarter, making a couple three pointers while outscoring the Knights 15-6.

Pender led 25-16 at halftime.

Oakland-Craig got down by 10 points in the third quarter, but fought back to tied the score 30-30.

Pender made a three pointer right before the end of the quarter, taking a 33-30 lead into the fourth.

The Knights won the third quarter 14-8.

Oakland-Craig led twice in the fourth quarter, and the game was tied 42-42 with just over a minute to play.

Maya Dolliver made a pair of free throws to give Pender a 44-42 lead with 32 seconds left to play.

Maya Dolliver added another free throw, putting Pender up 45-42 with seven seconds left.

Oakland-Craig had a chance a a game tying three pointer, but the shot missed, securing the win for the Pendragons.

Maya Dolliver led Pender with 16 points, with Kirsten Frey adding 12, all three pointers. Timm compiled 9 while Wegner and Nelson contributed 7 rebounds apiece.

Pender finishes the year at 27-3 and as the Class C2 State Champions.

The Pendragons win their second ever State Championship and first since 2013.

Way to go Pender!

Coach Dolliver says his team did a great job of weathering the storm.

Maya Dolliver led the team in scoring this year at 15 ppg while Wegner was second with 11.

The Pendragons say goodbye to Isabelle Felber, Timm, Frey, Jacie Bonneau, Nelson, Rylie Bonneau, and Breanna Krueger.

Coach Dolliver says Felber was the ultimate team player.

Coach Dolliver adds both Bonneau’s and Krueger were the unsung heroes of the team.

Girls who have logged a lot of minutes into this program and its success, and who will be deeply and sorely missed.

These girls are going out on top though and should be very proud.

They made their dreams come true of winning a State Title and ending their season at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

It simply does not get any better than that!

Key returners for next year include Hadley Walsh, Maya Dolliver, Madalyn Dolliver, Wegner, and Allie Rutar.

Pender should be back next year!

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