(Stromsburg, NE) – The Cross County Cougars boys basketball team punched their first-ever ticket to the state basketball tournament Monday evening with a 61-53 win over the North Bend Central Tigers. The game was tight early, but Cross County opened a 16-9 lead after one quarter, and went into the locker room at halftime with a 29-20 advantage. The third quarter saw only nine combined points scored, with the Cougars stretching their lead to 35-23. Then the fun began, with the two squads scoring 56 total points in the final frame. Cross County opened a 17 point lead and appeared headed for a blowout win, but the Tigers turned it on in the final 5 minutes of the game, closing to within 51-48 before the Cougars clinched it at the free throw line and earned a berth to state. Cross County, 22-5, was led by senior star Tanner Hollinger who scored 17 points, while Wyatt Hengelfelt added 11. Kyler Hellbusch led North Bend Central, scoring 28 game-high points, with 22 coming in the second half. The Tigers end their season with a 17-7 record.
Cross County boys take C2-5 title
