FREMONT – Wisner-Pilger held on late to win its first East Husker Conference boys basketball tournament championship since 2010, edging Bancroft-Rosalie 58-56 at Midland University in Fremont on Saturday.
The game was tightly contest throughout, as the Panthers took a 15-11 lead after the first quarter.
The Gators outscored B-R in the second quarter 16-12, but Bancroft-Rosalie’s Frank Dolezal made a two-point basket at the buzzer, tying the game 27-27 at halftime.
The game remained close, with the Panthers holding a 16-15 scoring advantage over Wisner-Pilger in the third quarter, and the Panthers led 43-42 going into the fourth quarter.
Wisner-Pilger was leading 57-51 with under 20 seconds to play when Bancroft-Rosalie’s Elliott Nottlemann scored a three pointer and a two-point shot in a matter of seconds to cut the game to 57-56.
Hunter Palmer made one of two free throws with five seconds left, putting Wisner-Pilger’s lead to 58-56.
A Panther heave from half court almost went in at the buzzer, but missed, and Wisner-Pilger breathed a sigh of relief, winning the boys EHC championship 58-56.
Jack Knust led the Gators with 19 points. Palmer scored 17 and Kyle Rehak added 13.
Nottlemann finished with 19 points to lead Bancroft-Rosalie, with Mason Dolezal adding 17.
The Gators improve to 15-5 overall on the season, and the Panthers are now 15-6.
