Girls Drop Two Basketball Games In Holiday Tournament

Cedar Valley capitalized on Neligh-Oakdale turnovers to win the consolation game of the Holiday Basketball Tournament in Elgin on Friday.


"We shot the ball better tonight, especially from the free throw line; however, we have to become stronger and more fundamentally sound when we control the basketball," Coach Ron Beacom said. "You just can't afford to give away 36 possessions in a ball game and think you are going to have a chance to win."


Cedar Valley took a 13-10 first-quarter lead and never let up. Neligh-Oakdale was held to nine points in the second quarter and trailed 28-19 at halftime. The Lady Warriors weren't able to close the gap in the third, and Cedar Valley led 41-28 heading into the final quarter. Neligh-Oakdale outscored their opponent 11-9 in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough. Cedar Valley went on to win 50-39.


"We knew they had some good set shooters," Beacom said. "We just didn't do a good job of getting a hand in their shooters' faces."


Danae Smith led the Lady Warriors with eight points, followed by Emily Anderson with seven and Kimmie Murray and Kristin Rice with six each.


The Lady Warriors, now 1-7, will travel to Plainview on Friday night.

EPPJ 42, N-O 17
Neligh-Oakdale struggled offensively against Elgin Public/Pope John as the Wolfpack won the first round of their own holiday tournament Thursday.


"Our ball movement was pretty good most of the night," Coach Ron Beacom said. "We got a number of good looks, we just struggled to put the ball in the basket."


EPPJ led the Lady Warriors 16-5 at the end of the first quarter and piled up a 29-7 lead at halftime. The ball didn't fall much better in the second half as the Wolfpack downed Neligh-Oakdale, 42-17.


"Coming off the holiday break, we did some good things," Beacom said. "We just are a team that isn't real offensive yet. We'll need to continue to work on fundamentals and see where we are at down the road."


Murray led Neligh-Oakdale with eight points, followed by Hayley Snodgrass with four.
By: Neligh-Oakdale Schools