LCC girls play their way into District title game

BATTLE CREEK — At this point in the season, it’s all about winning your last six games . . . and the LCC Lady Bears are a third of the way to the goal.

Competing in a tough D1-4 subdistrict last week, the Lady Bears defeated Neligh-Oakdale 51-35 and knocked off top-seeded Elkhorn Valley 52-47 to claim a spot in this weekend’s Class D1 Sweet 16, with the winner advancing to next week’s state tournament in Lincoln.

On Tuesday, the Lady Bears pulled away after a sluggish start against the Lady Warriors, building a seven-point halftime lead and maintaining that momentum in the second half to claim the 16-point victory.

Kinsey Hall scored a game-high 20 points to lead three Lady Bears in double figures. Delaney Ehlers added 15 points and Erica Wolfgram scored 11. Makayla Forsberg added three points and Haley Christensen put in two.

Ehlers had a double-double with 12 rebounds while Hall grabbed eight and led the team in assists and steals with four each.

Thursday’s subdistrict finale was a battle from start to finish, and the 13-11 Lady Bears needed to hit several clutch shots down the stretch to hold off a comeback by the top-seeded Lady Falcons.

Ehlers led a balanced attack with 17 points for LCC, with Forsberg tossing in 16 and Hall adding 12. Wolfgram had six points and Jordynn Urwiler put in one.

Hall had nine rebounds, Forsberg added eight and Ehlers grabbed seven. Hall had five assists and Forsberg added four.

The Lady Bears are the No. 14 seed in the Class D1 field and will take on third-seeded Pleasanton (24-0) in the D1-3 district finals Friday at 7 p.m. at O’Neill High School. The winner advances to next week’s State Tournament in Lincoln.

LCC 10 13 12 16 — 51

Nel.-Oak. 11 5 9 10 — 35

SCORING

LCC — Forsberg 3, Christensen 2, Hall 20, Wolfgram 11, Ehlers 15.

NEL.-OAK. — Frey 7, Whitesel 3, Kurpgeweit 3, Furstenau 19, Boggs 3.

LCC 11 10 13 18 — 52

Elk. Vall. 7 10 13 17 — 47

SCORING

LCC — Urwiler 1, Forsberg 16, Hall 12, Wolfgram 6, Ehlers 17.

ELK. VALL. — Gale 6, Bacon 10, Nall 21, Mosel 6, Black 4.