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Blue Devils upset Bancroft Rosalie for state berth
BANCROFT — The Wynot Blue Devils are headed back to the state tournament.
Wynot broke open a tight game in the second half and pulled away for a convincing 70-49 victory over Bancroft-Rosalie in the district finals Tuesday night, clinching a trip to Lincoln this week.
The Blue Devils led by just five points at halftime but gradually wore down the Panthers before putting the game away with a big fourth-quarter surge.
Balanced scoring once again powered Wynot. Kotner Koch and Devin Brummer led the way with 14 points each, while Nixen Heimes added 13. Braylon Hans chipped in nine points as four Blue Devils finished near double figures.
Bancroft-Rosalie was led by its guard tandem of K.J. Blackbear with 15 points and Jayden Bowling with 14.
Wynot set the early tone in the opening quarter. Nixen Heimes scored five points while Koch and Brummer each added four as the Blue Devils built a 1611 lead. Bancroft-Rosalie stayed within striking distance thanks to seven points from Blackbear and baskets from Bowling and Eli Hun.
The pace slowed in the second quarter, with both defenses tightening. Wynot managed baskets from Justin Heimes and Nixen Heimes, while the Panthers received five points from Bowling and a basket from Blackbear. The Blue Devils still carried a narrow 26-21 advantage into halftime.
Bancroft-Rosalie tried to make its move early in the third quarter. Bowdie Burhoop scored five points and Braylon Wegner and Blackbear also added five apiece as the Panthers attempted to close the gap.
Wynot answered every challenge. Brummer scored five points in the period while Killian Steinhaus added four. Buckets from Lane Heimes and Hans helped the Blue Devils extend their lead to 48-34 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Wynot. The Blue Devils erupted for 27 points in the period to put the game out of reach. Three-pointers from Steinhaus, Nixen Heimes and Kingston Hans sparked the run, while Koch added seven points inside as Wynot steadily pulled away.
Bowling scored seven points in the final period for Bancroft-Rosalie, but the Panthers could not keep pace as the Blue Devils closed out the 70-49 victory.
With the win, Wynot advances to the state tournament next week in Lincoln. Bancroft-Rosalie 11 10 13 15 — 49 Wynot 16 10 17 27 — 70 Wynot B-R FG 18 11 3PT 6 3 FT 16-23 16-20 REB 29 21
SCORING
Bancroft-Rosalie — K.J. Blackbear 15, Jayden Bowling 14, Braylon Wegner 8, Eli Hun 7. Wynot — Kotner Koch 14, Devin Brummer 14, Nixen Heimes 13, Braylon Hans 9, Killian Steinhaus 8, Lane Heimes 4, Kingston Hans 3, Justin Heimes 2, Carter Hans 2.
