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LINCOLN — The Wynot Lady Blue Devils came within one quarter of completing one of the most remarkable runs of the Nebraska Class D2 state basketball tournament.
The sixth-seeded Blue Devils knocked off two higherseeded opponents to reach the championship game, but top-seeded Dundy County-Stratton used a late fourthquarter surge to claim the title with a 49-39 win Saturday morning at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Wynot battled throughout the game and even carried a one-point lead into the final period before the Tigers closed the contest with an 18-9 run to secure the state championship.
Kenna Oligmueller led the Blue Devils with 13 points while Haley Wieseler added 11. Dundy County-Stratton was led by Abigail Spargo, who scored a game-high 22 points, including nine during the decisive fourth-quarter run. Clara Spargo and Kimberly Escobar each added nine points for the Tigers.
Wynot stayed close early. Haley Wieseler and Taylor Pinkelman each scored in the opening quarter while the Blue Devils added free throws to stay within striking distance. Dundy County-Stratton received eight first-quarter points from Abigail Spargo and baskets from Emily Schack and Kimberly Escobar to take a 12-9 lead.
Defense dominated the second quarter as scoring opportunities became scarce. Jaylin Geisen knocked down a three-pointer for Wynot, but the Tigers managed two baskets from Clara Spargo and another from Escobar to stretch their lead to 21-16 at halftime.
The Blue Devils responded with their best stretch of the game in the third quarter. Oligmueller controlled the inside, pouring in 10 points in the period. Field goals from Giesen and Wieseler helped Wynot outscore the Tigers 14-8 and take a 30-29 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
But the final quarter belonged to Dundy County-Stratton. Abigail Spargo scored eight more points during the decisive run while Escobar added five. Wynot received 3-point baskets from Wieseler and Addison Sharpe, but the Tigers steadily pulled away to secure the 49-39 victory.
The championship appearance capped an impressive tournament run for the Blue Devils.
Wynot opened the tourney with a dramatic overtime victory over Falls City Sacred Heart. The Devils led much of the contest before the Irish rallied to tie the game late.
With the score tied at 44-44 and just 1.7 seconds remaining, Haley Wieseler appeared to win the game with a three-pointer, but video review ruled the ball was still in her hands as the buzzer sounded, sending the contest into overtime.
Wynot responded by outscoring Sacred Heart 10-5 in the extra period to earn a 54-49 victory. Addison Sharpe led the Blue Devils with 16 points while Wieseler added 13 and Oligmueller chipped in 11.
The Blue Devils continued their strong play in the semifinals, defeating Red Cloud 59-48 to advance to the title game.
Oligmueller led the way with 19 points while Sharpe connected on four 3-pointers for 12 points. Wynot broke open a tight contest in the middle quarters, outscoring the Warriors in both the second and third periods to build a double-digit lead.
Red Cloud made a late push behind Issie Faiman’s 20-point effort, but the Blue Devils sealed the win with clutch baskets and free throws down the stretch.
The victories over Sacred Heart and Red Cloud sent Wynot into the championship game with momentum and the chance to add another state trophy to the program’s long tradition of success.
While the Blue Devils fell just short in the final, their run to the state championship game once again showed why Wynot remains one of Nebraska’s premier smallschool basketball programs.
Dundy County Stratton 12 9 8 18— 49 Wynot 9 8 14 9— 39 Wynot Dundy County Stratton FG 7 17 3PT 3 2 FT 13-23 8-23 REB 21 29 SCORING
Wynot- Kenna Oligmueller 13, Haley Wieseler 11, Jaylin Geisen 6, Jordan Foxhoven 4, Addison Sharpe 3, Taylor Pinkelman 2. Dundy Stratton- Abigal Spargo 22, Clara Spargo 9, Kimberly Escobar 9, Emily Schack 7, Ava Lutz 2. Wynot 13 13 6 12 10— 54 Sacred Heart 11 10 13 10 5— 49 Wynot FCSH FG 9 8 3PT 8 6 FT 12-24 14-24 REB 27 26
SCORING
Wynot- Addison Sharpe 16, Haley Wieseler 13, Kenna Oligmueller 11, Jaylin Geisen 5, Jordan Foxhoven 4, Makenzie Foxhoven 3, Taylor Pinkelman 2, Sacred Heart - Daycee Witt 18, Avery Santos 11. Bailey Lemerond, 6, Ryan Westgaard 5, Alise Reschtell 3. Wynot 10 19 13 10 — 59 Red Cloud 10 12 10 17 — 48 Red Cloud Wynot FG 8 5 3P 5 9 FT 15-21 14-30 REB 29 32 SCORING
Wynot- Kenna Oligmueller 19, Addison Sharpe 12, Jaylin Geisen 9, Kiera Heimes 6, Haley Wieseler 5, Makenzie Foxhoven 5, Jordan Foxhoven 3. Red Cloud- Issie Faimon 20, Avia Rust 10, Kalia Faimon 6, Elyse Armstrong 6, Charlotte Rust 5., Corrine Fangmeyer 1.
