Wynot avenges 2023 loss to Irish

LINCOLN — No one was surprised when Wynot and Falls City Sacred Heart faced off with each other at this year’s Class D2 State Tournament.

The Lady Blue Devils and the Lady Irish are very familiar with each other as they have met several times at the state tournament in Lincoln with each team winning their share of the top prize.

This year, they had to do battle in the second round at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday.

Wynot built a big halftime lead and were able to maintain it the rest of the way as it advanced with the 42-32 win and next play Overton on Saturday for the championship. Falls City played Howells Dodge for third place.

Wynot’s defense would dominate the first quarter as it held the Irish to a single fieldgoal by Daycee Witt and some free throws.

Wynot got a three- pointer each from Allison Wieseler and Courtney Pinkelman and two points each by Kinslee Heimes and Kayla Pinkelman as they earned the early 10-6 advantage.

The Lady Irish had trouble figuring out the Lady Blue Devils full court pressure in the second as they could only manage a late bucket each in the period by Avery Santos and Daycee Witt. Meanwhile, Wynot got a threepointer each from Myrah Sudbeck and Jaylin Geisen and a two-point basket each from Kinslee Heimes, Kayla Pinkelman and Courtney Pinkelman as they increased their lead to 24-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Lady Irish tried to rally with five points each from Jentry Lechtenberg and Daycee Witt.

Wynot countered with five more points from Allison Wieseler, a bucket inside by Kayla Pinkelman and some free throws by Kenna Oligmueller as the Lady Blue Devils prevented any damage and maintained the 36-17 lead going into the final frame.

Wynot decided to burn some clock in the final quarter. Kenna Oligmueller,, hit for all six of the Lady Blue Devils points in the period.

Sacred Heart got a bucket each from Halli Jones and Daycee Witt and went 5-for-5 from the line, but that only narrowed the outcome to 42-32 in favor of the Lady Blue Devils.

Wynot 10 14 12 6 — 42 FCSH 6 4 10 12 —32 Wynot FCSH FG 15 10 3PT 5 2 FT 7-16 10-16 Reb 29 26

SCORING

Wynot- Allison Wieseler 10, Kenna Olgimueller 8, Myrah Sudbeck 6, Kayla Pinkelman 6,Courtney Pinkelman 5, Kinslee Heimes 4, Jaylin Geisen 3. FCSH- Daycee Witt 12, Jentry Lechtenberg 10, Dorothy Crouse 5, Avery Santos 4.