Platteview got the lead it wanted Friday night, but the Trojans also got the finish they feared in a 60-53 Class B boys basketball overtime loss to Gretna.
The No. 2-ranked Trojans raced to their ideal start by pouring in four 3-pointer and a jumper from the right wing. That allowed the home team to build a 14-2 lead less than six minutes into the game played before a near-capacity crowd of 1,100 at Platteview.
Nate Thayer scored eight of his team-leading 13 points in that stretch, including a pair of three-pointers and that jumper from the wing.
Gretna coach Brad Feeken called a timeout and the 8-2 Dragons came out of the huddle breathing fire, cutting Platteview’s lead in half in less than 50 seconds. In that stretch was the first of two steals of inbounds passes by Nate Sullivan that the 6-foot senior guard turned into layups.
“We were not ready to play and that’s on me,” Feeken said. “What I’m proud of is that we took that punch and came right back.”
The No. 4-ranked Dragons outscored Platteview 10-1 to end the first quarter trailing 15-12. That run eventually grew to 14-1 courtesy of a pair of baskets by Sullivan, who finished with 15 points, early in the second quarter.
Those baskets gave Gretna its first lead of the game at 17-15. The Dragons went ahead 23-17 before tapping the breaks, then pressing them to the floor, to begin milking the clock and play for high percentage shots.
Exactly the fate that Platteview coach Tim Brotzki hoped to avoid with the fast start that eventually dissolved into a 26-22 halftime deficit.
“Our plan was to not but put in that position at the end of the game,” Brotzki said. “We let them get a couple of buckets and get back into it. That’s on us. The game to a screeching halt.”
The third quarter was a quick one as Gretna again worked the clock while taking their biggest lead of the game at 32-24. The 7-2 Trojans stayed patient and eventually scored worked its deficit down to three points, with 6-foot-10 Nebraska recruit Brady Heiman scoring seven of his 12 points.
Heiman finished with five blocked shots – four in the first half and the last one on the final shot of the game that forced overtime.
He also showed a bit of frustration on a foul midway through the fourth quarter in which he grabbed Gretna’s Joey Johnson to slow him down before bringing one of his arms across the bridge of Johnson’s nose. After the pain subsided Johnson made two free throws that put Gretna up 42-36.
The Dragons continued to work the clock while Platteview forced several turnovers that kept Gretna from getting more than a six-point lead. That strategy worked as the Trojans scored eight of the final 10 points of regulation – on three-pointers by Evan and Matt Kingston and a hook shot in the lane by Heiman – to force overtime.
Just as they did early in the game, Gretna’s dynamic guard trio of Sullivan, Tre’ Mikkelsen and Noah Burghardt patiently worked the clock and attacked the rim at just the right moments. Mikkelsen led all players with 20 points, and Burghardt finished with 14, one less than Sullivan.
“They did a great job of getting into the perimeter and finishing baskets,” Brotzki said. “We’ve got to get better at keeping opposing guards out of the lane.”
Gretna (8-2)……………..12 14 10 12 12—60
At Platteview (7-2)………15 7 11 15 5—53
G-Tre’ Mikkelsen 6-10 7-8 20, Cole Ruff 1-2 0-0 2, Tyler Sullivan 6-11 2-3 15, Noah Burghrdt 3-4 8-8 14, Chance Sterling 0-0 2-2 2, Joey Johnson 1-7 2-4 4, Morgan Bartman 1-3 0-0 3. Totals-18-37 21-25 60.
P-Matt Kingston 3-6 0-0 9, Evan Kingston 4-8 0-0 11, Gavin Wichman 0-1 0-0 0, Garrett Kirwan 1-2 0-0 2, Nate Thayer 4-12 3-4 13, Nathan Michaels 2-3 1-2 6, Troy Brotzki 0-1 0-0 0, Brady Heiman 5-9 2-3 12. Totals-19-42 6-9 53.
3-point goals: G 3-12 (Mikkelson 1-3, Sullivan 1-3, Johnson 0-3, Bartman 1-3), P 9-23 (M. Kingston 3-6, E. Kingston 3-5, Wichman 0-1, Thayer 2-6, Michaels 1-2, Brotzki 0-1, Heiman 0-2). Total fouls-G 13, P 22. Fouled out-M. Kingston. Technical fouls-None. Turnovers: G 6, P 9. Rebounds-G 19 (Johnson 6), P 15 (Thayer 4). Field goal percentage: G .486, P .452. Free throw percentage: G .840, P .667. A-1,100 (est.).
Gretna girls 47, Platteview 38
Gretna (7-3)……………….14 9 8 16—47
At Platteview (8-2)……….13 6 9 10—38
G: Laurel Reineke 8, Alexis Spier 16, Faith Ross 4, Maya McArtor 3, Hannah Spearman 6, Avery Kallman 8, Madison Maddix 2.
P: Payton Brotzki 17, Sabrina Starks 11, Kaleigh Koehler 2, Emma Lewis 5, Halle Johnson 3.
