SEM begins play today in the NSAA Class D2 girls state basketball tournament. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller last appeared at the state tournament in 2023 when they qualified for the Class D1 tournament. The Lady Mustangs qualified for state by knocking off Cambridge 49-41 in the D2-5 district final. SEM has been led statistically this season by Taryn Arbuthnot and Jaycelyn Hoos. The two seniors are averaging 22.8 and 12.5 points per game respectively. With a roster that is just seven players deep and is made up of three seniors and four freshmen, head coach Megan Hunt told KCNI/KBBN sports that it has been a total team effort this season.
“Oh, absolutely. I think there’s been days that in practice we might have only had four girls at times, whether it be illness or a school-related thing, absence. And we’ve had to get really creative with what we’re going to do or get really individualized that way. And it clearly is a total team effort this whole season. I can’t say that it’s necessarily anything Coach Browne and I have done over the season. These girls have really wanted it and really worked hard. And I can say, hey, let’s go a little lighter today. And they just kind of refused to do that. And so it’s a a testament to their work ethic.”
SEM’s opponent in the opening round of the tournament is Red Cloud. The Warriors are led by Aiva Rust and Josie Faimon who average 19.3 and 15 points per game respectively. The two teams met way back in December with Red Cloud winning rather easily. However, SEM was far from full strength that day. Coach Hunt said the team is looking forward to the rematch with all of their pieces in place.
“Yeah, we played Red Cloud, you know, early in the season, I think they were our fourth game. We weren’t full strength, you know, Taryn was out. Our freshman again, just their fourth game of the season. Jaycelyn was kind of sick during that game too, and so they really whooped up on us, and I think these girls are kind of looking to get a little revenge on that, but (Red Cloud) Coach Fangmeyer has done a great job with his roster too, and they’re gonna be quick, you know, they like to shoot the threes, and we know that, and I think ultimately we got a good side of the bracket, and and we can go down there and continue to just make a run.”
Today’s game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. from the Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, The game will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM and kbbn.com. The winner moves out to Friday’s semifinals where they will play the winner of Falls City Sacred Heart vs Wynot. Other Class D2 matchups today include top seed Dundy County Stratton vs Loomis and Silver Lake vs Archangels Catholic.
Play also begins today in classes A and C2. Class A matchups today include Lincoln North Star vs Millard North, Millard West vs Omaha Westside, Kearney vs Lincoln Southwest, and Omaha North vs Omaha Westview. Class C2 matchups today include Pender vs Centura, Yutan vs Hastings St. Cecilia, Elkhorn Valley vs Crofton, and Oakland-Craig vs GACC.
