Badgers back at state after 22 years!
Valentine wins District Title
The Valentine Badgers saved the best for last, for now, as they scored more points than they have all season in beating Hemingford 99-57 for the C2-3 District Title on Monday and earned a trip to the C2 Boys State Basketball Tournament.
After a competitive 1st quarter that ended with Valentine up 20-17, the Badgers outscored the Bobcats 25-10 in the 2nd and never looked back. Valentine’s Isaac Cronin had 19 at the break and 40 for the game as he hit 17 field goals, including 4 3-pointers. Tristan Beebout scored 15, Dominic Beebout had 12 and Aiden Buckendahl 11 for the Badgers who hit 14 3-pointers on the night.
With the win, the Badgers improve to 23-3 on the year and will next play on Wednesday, March 11th at the State Tournament.
Hemingford, the Panhandle Athletic Conference Champion, in the district final as a wildcard, wraps up a 16-8 season with a second consecutive loss to Valentine after falling to the Badgers in the Subdistrict semifinals. The Bobcats were led by Jacob Bryner with 23 points which included 4 3-pointers, and Anthony Haas with 12.
One spot remains to be filled at the state tournament as #2 Bergan Catholic faces #15 Crofton in their district final tonight. The winner will join Valentine, Yutan, Exeter-Milligan-Friend, North Bend Central, Pender, Freeman and Norfolk Catholic at the big dance next week.