And just like that, we are in full swing with the winter sports season. We had a busy first week as we had three Featured Matchups this week. Check out how the RPAC teams started their seasons below.
Alma
Alma opened their season with a road trip to Bertrand on Thursday. Alma defeated Bertrand 51-14. This was an RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup and you can read more about this story by clicking here.
On Friday, Alma hosted Kensaw. After a tight first quarter, the Cardinals trailed 12-11; Alma found their groove and ran away from the Blue Devils to secure the 61-21 victory. Kamryn Scott had 14 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals; Tierston Moore had 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and eight steals; Kamri Neal had 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Alma starts the season 2-0 and will travel to take on Elm Creek on Thursday. The Cardinals will then host Blue Hill on Thursday and Wilcox-Hildreth on Friday.
Arapahoe
Arapahoe started the season with a huge road win on Thursday, defeating the 2023 Class D2 State Champions, Overton. The Warriors controlled the entire game and earned the 55-42 win. Clara Hilker had 16 points and five rebounds. Taytum Roskop had a monster game off the bench, posting 16 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.
On Saturday, Arapahoe hosted Lawrence-Nelson and picked up where they left off on Thursday, running away with a 48-23 win. The Warriors scored pretty evenly in this game and had 36 steals. Desi Farner had eight points, five rebounds, and seven steals; Hilker had eight points and six steals; McKenzie Ewoldt had eight points; Suttyn Shafer had seven points; and Sawyer Shafer had six points and four steals.
Arapahoe begins the season with a 2-0 record. Arapahoe will face Dundy County Stratton on Tuesday at McCook Senior High for the Cattle Trail Tournament.
Bertrand
Bertrand hosted Alma on Thursday night as they began the 2024-2025 campaign. Alma defeated Bertrand 51-14. This was an RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup and you can read more about this story by clicking here.
On Friday, the Vikings hit the road to take on Axtell and won 34-24.
Bertrand is 1-1 to start the year and will host Pleasanton on Friday and Loomis on Saturday.
Cambridge
The Trojans hosted Hitchcock County on Thursday to begin their season. Cambridge had a slow start but found a little momentum to try to close the gap, but the hole was too big. Hitchcock County defeated Cambridge 33-26. Emmerie Tomlin had seven points and six rebounds; Mallory Springer had 12 rebounds and six blocks; and Chloe Gooden had six points.
On Friday, Cambridge traveled to Dundy County Stratton, and the Tigers won 61-31. This was an RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup, and you can read more about it by clicking here.
Cambridge will travel to Southern Valley on Tuesday and host South Loup on Friday.
Dundy County Stratton
Dundy County Stratton began their season on Friday at home as they hosted Cambridge. The Tigers won 61-31. This was an RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup, and you can read more about it by clicking here.
The Tigers traveled to Creek Valley on Saturday and earned a big 75-14 win over the Storm. Stephanie Escobar had 19 points; Abi Spargo had 17 points and seven rebounds; Kimberly Escobar had 12 points, four assists, and five steals.
DCS improves to 2-0 on the year and will face Arapahoe on Tuesday at McCook Senior High for the Cattle Trail Tournament.
Hi-Line
The Bulls hosted Wilcox-Hildreth on Thursday to begin their season. Hi-Line hung with the Falcons for the first quarter as they trailed 14-11, but a scoreless second quarter and a slow second half led to a Falcon win. The Bulls lost 43-22. EllaRay Koch had 12 points, four rebounds, and three steals to lead Hi-Line, while Bentley Stubbs led the team with nine rebounds.
Hi-Line traveled to Ansley/Litchfield on Friday night and lost 50-27. Koch had 13 points, six rebounds, and four steals, and Stubbs had seven points and nine rebounds.
Hi-Line will host Maxwell on Tuesday, travel to Southern Valley on Thursday, and host Gothenburg on Saturday.
Hitchcock County
The Falcons traveled to take on Cambridge on Thursday. Hitchcock County created separation from the jump and weathered a surge from the Trojans but never kept their foot off the gas as they earned the 33-26 win. Kaiah Johnson had nine points, and Asia Homma had 11 rebounds.
Hitchcock County is 1-0 and will face Decatur Community, KS, at McCook Senior High on Tuesday as part of the Cattle Trail Tournament.
Maxwell
Maxwell began the season on the road at Cozad on Thursday. After one quarter, Maxwell led 12-6 but didn't score in the second quarter and trailed 14-12 at the half. They responded out of the half with their foot on the gas and clinched the 47-25 win. Jenna Miller had 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals; Emory Christensen had 14 points, 15 rebounds, and two steals; and Madelyn Flock had 10 points, three assists, and three steals in the game.
On Friday, the Wildcats' home opener against Sandhills/Thedford was a close game that the Knights controlled until late in the game. Maxwell trailed 20-16 at the half but pulled within two as they entered the final quarter, 25-23. Maxwell battled in the fourth quarter and earned the 37-35 win. Kristyn Cheek had 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Madelyn Flock had 10 points and four rebounds.
Maxwell starts the year with a 2-0 record and will travel to Hi-Line on Tuesday and will host North Platte St. Pat's on Thursday.
Maywood-Hayes Center
Maywood-Hayes Center hosted Wallace on Friday to open their 2024-2025 campaign. The Wolves earned the win with a score of 58-16. Blayklee Farr had 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists; Karissa Stengel had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals; and Kesli Cox had 11 points.
On Saturday, the Wolves traveled to take on Southwest. It was a great game, and MHC came away with a win of 57-48. This was an RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup, and you can read more about this game by clicking here.
MHC starts the year with a 2-0 record and will play Medicine Valley on Tuesday at MCC as part of the Cattle Trail Tournament.
Medicine Valley
Medicine Valley began its season at home on Thursday, playing host to Southwest. The Raiders had a slow first half but found a groove in the second, but they came up short, 63-23. Haylie Gustafson had six points; Delaney Evans had six points and two blocks; Remmi Stout had five points, nine rebounds, and three blocks; and Oakley Stout had four points, five rebounds, and three steals.
On Friday, Medicine Valley traveled to Paxton to take on the Tigers. The Raiders trailed 15-10 at the half and got things clicking in the third quarter but went cold in the fourth. Paxton defeated Medicine Valley 47-25. R. Stout had eight points, 17 rebounds, and four steals; Kamree Elsten had five points and four rebounds; and O. Stout had five points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The Raiders are 0-2 on the year and will play Maywood-Hayes Center on Tuesday at MCC as part of the Cattle Trail Tournament.
Paxton
Paxton battled Anselmo-Merna at North Platte Community College on Thursday to begin their season. Paxton came up short as they fell 59-33. Ella Fote had 14 points; Emmalee Nicholson had seven points and five rebounds; and Jaleigh Hansen had six points.
On Friday, Paxton hosted Medicine Valley and got a nice bounce-back win, defeating the Raiders 47-25. Fote had 16 points; Jordan Clouse had 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and four steals; and Jakcee Mitchell had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Paxton starts out the year with a record of 1-1 and will hit the road this week as they will head to Brady on Friday and Potter-Dix on Saturday.
Southwest
The Roughriders traveled to Medicine Valley on Thursday to take on their Raiders and begin their season. The Roughriders hit the ground running and ran away with a 63-23 win.
On Saturday, Southwest hosted MHC and came up short in a really good game. MHC won by a score of 57-48. This was an RPAC Rundown Featured Matchup, and you can read more about this game by clicking here.
Southwest is now 1-1 to start the year and will face Wauneta-Palisade on Tuesday at MCC to begin their run in the Cattle Trail Tournament.
Southern Valley
The Eagles hosted Minden on Thursday to start their season. It was a back-and-forth game but came up short, 55-50. Tori Bose led Southern Valley with 14 points and five rebounds; Vanesa Aguayo had 11 points, three rebounds, and three steals; Bryn Baily had 11 points and four rebounds; and Adi Hunt had four points, five rebounds, five assists, and six steals.
On Friday, Southern Valley traveled to Elm Creek. The Eagles had a slow first quarter but a strong second quarter and then came out of the half struggling to get a shot to fall in the third quarter. They had a surge in the fourth but ran out of time and lost to the Buffaloes 46-43. Bose tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks; Hunt had nine points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals; and Baily had five points and eight rebounds.
Southern Valley is 0-2 and starts the year at 0-2. They will host Cambridge on Tuesday, Hi-Line on Thursday, and travel to Overton on Friday.
Sutherland
The Sailors traveled to take on Mullen on Thursday and only posted two points in the first quarter. They were able to get a little more offense throughout the game but couldn't keep up with the Broncos as they lost 52-17.
On Friday, Sutherland hosted North Platte St. Pat's and lost 41-23. Gracyn Elfeldt had 11 points and five rebounds, and Eliana Dyer had eight points.
Sutherland is 0-2 to start the year and will host Brady on Tuesday, travel to Sandhills Valley on Thursday, and host South Platte on Saturday.
Wallace
Wallace hit the ground running as they have three games under their belt. On Thursday, the Wildcats hosted Waunta-Palisade and had a slow first half as they trailed 35-10. They had a stronger second half, but it was too big of a deficit, and they lost 57-33.
On Friday, Wallace traveled to Maywood-Hayes Center and lost 58-16.
On Saturday, the Wildcats traveled to Mid-Plains Community College - North Platte to take on Elba. It was a close game, but Wallace came away with the 37-34 win.
Wallace is 1-2 and will travel to Sandhills/Thedford on Thursday and will host Hyannis on Saturday.
Wauneta-Palisade
Wauneta-Palisade started their season on the road against Wallace on Thursday night. The Broncos led 35-10 at the half and had a slow third quarter but kicked it back into gear in the fourth to get the 57-33 win. Wauneta-Palisade had 26 steals in the game. Izzy Stehno had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and four steals; Kamryn Fanning had 11 points, five rebounds, and six steals; Emma Acton had nine points and four steals; and Mesa Cox had six assists, five steals, and two blocks.
The Broncos hosted Creek Valley on Friday and got a huge 60-12 win. The defense was strong again, as the Broncos had 36 steals in the game. Fanning had 20 points and seven steals, and Acton had 10 points.
Wauneta-Palisade is 2-0 and will Southwest on Tuesday at MCC to begin their run in the Cattle Trail Tournament.
