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HARTINGTON — Schedulers had no way of knowing when they set up the 2024-25 the Hartington-Newcastle basketball schedule, that the Cats would have to face two of the top C2 teams in the state to open the season.
That’s exactly what happened, though.
The Wildcats dropped a road game and a home game to open the 2024-25 season, dropping a 47-26 decision to state-rated Ponca Dec. 6 and a home date with the top-rated Summerland Bobcats on Dec. 7, 64-35.
The Bobcats sprinted to an early advantage leading 27-3 after the first eight minutes.
“The Summerland Bobcats are an impressive team,” said Hartington-Newcastle coach Tylor Fincher. “We had a tough time scoring early in the game, but once we settled down I thought we played like we are capable of playing.”
The teams played to a 12-12 draw in the second frame, but another run by the Bobcats after the intermission sent the teams to the final period with the Wildcats trailing 57-20.
HNS outscored Summerland in the final frame, but the damage was already done and the Cats lost their first-ever Greater Northeast Activities Conference game 64-35.
Austin Sudbeck had six points to lead the Wildcat offense. Will Feilmeier, Carter Kelly, Brayden Lammers and Mason Krause each had five points and Cole Rosener chipped in with four.
The Cats were a little shorthanded when they took on Ponca Thursday.
“We started the year off against a good Ponca team,” Fincher said. “We were without Brayden Lammers and Cole Heimes was recovering from an injury. I was proud of the boys’ effort and defense, but we just simply struggle to score the basketball.”
A rough second quarter put the Wildcats in a hole as the teams went to the halftime huddle with the Indians in front, 31-10. The lead grew by six points in the third and HNS came back a little in the final eight minutes, but once again, the damage was already done.
“We moved the ball fairly well on offense and got some great looks at the basket,” said Fincher. “We just didn’t make them.”
Cole Rosener paced the Wildcat offense with eight points, Cole Heimes added seven and Austin Sudbeck tossed in five.
A home game with Niobrara/ Verdigre is scheduled for Dec. 17 and the Wildcats will finish up their pre-Christmas schedule at Walthill.
“I’m happy to see some great potential to this team,” the coach said. “I can tell they want to work hard toward their goals.”
Summerland 27 12 18 7 - 64 HNS 3 12 5 15 - 35
HNS: Jason Heimes 1-3 0-0 3; Cole Heimes 0-4 0-0 0; Austin Sudbeck 2-12 0-0 6; Will Feilmeier 2-7 0-0 5; Carter Kelly 2-3 0-0 5; Keatyn Arens 0-2 0-0 0; Cole Rosener 2-9 0-1 4; Ayden Rosener 0-2 0-0 0; Brayden Lammers 2-5 1-2 5; Mason Krause 2-3 1-2 5; Lincoln Grutsch 0-2 0-0 0; Ashton Wakeley 1-3 0-0 2. HNS 6 4 4 12 — 26 PON 10 21 10 6 — 47
HNS : J. Heimes 0-2 0-0 0; C. Heimes 2-7 1-2 7; Sudbeck 2-9 0-4 5; Feilmeier 1-1 0-0 2; Kelly 0-1 2-4 2; Arens 0-1 0-0 0; C. Rosener 3-11 0-0 8; A. Rosener 0-1 0-0 0; Krause 0-2 2-2 2; Grutsch 0-1 0-0 0; Wakeley 0-2 0-6 0.
