3/9/2024 vs. Auburn ... NONCONFERENCE / neutral / STATE TOURNAMENT / Finals

Season Game #: 28 / Current Record: 23 - 5

WAHOO: 15 ... 3 ... 8 ... 13 .. 10 ... 49
Auburn: 3 ... 15 ... 15 ... 6 ... 3 ... 42

Wahoo emerged from Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday afternoon with the ultimate prize, one that had eluded this group of seniors despite three talented and otherwise very successful previous teams. The Warriors had defeated Auburn in overtime, 49 – 42 to claim the Class C1 State Championship. It was a game that told a different tale each quarter.

First Quarter – the Wahoo Quarter

Coach Kevin Scheef had stated that it would be important for the Warriors to get off to a good start if they wanted to upset the #1 and undefeated Auburn Bulldogs. His team certainly did that. After Auburn recorded the first score of the game a 3 pointer, Wahoo’s Dylan Simons matched the Bulldog three and ignited a 15 – 3 run by the end of the quarter. Kyler Elliott netted a basket, Jase Kaminski scored a steal and layup, Marcus Glock contributed two three’s and Cody Hesser slammed home a break away dunk. Wahoo’s defense had shut down the Bulldog offense and the Warriors were dominating.

Second Quarter – the Auburn Quarter

But Auburn had knocked the Warriors out of the tournament the previous year and were in the finals for the sixth consecutive time – you could count on them mounting a comeback, and in the second quarter they made it all the way back, outscoring the Warriors 15 – 3 to knot the game up at half. A Dylan Simons score in the post and a freethrow were the only points Wahoo could manage while the Bulldogs, behind their top scorer, Maverick Binder, had a seven point run to end the quarter when Binder sank a three at the buzzer from the edge of the center court Nebraska logo. The half ended with the score tied at 18.

Third Quarter – The Auburn Way

Many believe Auburn basketball is so successful because of the disciplined, fundamentally sound play coached by Jim Weeks. In the third quarter, it appeared that this “Auburn” way was going to prevail over Wahoo again. The television announcers noted that if an Auburn gets a 7 or 8 point lead it would be incredibly hard to close that gap. After Marcus Glock scored on an out-of-bounds play to take a brief lead at 20 – 19, Auburn went on a 7 point run and it appeard the Bulldogs were poised to establish a lead they would not relinquish. But a drive by Glock, a Kaminski to Elliott assist and a Simons shot in the paint kept the lead within reach at 30 – 26 as the quarter clock ran down. But, just as he had done at the end of two, Auburn’s Maverick binder netted a deep three with three seconds to go and Wahoo was facing a 33 – 26 Auburn lead.

Fourth Quarter – Wahoo Resilience

Coach Scheef had described his team as “resilient.” They had played through some tough losses to the best teams in Class B and Class C1. They responded to the Auburn challenge. The Warriors forced Auburn into several turnovers early in the fourth quarter. Glock drove the lane for a score. A Glock steal led to a Simons layup. Simons got a steal and then scored on a putback. With 6:05 to go Wahoo had pulled to within one point and Simons connected on a free-throw to tie the game. The Warrior defense stepped up, forcing an over and back call at the 4:40 mark and a Simons blocked shot at 4:14 that gave Wahoo the ball. The teams traded free-throws. Auburn regained a brief lead with a Binder drive to the basket, but Glock netted a three for a 38-37 lead. A Simons free-throw made the Wahoo lead two. But Auburn tied the game at 39 with :51 to go and Wahoo held for the last shot. Glock came up short and Simons couldn’t quite get the put-back to go. Wahoo had bounced back, and the game went to overtime.

Overtime – Expectations

After the game, Marcus Glock was asked what it was like to play for Wahoo. He said Wahoo was about living with “expectations.” And he said that was “a good thing.” Wahoo had been “in the hunt” and expected to win a championship for all four years of his high school career. Both Auburn and Wahoo took the floor in overtime with great basketball traditions that raised their expectations of winning. Both teams traded misses the first minute, but then Glock drove to the basket to put Wahoo up for good. Wahoo made six free-throws (4 by Glock and 2 by Simons) over the last two minutes to ice the game. Wahoo claimed its first state title since 2018 and its 12th in school history.

Noteworthy:
Leading Scorer: Marcus Glock 23 pts.; Rebounds -- Dylan Simons 7 ; Assists -- Marcus Glock; Cody Hesser; Jase Kaminski 2 ; Steals-- Cody Hesser; Warrior Opponent 4

Wahoo
freethrows: 11 / 17 65 % ; fieldgoals: 17 / 42 40 % ; three point: 4 / 9 44 %

Auburn
freethrows: 10 / 11 91 % ; fieldgoals: 13 / 36 36 %; three point: 6 / 19 32 %