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Surprising Vikings stop Trojan title quest
CURTIS, Neb. -- Between bad home losses and widespread flu causing school to close, coach Craig Newcomb's Bertrand Vikings never lost their focus.
"It (the flu bug) didn't really hit our team too hard," Newcomb said. "And knew the three through seven (RPAC East seeds) were so close that we had a good chance."
The East No. 6-seed Vikings (8-7 record) took advantage of their chance against No. 3 Cambridge in Wednesday's RPAC quarterfinals.
They shot ahead 20-8 through one quarter and didn't blink when Cambridge closed within 23-20 by halftime.
Cambridge caught the Vikings, 34-34, when sophomore Preston Carbaugh stepped up behind a teammate's screen and swished another three.
The Vikings still never flinched, regaining another lead and then fighting off one final Trojan comeback, 56-52.
"Our goal all along has been to get to McCook and play on Saturday (in the RPAC championship game)," Newcomb procalimed. "We're one game away now."
The Vikings meet No. 1 Alma in Friday's semifinal at Southern Valley to see who represent that East Division on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Cambridge (9-6 record) meets Southwest for Friday's consolation semifinal at that same S.V. site.
Just like the Roughriders, Cambridge nearly finished an awsome last-minute revival.
A freshman really ignited the fireworks as Paxton Ross' three-pointer turned 49-42 into 49-45.
Bertrand made two clutch three throws, but Carbaugh's crucial shot cut that margin to 51-48.
Again, Bertrand buried its next two points but Tyler Borland's inside basket made it 53-50.
A final Viking free throw with 10 seconds remaining still didn't finish the Trojans.
Not even an air ball three, because junior Caden Houghtelling caught it and scored underneath while being fouled.
However, too much time had expect as only 0.4 seconds showed on the clock.
The Trojans were needing that old "intentional miss and tip it in" to force overtime.
Sad, it didn't happen since a lane violation was called before Houghtelling could even try to miss.
An ensuing foul with two more Viking free throws sealed the Viking victory.
Bertrand had bumped off East No. 2 Southern Valley on Saturday.
Coach Jamex Blex pointed to the slow Cambridge start back in that opening quarter.
"Coming back against a good team like that takes a lot out of you," he concluded. "We gotta learn from games like tonight."
CAMBRIDGE (52) -- Caden Houghtelling 15 points, Preston Carbaugh 13, Tyler Borland 10, Tyler Witte 9, Paxton Ross 5. Three-pointers: Carbaugh 3, Witte, Ross.
BERTRAND (54) -- Cooper Grabenstein's game-high 19 points led the 8-7 Vikings.