Red Cloud rises in battle of Warriors

Arapahoe senior Joslyn North (34) swats a shot before it leaves Hannah Vance’s hands during the varsity girls’ basketball game at Arapahoe High on Wednesday.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

ARAPAHOE, Neb. —Arapahoe’s improving girls team ran into a Red Cloud squad on Wednesday that’s famous for making the most of its available talent.

The famous ‘six strong’ tournament team from two years ago now features nine players, but Red Cloud coach Casey Fangmeyer knew his Warriors' victory chances really depended on one 6’2” inside force.

“Mary (Nibbe) can take over a game,” Fangmeyer said as Red Cloud was locked in a tight 23-20 battle with Arapahoe. “I challenged her to do that.”

Sure enough — despite drawing two or even more defenders — Nibbe took over and the result was a 20-3 Red Cloud fourth quarter.

Nibbe delivered several of her game-high 18 points while the host Warriors’ shots simplay stopped dropping through nets at their spacious new Arapahoe High gymnasium.

The result was a 43-23 Red Cloud victory, raising those Warriors’ record to 6-5 this season.

“We have nine players now but she (Nibbe) is one of only two who were on that state team,” Fangmeyer explained. “We started moving the ball better and got it to her. Then that opened up some outside shots and our girls hit them at the end.”

The Arapahoe Warriors (4-7) have already surpassed their 3-20 record in coach Preston Blackmore’s first season.

They showed real toughness on Wednesday, wiping out a 17-10 halftime deficit.

Arapahoe even jumped in front, 18-17, and caught Red Cloud 20-20 on senior Mariah Watson’s drive to the hoop.

However, Red Cloud retaliated with 12 unanswered points until junior Terri Hilker’s outside three made it 32-23.

Red Cloud promptly added another 11-0 run to finish the road win.

Senior Joslyn North’s 10 rebounds led Arapahoe besides her eight points and one shot block.

Watson secured another five rebounds and Hilker swiped four steals.

ARAPAHOE (23) — Joslyn North 8 points, Terri Hilker 7, Mariah Watson 4, Adrienne North 2, Hope Koller 2. Three-pointers: Hilker, Joslyn North.

RED CLOUD (43) — Mary Nibbe 18 points, Julia Shipman 12, Hannah Vance 8, Michaela Chiplaski 3, Hunter Watts 2.