Menu
Colorful Broncos reveal more about state than hoops
WAUNETA, Neb. — The fireball of a first grader taking shots at one side basket really says it all about Wauneta-Palisade’s tradition.
No flashing colors or Facebook videos are needed to keep this youngster’s focus. His eyes rarely wander from dribbling, jumping and making sure no one else gets hold of his favorite basketball.
He only briefly looks over to where most every Wauneta or Palisade youth wants to be: practicing with the Broncos for another state tournament trip.
“Country strong” power forward Caid Doetker might be the boy’s only blood relative — but he clearly can see what makes a great family:
Colorful characters of all kinds working together through just about everything.
“I’ve been coaching all these guys since about the sixth grade,” coach Dave Kuhlen said about the seven seniors leading W-P (20-5 record) into Thursday’s state quarterfinal against RPAC champion Paxton (23-1). “So I’d say we all know each other pretty well.”
“I think that’s the best thing about this team. There’s none of us who can’t stand each other,” the seven all agreed.
Yet what’s more fun than seeing how seven seniors on one team are so different.
There’s future “fully bearded” park and rec man Joel Maris, whose surprising 18 points sparked the Broncos in their season opener against Wallace.
Maris often makes a similar impact on long bus rides to beautiful Nebraska locales like Arthur County.
“Joel’s got a sense of humor. It just sort of comes out of nowhere with something he says,” senior Dennis Cavanaugh explained.
Who knows where senior Duncan Rector will be going with his future airline pilot career plans.
“I’ll probably start small, then work myself up to a commercial airline,” he explained.
Rector’s worked up to some super performances this season, including 30 points against Southwest on Jan. 5 where he reportedly “hit a shot from his knees.”
His heroics delivered seven consecutive games of 21 points or more all and 10 overall while averaging 18 per game.
Rector reaches a lot of success with his fiery, fearless approach even loading to schrums with Bronco “tree”/tackling machine Doetker.
At the same time, Duncan smiles and laughs about childhood comparisons to movie terror “Chucky”.
“He was a pretty scary-looking kid,” his classmates observed.
Or the occasional memorable moment involving forgotten equipment.
“Duncan came out for one game and forgot his shorts,” senior Dalton Harchelroad said. “He was just out there in his underwear.”
“Hey, I was ready to go,” Rector added.
Cavanaugh was also going one day — as in getting away from all his brothers after an angry and painful moment.
Fortunately, another failure pulled the sandwich “artist”/impressive white rapper back to his Bronco teammates.
“Dennis got so mad at us once that he took off on his scooter as fast as he could,” teammate Dalton Harchelroad recalled. “But then the handlebars fell off his scooter and he stopped right there.”
Cavanaugh’s returned to help the Broncos reach not one, but two state tournaments as they also played at Lincoln in 2017.
In between, he’s become known even for helping the elderly during long Bronco road trips.
“We stopped at Subway in Scottsbluff and there was only one older lady working there,” Cavanaugh explained. “She asked if I could help so I made some sandwiches. Okay, she did give me $20 out of the register which was pretty cool.”
Cavanaugh scored 24 points during a huge confidence-building win at Benkelman on Feb. over Dundy County-Stratton.
He went on to 27 more during two subdistrict times before the Broncos defeated DC-S a fourth time for that D-1 state tourney spot.
“What do I want to different (at state) this time? Help us win a game and play two more with my brothers down there,” he concluded.
Stopping the scoring of 6’9” Paxton Tiger force Blake Brewster will be another huge Bronco goal on Thursday. Opening tip is 3:45 p.m. at Lincoln East High.
That’s where the Broncos turn to 6’5” Doetker, who averages about six points and six rebounds per game.
“It will be tough. The key will to keep him (Brewster) from getting second shots,” Doetker observed as Brewster averaged 20.5 points in two Paxton wins this season over W-P.
No wonder the Broncos focused a lot on help defense during Tuesday’s final practice in Wauneta.
Sneak a hand in there and rip that ball free — one specialty of Harchelroad with his 2.5 steals per game.
At first glance, he might look like someone obsessed with moving fast considering his family’s auto dealership success.
He clearly owns the same passion for autos, having driven all the way to Axtell once just so a female fan could meet him.
“Yeah, I like any of them that move fast,” he observed.
However, Harchelroad’s real strengths have been grinding, battling and doing anything for a Bronco victory. He averages 5.5 points per game.
“He really is a hard worker,” the Bronco seniors all agreed.
Don’t think the Bronco work ethic stops in Wauneta. These seniors had made an impression on former Lincolnites before they played that 2017 state tournament game.
Lake Reikofski never cared about Wauneta until dad, Roger, took a job as principal in the W-P schools several years ago.
Obviously, the Lincoln to Wauneta transition wasn’t all happy handshakes and greetings.
“I remember Lake ran all across town to meet us because he just wanted to fit in,” Cavanaugh recalled.
‘I remember Dennis (yes, Cavanaugh) kept burping in my face,” Lake recalled. “Until I finally threw up.”
“I felt bad about that,” Cavanaugh added.
Reikofski shook it off to become class president at W-P this year while serving with treasurer Cavanaugh, secretary Rector and fellow student council representative Maris.
The 6’2” Reikofski has filled a great basketball role even if his minutes are limited on this talented district champ team.
“Lake gives us a lot of great energy off the bench, and with the fans,” the seniors all agreed.
And no, he won’t feel any great emotions about Lincoln this week unless it’s celebrating more Bronco victories.
What’s he missed most?
“Valentino’s,” he explained. “I can’t wait to eat there this week.”
Besides Lincoln, the Broncos have also included Palisade as senior Paxton Gleason fills one more senior spot on this state tourney team.
Gleason’s more of a power lifter-wrestler type, but he shares one great attribute.
“I’ll be there to cheer on my brothers,” Gleason said.
The Bronco team bus was stopping in Palisade today to meet grade schoolers today before continuing its Lincoln journey.
No matter the outcome, this journey will end for all seven seniors who are graduating from Wauneta-Palisade in May.
It’s been several great years that will clearly last a lifetime.
Like future farmer or perhaps power line worker Doetker, they all admire the stability and support from their favorite community.
“We’ve been part of this for what seems like forever, from watching our older siblings to now,” the seniors agreed. “And we are all babies (youngest kids) of our families.
“So this is it for what’s been a great part of our lives.”