Nate Lliteras of Seward looks for an opening to drive against Crete Feb. 19 in the subdistrict final.
Kelly Vyhnalek of Seward looks into the lane against the Scottsbluff defense Feb. 25.
Brett Meyer of Seward attempts a layup against Scottsbluff Feb. 25.
Joseph Krause of Seward draws contact on a layup attempt Feb. 25 against Scottsbluff.
The Seward boys' basketball team was the district runner-up Feb. 25. Team members are, from left: (front row) Gabe Knisley, Parker Stroup, Ben Briggs, Brendan Flesner, Carson Tvrdy and Mitchell Hochstein; and (back row) Kelly Vyhnalek, Bryson Janousek, Joseph Krause, Brett Meyer, Nate Lliteras, Derek Holtorf, Theo Hughes, Matthew Sherman and Adam Garton.
The Seward boys’ basketball team saw its season end one game short of its goal of the state tournament.
Scottsbluff came to Seward Feb. 25 and handed the Bluejays a 57-49 loss.
“We missed too many shots. We didn’t shoot the way we’re capable,” Coach Mark Cidlik said. “We struggled to score. It was more about us than them.”
The Jays (18-6) led 28-17 in the second quarter, but Scottsbluff finished the period on an 8-0 run. That momentum continued into the third quarter, where the Bearcats outscored the Bluejays 18-6.
Seward cut the lead to 45-44 with 2:42 to play, but Scottsbluff hit back-to-back jump shots to expand the lead back to five, and the Jays couldn’t overcome that.
Seward made just two field goals in the second half, Cidlik said.
“It’s amazing we were as close as we were,” he said. “It was a tough night from the field.”
Nate Lliteras led Seward with 15 points. Joseph Krause added 13 and Derek Holtorf scored 10.
The Jays entered the district final with wins over Schuyler and Crete in subdistrict play.
The Jays held Schuyler scoreless in the first quarter and led 17-0 at the end of the period. Seward made nine three pointers in the game and shot well against Schuyler’s 2-3 zone, winning the game 44-17.
Kelly Vyhnalek, Brett Meyer and Derek Holtorf scored eight points each. Meyer added eight rebounds and four assists.
Seward and Crete got off to a slow start Feb. 19, scoring a combined eight points in the first quarter.
“Crete is very patient and makes you work on defense,” Cidlik said. “We had to work hard to get six points.”
The Jays led 22-7 at half and outscored the Cardinals 20-7 in the third quarter.
Lliteras scored 15 to lead the Jays, and Meyer added 10 points. Derek Holtorf grabbed six rebounds, Lliteras handed out four assists and Krause picked up three steals.
The Jays will graduate Lliteras, Vyhnalek, Meyer, Krause, Holtorf, Bryson Janousek, Ben Briggs and Brenden Flesner.
