Terry Douglass, Central Nebraska Today
OMAHA — Grand Island advanced to the Class A, District 1 championship game with a 44-43 road victory at Omaha Buena Vista on Saturday afternoon.
The third-seeded Islanders (13-11) will next face No. 1-rated (Omaha World-Herald) and top-seeded Papillion-La Vista South in Tuesday’s district final for a trip to the state tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Papio South (22-3).
Victor Fisher Jr. had 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots for Grand Island, which won its fifth straight game. Riley Holling added 11 points for the Islanders, who shot 50% (15 of 30) from the floor.
Grand Island shot better from 3-point range (5 of 11) than the free-throw line (9 of 20).
L.C. Doss III scored 16 of his team-high 18 points for the Bison (15-11) in the final 8:02, hitting a 3-pointer to close the third quarter and nailing four more treys in the fourth. B.J. Jarmon finished with 12 points for Buena Vista, which shot 29.8% (14 of 47) from the floor, including going 8 of 29 from 3-point range.
In a game that was largely played in the half court with long possessions on both sides, Grand Island built an 11-point advantage in the fourth quarter. However, four fourth-quarter 3-pointers by Doss and the Islanders’ 5-of-14 free-throw shooting in the final eight minutes made for a tight game down the stretch.
But Grand Island never surrendered the lead in the second half. Leading by one point with 2.3 seconds remaining, the Islanders intentionally missed a free-throw attempt, forcing Buena Vista to rebound the ball and Doss to launch a 3-point attempt from beyond half court. His desperation try hit the top of the backboard and caromed away, allowing GISH to reach its first district final since 2020.
Saturday’s contest was the third meeting between the two teams this season. The Bison won 61-58 in overtime back on Dec. 5 in the OPS Invitational at Omaha Central before the Islanders responded with a 49-36 road victory at Buena Vista on Jan. 11.
Grand Island 44, Omaha Buena Vista 43
GRAND ISLAND (13-11)
Victor Fisher Jr. 7-11 4-8 18, Ethan Coslor 1-3 0-2 3, Broxton Barrientos 1-5 0-0 3, Cody Garrett 0-1 0-0 0, Riley Holling 3-4 5-8 11, Carter Bernal 2-3 0-2 6, Nathan Kosmicki 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 15-30 9-20 44.
OMAHA BUENA VISTA (15-11)
BJ Jarmon 3-10 6-6 12, Carter Canion 1-5 0-0 3, Mo Mohamed 2-7 0-2 6, Zhyaire Partee 0-0 0-0 0, L.C. Doss III 6-17 1-2 18, Junior Banister 0-2 0-0 0, Ater Lual 1-5 0-2 2, Zyaire Tucker 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 14-47 7-12 43.
Grand Island………………….8 11 10 15—44
Omaha Buena Vista ………..10 5 9 19—43
3-point goals—GI 5-11 (Coslor 1-2, Barrientos 1-4, Bernal 2-2, Kosmicki 1-3), OBV 8-29 (Jarmon 0-3, Canion 1-5, Mohamed 2-7, Doss 5-10, Banister 0-2, Lual 0-1). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—GI 21 (Fisher 11), OBV 25 (Lual 6). Assists—GI 13 (Fisher 5), OBV 5 (Doss 2). Turnovers—GI 12, OBV 10. Total fouls—GI 15, OBV 18. Technicals—None. A—NA.
