Terry Douglass, Central Nebraska Today
OMAHA — Top-rated Papillion-La Vista South used a 19-0 run that started in the second quarter and stretched into the third on its way to a 69-36 home-court victory over Grand Island Monday night in the Class A, District 1 title game.
The score was tied 15-15 with 2:38 remaining before halftime before the Titans closed the second quarter with an 8-0 run to lead 23-15 at the intermission Papio South then scored the first 11 points out the break to go ahead 34-15 with 6:38 left in the third quarter.
Reece Kircher had 20 points and six assists for the Titans (23-3), who shot 50% from the field (27 of 54) and outscored Grand Island 46-21 in the second half. Bryson Bahl had 16 points and seven rebounds and Levi Webb scored 13 for Papio South, which shot 67.9% (19 of 28) in the second half.
Victor Fisher Jr. was the lone Islander to reach double figures in scoring with 15 points. Grand Island shot 43.3% from the floor (13 of 30), committed 18 turnovers and was outrebounded 24-19, including a 9-1 margin on the offensive glass.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Islanders, who finished the season 13-12. Grand Island was playing in its first district final since 2020.
Papillon-La Vista South 69, Grand Island 36
GRAND ISLAND (13-12)
Victor Fisher Jr. 6-12 2-4 15, Ethan Coslor 1-4 2-4 5, Broxton Barrientos 2-7 0-0 5, Cody Garrett 1-1 0-0 2, Riley Holling 2-2 2-2 6, Carter Bernal 0-2 0-0 0, Nathan Kosmicki 1-1 0-0 3, Brady Douglass 0-0 0-0 0, Brock Cushing 0-1 0-0 0, Nelson Mintken 0-0 0-0 0, Carson Washburn 0-0 0-0 0, Aiden Arres 0-0 0-0 0, Miles Nelson 0-0 0-2 0, Derek Harun 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-30 6-12 36.
PAPILLION-LA VISTA SOUTH (23-3)
Levi Webb 5-11 1-2 13, Bryson Bahl 7-11 1-5 16, Reece Kircher 7-12 3-4 20, Grant Beckenhauer 2-6 0-0 5, Jayden Herrera 2-7 1-2 6, Connor Falkinburg 1-2 0-0 2, Cody Cizek 0-0 0-0 0, Brady Anderson 2-3 0-0 5, Kenyen Slobodny 0-0 0-0 0, Kallan Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Diego Humbert 0-1 0-0 0, Ryker Brooks 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 27-54 6-13 69.
Grand Island………………….11 4 13 8—36
Papillion-La Vista South ……..9 14 26 20—69
3-point goals—GI 4-14 (Fisher 1-4, Coslor 1-2, Barrientos 1-5, Bernal 0-2, Kosmicki 1-1), PLVS 9-23 (Webb 2-3, Bahl 1-5, Kircher 3-5, Beckenhauer 1-3, Herrera 1-4, Falkinburg 0-1, Anderson 1-1, Humbert 0-1). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—GI 19 (Coslor 5, Barrientos 5), PLVS 24 (Bahl 7). Assists—GI 6 (Fisher 2, Bernal 2), PLVS 12 (Kircher 6). Turnovers—GI 18, PLVS 5. Total fouls—GI 12, PLVS 17. Technicals—None. A—NA.
