Five games in a day is a task. Five Holiday Tournament games, three gyms in three Nebraska towns on a Monday is what some would call fun. 

With the impending winter storm set to hit the area Waverly and South Sioux City tipped off the end to the NSAA’s mandated five day moratorium. 

The Vikings started fast and finished quick in a 73-21 win over South Sioux City. Junior Drew Miller, a 6-foot-4 guard, scored 11 of his teams 28 first quarter points and finished with a game high 17. South Sioux City was led by Manny Paul with seven points. Paul is an intriguing 6-4 sophomore with good length and looks like he could grow into his frame. 

On to North Bend for the Tigers Holiday Tournament. Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family and Omaha Concordia girls tipped first. HLHF junior Addison Schneider got the Bulldogs off to a quick start scoring 10 of her game high 26 points in the first quarter. Schneider, a 6-1 post, also had a game high 18 rebounds in the 64-31 HLHF win. In the Bulldogs (8-1) nine games she is averaging 19.7 points and 15.2 rebounds. Sophomore guard Paige Gerhard led Concordia with nine points on three 3-pointers. 

Concordia and HLHF boys were up next. Concordia is one of the likely surprising teams in C1 this season and it was clear why. A team that plays with pace and can go on quick runs with their 3-point shooters did just that. After leading 35-32 after three quarters, the Mustangs connected on four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to win 53-41. Junior guard Zac Kulus led Concordia (7-0) with a game high 15 and junior Karsten Mathsen had 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. HLHF’s (5-3) schedule has been daunting early in the season. Monday was the Class D1 Bulldogs fourth C1 opponent in a row. Junior forward Jacob Sjuts had a team high 13 while Jason Sjuts scored 10. 

The biggest game in the state was a matchup of undefeated girls teams. Class C2 power Crofton and Class D2 Humphrey St. Francis was the headliner of Monday’s action at the West Point-Beemer Holiday tournament. Crofton did a nice job of holding Nebraska signee Allison Weidner to just eight points at the half. The Nebraska signee would get going offensively finishing the game with 25 points on 8 of 15 shooting, nine assists and eight rebounds. Senior forward Alissa Kosch had 11 points and seven rebounds in the St. Francis (7-0) 60-50 win. Crofton was led by senior post Lacey Sprakel led the Warriors with 18 points and 14 rebounds. 

In the night cap, St. Francis (7-0) boys remained undefeated with a 63-37 win over Crofton. Senior guard Justin Leifeld paced the Flyers scoring 13 of his game high 20 points in the first half. Junior forward Tanner Pfeifer scored seven of his 17 in the fourth quarter and senior guard Haustyn Forney had 11 of his 14 in the second half. Junior post Mayson Ostermeyer led the Warriors with 19 points. 

Here’s to what we all hope is a full week of holiday hoops.