SENECA, Mo. — Nevada’s girls and boys basketball teams both fought back from double-digit deficits to earn come-from-behind victories over Seneca on Tuesday in Big 8 West play.
NEVADA GIRLS 59, SENECA 54
Nevada’s girls rode a strong fourth quarter to knock off Seneca 59-54 in a key Big 8 West clash.
Nevada improved to 11-3 overall and 4-0 in conference action, while Seneca slipped to 9-3 and 1-1 in the Big 8.
Nevada trailed by 12 in this one, but the Tigers outscored the Indians 19-7 in the fourth quarter.
Clara Swearingen led Nevada with 15 points, while Grace Barnes and Maddy Majors had 13 points apiece. Barnes scored 12 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Freshman Hazley Grotjohn scored 21 points to lead the Indians, while senior Aliya Grotjohn added 19 points.
The Indians, who raced out to a 10-2 lead, held a 13-8 advantage at the end of the first period.
Seneca was clinging to a five-point cushion late in the first half when Samarah Mittag hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Hazley Grotjohn converted a steal into a layup to give the Indians a 32-22 halftime lead.
Nevada cut its deficit to four late in the third quarter, but Aliya Grotjohn hit a 3-pointer to give the Indians a 47-40 lead heading into the fourth period.
Treys from Swearingen and Barnes tied the game at 50 with 2:48 remaining before free throws from Swearingen, Katie Johnson and Barnes gave the Tigers a 56-52 lead with 50 seconds left.
Aliya Grotjohn scored inside before Barnes made 1-of-2 at the charity stripe on the other end, keeping the Tigers in front by three.
After a Seneca miss from long range, Barnes hit two more free throws for the final margin.
NEVADA BOYS 61, SENECA 54
Like the girls, Nevada’s boys trailed by 12 before rallying late.
Nevada improved to 3-12 overall and 1-2 in the Big 8. Seneca fell to 5-8 and 1-1 in conference action.
Evan Rea scored 16 points to lead Nevada, while Cade Beshore added 12. Brice Budd scored nine points for the Tigers, while Leo Gayman contributed eight points.
Seneca’s Cooper Long scored a game-high 26 points and hit six 3-pointers. Gavyn Hoover added nine points for the Indians.
The Indians led 16-13 at the end of the first period.
Layups from Long and Hoover and a trey from Zane Grotjohn gave Seneca a 31-19 lead with two minutes left in the first half.
A steal and layup from Beshore cut Nevada’s deficit to 10 at the half, 31-21.
Nevada outscored Seneca 18-8 in the third period, and Budd’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer tied the game at 39 entering the fourth quarter.
The Tigers received six points from Gayman early in the fourth quarter, and the visitors never relinquished their lead.
Nevada went 12-for-12 on free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off the Indians late.
