BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2025 January 8, Wednesday)
Morgan Archer, Story and Photos
Don Harrold, Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook
The Blair Bears varsity girls basketball team lost their home game to the Bennington Badgers on Tuesday, January 7, with a final score of 34-51. The loss drops the Bears to 5-4 on the season, while Bennington advances to 9-1.
The game started with senior Addison Sullivan (#23) winning the tip off and early scoring from the Bears, senior Hayden Frink-Mathis (#45) made a layup. However, Bennington’s senior Presley Baca (#30) responded with a 2 pointer in return, tying the game up. The Bears junior Kate Wulf (#13) quickly came back with another layup and they continued to battle. The Bears ended the first quarter down 12-19 to Bennington.
“I had the confidence and the crowd on my back to start the game… it was just surreal,” said Frink-Mathis. Sullivan opened the second quarter by scoring two layups. Bennington’s sophomore Harper Bohaboj (#12) responded with a layup. However, Wulf and Sullivan added to the score each with a free throw. The first half closed with the Bears down 18-28.
“It built excitement when you’re making your first couple shots in the game, it can really start the flow of the game,” said Sullivan. The Bears started the second half with strong defense, however Bennington’s sophomore Haydin Jackson (#22) made a 3-pointer. Wulf scored a layup and added another 2 points from her free throws.
Overall, the highest scorers from the Bears were Wulf with 10 and Sullivan with 11. The third quarter ended the Bears down 22-41. The Bears scored first in the last quarter. Sullivan started their run by making two free throws. The Bears defense stayed strong, but, Bennington’s Macie Reiner (#15) made a three-pointer. Wulf immediately responded with a three-pointer showing the Bears ongoing fight. Although the Bears fought to the very end, they ended up down 34-51.
“We’re just unlucky tonight, shots that we needed didn’t fall it happens that’s how the game works,” said Sullivan.
