Basketball Game Preview: Wayne Blue Devils vs. Pierce Bluejays

The Wayne Blue Devils will head out to face off against the Pierce Bluejays at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Wayne has struggled recently with three losses in a row, while Pierce will arrive with four straight victories.

Wayne fought the good fight in their overtime contest against Wynot on Thursday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell to Wynot 53-47. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as Wayne came into the game with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska basketball rankings (they are ranked 35th, while Wynot is ranked 112th).

Despite their defeat, Wayne saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Colson Nelsen, who posted 14 points, was perhaps the best of all. Gavin Redden was another key player, putting up seven points in addition to eight rebounds and three steals.

Even though they lost, Wayne smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive boards. That's the most offensive rebounds they've posted since back in February of 2024.

Meanwhile, it was a Battle of the Birds when Pierce faced off against Elkhorn Valley on Saturday. Pierce enjoyed a cozy 59-45 win over Elkhorn Valley. 59 seems to be a good number for the Bluejays as the squad scooped up a victory with the same number of points in their previous game.

Pierce pushed their record up to 9-13 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. Those victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 58.3 points over those games. As for Wayne, their loss dropped their record down to 18-5.

Wayne took their victory against Pierce when the teams last played back in February of 2024 by a conclusive 65-41. The rematch might be a little tougher for Wayne since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.