Basketball Game Preview: Scottsbluff Bearcats vs. Liberty Tree Academy War Eagles

The Scottsbluff Bearcats will be taking part in a tournament against the Liberty Tree Academy War Eagles at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Scottsbluff is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 68.7 points per game this season.

Last Saturday, Scottsbluff was fully in charge, breezing past Gering 74-38. Given the Bearcats' advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska basketball rankings (they are ranked 20th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 145th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

It was another big night for Nate Kelley, who went 6 of 8 en route to 19 points and five rebounds. He is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last six games he's played. Rylee Meininger was another key player, putting up eight points along with five boards and four steals.

Scottsbluff smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in five consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Liberty Tree Academy was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They took a 46-33 hit to the loss column at the hands of Twin Peaks Classical Academy.

Liberty Tree Academy now has a losing record at 5-6. As for Scottsbluff, their win bumped their record up to 12-3.