The Elkhorn Antlers will face off against the Gretna East Griffins at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Last Friday, Elkhorn came up short against Elkhorn North and fell 71-60. While losing is never fun, the Antlers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska basketball rankings (they are ranked 100th, while Elkhorn North are ranked fifth).
Nixon Farmer put forth a good effort for the losing side as he posted 17 points and five assists. Jake Petersen was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on nine points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Gretna East didn't have too much trouble with Grand Island on Friday as they won 59-44.
Elkhorn better focus on containing Drew Rhoades and Drayke Brown as the pair were huge in Gretna East's win. Rhoades went 9 for 12 on his way to 19 points, while Brown went 6 of 11 en route to 19 points along with six boards and five assists. Another player making a difference was Talan Hovie, who had six points and five assists.
They weren't the only one working in the assists department: Gretna East was working as a unit and finished the game with 22 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Grand Island only racked up nine assists.
Elkhorn has traveled a rocky road recently having lost three of their last four contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-6 record this season. Those losses can't be blamed on the team's offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 53.3 points per game. As for Gretna East, their win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 8-5.
Rebounding is likely to be a big factor in this contest: Elkhorn has been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 25.8 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Gretna East struggles in that department as they've been averaging 22.9 boards. With both teams battling to corral missed shots, we'll see if one team can grab an edge.
Elkhorn came up short against Gretna East in their previous matchup back in December of 2024, falling 54-44. Will Elkhorn have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
