The North Platte Bulldogs were the 67-37 winner over the Kearney Catholic Stars when they last played one another back in January of 2023, but their luck changed this time around. North Platte took a 64-57 hit to the loss column at the hands of Kearney Catholic on Saturday. North Platte's defeat continues a unfortunate trend for the team, making it three in a row.
Despite the loss, North Platte still got an impressive performance from Lance Gifford, who scored 19 points along with eight rebounds and three blocks. That's the first time this season that Gifford posted two or more blocks. Jesse Mauch was another key contributor, scoring 12 points along with six rebounds.
Kearney Catholic's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Owen Axmann, who dropped a double-double on 23 points and 11 rebounds. Those 11 rebounds set a new season-high mark for him. Another player making a difference was Carson Murphy, who scored 16 points.
North Platte has traveled a rocky road recently, as they've lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 2-6 record this season. As for Kearney Catholic, the victory got them back to even at 5-5.
Coincidentally, the pair will both be playing Lexington the next time they take the court. Kearney Catholic will head out to face Lexington on Tuesday, while North Platte will host them on Friday.
