SENECA, Kan. – The Smoky Valley Viking boys basketball team made the trek to northeast Kansas on Friday night to face Nemaha Central. The Thunder, seeded third in 3A Sub-State #2 in the Halstead Region, used a 23-point second quarter to create separation in a 30-point victory in the quarterfinal matchup.
Nemaha Central 62, Smoky Valley 32 – Smoky Valley stayed with the Thunder through the first quarter as they trailed just 14-9 after one. However, Nemaha Central used a 23-11 edge in the second quarter, as Kalem Schmelzle scored all of his team-high 13 points in the quarter. The 17-point halftime lead was stretched to 54-30 by the end of the third quarter. The Thunder went on to win by 30 in the end, moving to 19-2 on the season and advancing to the 3A Sub-State semifinals against Council Grove in Seneca on Wednesday. Scoring in double figures along with Schmelzle were Colby Frehe with 12 and Derek Wurtz with 10. Smoky Valley finished their season at 4-17. Ty Heitschmidt was the lone double figure scorer, posting his 18th double digit performance in 21 games, finishing with a game-high 14 points.
SV – Heitschmidt 14, Olson 7, Gengler 6, Pavlovich 5
NC – Schmelzle 13, Frehe 12, Wurtz 10, Olberding 9, Peterson 8, Macke 6, Hajek 4
