GICC Boys Claim Conference Tournament Crown

(Lincoln, NE) - On the road to play Lincoln Lutheran on their home floor for the Centennial Conference boys tournament championship didn't phase the GICC boys basketball team coming out on top with a 46-45 victory on Saturday night. The Crusaders avenge a 54-44 loss at home to Lincoln Lutheran on December 7th. 

GICC would get off to a great start with a 15-4 run in the first quarter highlighted by 8 points from sophomore Braylon Wolfe who would lead the charge for the Crusaders finishing with 19 points including four three-pointers, three in the first half. Lincoln Lutheran would get a spark in the 2nd quarter to outscore GICC 14-12 with the Crusaders going into the locker room with a 27-18 lead. 

The two teams would continue to trade blows in the third quarter. Lincoln Lutheran would trail by 10 going to the fourth quarter 43-33. In the third quarter GICC would get a three-pointer each from Wolfe & Alberts. Two 2-point field goals would get knocked in from Kyle Kelly and Connor Haney. 

The furious comeback would start for Lincoln Lutheran in the fourth quarter. The Warriors would outscore the Crusaders 14-3. With 2:29 left in the game, Jacob Duitsman would hit a three-pointer to make it 46-43 GICC. Two free throws later with 1:46 left in the 4th quarter would be as close as Lincoln Lutheran would get in the game, 46-45. The Crusaders would lead the rest of the game from the 5:39 mark of the 1st quarter. With the two teams trading possessions, the game would come down to 4 seconds left. Lincoln Lutheran would call a time-out to try and draw up a game-winning play. Inbounds play to Grant Sowell to heave up a top-of-the-key three-pointer to only miss but be rebounded by Lincoln Lutheran and then jarred loose as the final horn would sound to end the game and give GICC the Centennial Conference tournament championship. 

Both teams are now 15-3 on the season. GICC will be back in action on February 7th hosting Lexington (Live on KRGI). 

The Centennial Conference Tournament girl's championship game would go to Lincoln Christian defeating Columbus Scotus 62-46. 

GICC           15  12  16 3 - 46 

L.Lutheran     4   14  15  14  - 45 

Crusader Scoring - Wolfe 19 - Liban 3 - Kelly 4 - Alberts 6 - Birch 8 - Haney 6 

Warrior Scoring - Glines 7 - Duitsman 13 - Stowell 4 - Hager 11 - Holle 5 - Kuhlmann 5 

 

 

FINAL: @GICCbasketball 46, Lincoln Lutheran 45. Final moments of the game 👇 Crusaders win the Centennial Conference Tournament Championship. 🏆Wolfe 19-Birch 8-Alberts 6-Haney 6. #nebpreps pic.twitter.com/ZVcGEOZKIJ

— KRGI Sports Network (@KRGIsports) February 2, 2025