Although it wasn’t the normal high-scoring affair the Crete boys basketball team is used to, the Cardinals tightened up on defense and defeated Platteview, 43-30 on March 7.
“We defended the entire game really well,” Coach Tony Siske said.
Crete trailed 10-9 after the first quarter but bounced back by holding Platteview to four points and scoring 14 in the second quarter including a last-second three from Trace Egge to go up 23-14 at the half.
Early in the first quarter, Crete’s Ben Ehlers went down for a second time this season with a knee injury, putting him out of the game.
“We felt terrible for him,” Siske said. “We never want to see that, especially as a senior.”
After allowing the Trojans to go on an 8-2 run, Crete went on a 12-0 run to widen the gap by the fourth quarter.
“I just think we didn’t think as proactively on defense and allowed them to get into gaps and get by us,” Siske said.
Once Crete would close those gaps, Siske said the Cardinals held Platteview to minimal points.
Egge led the team with 13 points.
Egge said the first game at state this year felt different compared to last year.
“There are less nerves,” he said. “We’re more confident this year.”
Egge said it felt relieving to get the first win at state out of the way.
“It felt great just to get to this point. It just felt like a long season, but now it’s here,” he said.
Crete (26-0) will face off against the winner of Omaha Skutt Catholic and Elkhorn tomorrow, March 8, at 1:30 p.m.
