Sports

Wed
15
Nov
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Sandy Creek girls finish 2023 volleyball season with 10-20 record

Sandy Creek girls finish 2023 volleyball season with 10-20 record

The Sandy Creek volleyball team added four more wins to their total from last year, as after going 6-24 a year ago, the Cougars wrapped up the 2023 season 10-20.

Wins for the year came by way of sweeps over Ravenna, Kenesaw, Gibbon, Fillmore Central, and Heartland. The Cougars also had a 2-1 win over Heartland, and upended Wilber-Clatonia, Centura, Sterling, and High Plains Community in the same 2-1 fashion.

On the attack, sophomore Emma Fisher, and senior Ella Martin had 339 combined kills, as Fisher led with 202, and Martin 137. Fisher was 594-728 on the attack (81.6%), while Martin was 479-560 (85.5%).

Sophomore Paige Biltoft also finished in triple figures for kills with 113, as Biltoft was 293-393 at the net (74.5%).

Setting up the attack was the duo threat of Martin, and sophomore Katelyn Pohlmier, as the two combined for 504 of Sandy Creek’s 579 total assists. Martin led the way with 260, while Pohlmeier put up 244 assists.

Wed
15
Nov
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Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

The Sandy Creek football team runs onto the Cougars home field just prior to the start of their first semifinal football game played since 1994. The Cougars, however, dropped a tough 48-36 decision to the Stanton Mustangs, as the 2023 season came to a close with an impressive 11-1 record, including a 3-1 run in the Class D-1 state playoffs and a perfect 8-0 run in the regular season. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

A host of Cougars bring down Stanton quarterback Barrett Wilke (4) in the first quarter of Stanton’s eventual 12-point win. For the Cougars, Alston Clark (7), Will Claycamp (77), Connor Rempe (1) Ethan Shaw (2), Owen Ogelsby (13) are involved in the gang tackle. MELISSA WHITEFOOT | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Sandy Creek’s defense was strong, but came up short against the Mustangs. Five Cougars move in on Stanton’s Barrett Wilke during the first half of the Class D-1 semifinal clash between the Cougars and Mustangs. Stanton outrushed the Cougars 364-235 helping the Mustangs reach the D-1 state title game Nov. 20. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Junior quarterback, Ethan Shaw, and head coach Andrew Kuta, strategize during the Cougars’ battle with top-seeded Stanton Mustangs. MELISSA WHITEFOOT | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Sophomore Alston Clark (7) lunges at Stanton quarterback Barrett Wilke in the first half of the Mustangs 48-36 win over the Cougars. Will Claycamp (77) trails the play for Sandy Creek. JASON BROCKMAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Senior Logan Sanders and sophomore Kaeden Schmidt leap high during the starting line-up announcements prior to the start of the Cougars game with Stanton. JASON BROCKMAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Junior quarterback, Ethan Shaw, launches this pass downfield in the first half of the Cougars’ season ending loss to the Stanton Mustangs. Shaw had 56 yards passing, and three touchdown passes, along with 230 rushing yards on 33 carries. Blocking up front for Shaw is his younger brother, Christian, (51), along with sophomore Jonas Amos (54), and senior Will Claycamp (77). TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Juniors Ethan Shaw and Connor Rempe work together on this play during early action against Stanton. The Cougars wrapped up an impressive season with an 11-1 record after the semifinal loss to the Stanton Mustangs. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars playoff run halted by Stanton 48-36

Juniors Ethan Shaw hands off to junior Ben Sullivan midway through the third quarter, with Stanton holding a narrow 20-12 lead. The visiting Mustangs worked their way to a come-from-behind 48-36 win over the Cougars to advance to the Class D-1 state championship game against Exeter-Milligan/Friend, to be played Nov. 20 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Sandy Creek’s perfect season came to an end with a tough loss to another undefeated team the Stanton Mustangs.

Both teams came into the semifinals undefeated, with identical 11-0 records, but only one could come out perfect in the end, and the Mustangs offense would get the best of the Cougars defense as Stanton came from behind, to claim the 48-36 victory. A couple of costly turnovers by Sandy Creek early in the game and again late in the game proved to be the difference, as Stanton capitalized on each turnover with a score.

Stanton’s offensive line was very good, and knew how to use their leverage to their advantage, as on the second play of the game that stout offensive line led Stanton quarterback Barrett Wilke to a 51yard score, on a sneak behind the offensive line.

The two-point conversion, however, failed, leaving the Mustangs with a 6-0 lead.

Wed
15
Nov
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Fillies wrap up 2023 season with 20-13 record

The 2023 volleyball season for the Sutton Fillies came to a close in the C2-8 sub-district tournament with a tough three-set loss to Southern Nebraska Conference rival, Thayer Central, leaving the Fillies with a 20-13 record.

The season’s first month would see Sutton run to a 15-7 record, but in the final four weeks, the Fillies won five of their final 10 matches.

In all, Sutton won 10 of 16 SNC matches, and claimed 10 non-conference victories.

On the attack, senior Lily McCroden led Sutton with 285 kills, while hitting .167 for the year, converting on 82 percent of her 820 attempts.

Senior Carly Skalka followed with 219 kills, with freshman Kamryn Steinhauer gaining 112 kills and junior Jacee Haight 104.

McCroden set a new school record with a total of 814 kills during her career.

As a team, Sutton hit .114, converting on 2,469 of their 2,972 total attempts, having 503 hitting errors (83.1%).

Wed
08
Nov
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DOMINANT WIN

DOMINANT WIN
DOMINANT WIN
DOMINANT WIN

Juniors Ethan Shaw and Connor Rempe work on a delayed hand off during Sandy Creek’s 44-24 dominating win over Cross County Friday, Nov. 3. The duo combined for 358 of Sandy Creek’s 408 total yards in the win, as the Cougars move to 11-0 and will host one of two Class D-1 state semifinal games Friday, Nov. 10, hosting the Stanton Mustangs. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

DOMINANT WIN

Junior Connor Rempe looks upfield during this run, while leaving several Cross County players in his dust, as senior Logan Sanders seals off the corner for Rempe to run through. Rempe, after being shut down in a 22-20 win over Weeping Water, made up for that performance and then some, as the junior speedster had 168 receiving yards and 89 rushing yards while also charting 14 tackles on defense, including seven solo tackles in the 20-point win over Cross County. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

DOMINANT WIN

Juniors Ethan Shaw and Ben Sullivan work together on this play, as a big block from Sullivan broke Shaw open to score one of his two touchdown runs in the 44-24 win over Cross County. Shaw ran for 101 yards on 16 carries, and was 9-19 passing, while throwing for another 189 yards in the quarterfinal round win at Cross County High School, Nov. 3. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

DOMINANT WIN

Senior Will Claycamp landed on this Cross County fumble during second half action in the “Clash of the Cougars,” where Sandy Creek claimed a 20-point victory. Alston Clark (7) and Wes Biltoft moves in to help Claycamp secure the recovery, and ultimately, help Sandy Creek run their season record to 11-0. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Coming into the quarterfinal round of the Class D-1 state playoffs, head coach Andrew Kuta knew that Sandy Creek’s road battle at Cross County between the two unbeaten, 10-0 football teams was going to be a difficult challenge. As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard, the Sandy Creek Cougars moved to 11-0 with a dominating 44-24 win to claim the “Clash of the Cougars” as Sandy Creek’s defense was dominant, and their offense piled up the numbers to gain the 20-point victory.

It was no secret that the Cougars in blue had a strong offensive team, as they averaged 57.4 points per game, but that heroic defensive effort by Sandy Creek caused the Cougars in blue to be in and even more “blue mood” with Sandy Creek’s powerful defense holding Cross County to just 24 points.

Wed
08
Nov
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Simonsen’s career as a Hastings College Bronco is winding down

Simonsen’s career as a Hastings College Bronco is winding down

Simonsen tries to look for some running room against Midland during this first half play against the Warriors. His final home game of his Bronco career produced a 37-32 win over the Warriors. Simonsen had15 rushing yards on 14 carries, and grabbed seven passes for 35 yards, as Midland held the Broncos to just 70 rushing yards in the GPAC slugfest. See more about Simonsen on page 2B TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Simonsen tries to look for some running room against Midland during this first half play against the Warriors. His final home game of his Bronco career produced a 37-32 win over the Warriors. Simonsen had15 rushing yards on 14 carries, and grabbed seven passes for 35 yards, as Midland held the Broncos to just 70 rushing yards in the GPAC slugfest.

Wed
08
Nov
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Oz Griess leads CCN’s Pigskin Picks playoff challenge

Oz Griess leads CCN’s Pigskin Picks playoff challenge

Gail “Oz” Griess came out on top of the highly challenging Pigskin Picks “Nebraska High School Playoff Challenge” to claim the win over Linda Hansen by way of the tie-breaker.

Both Griess and Hansen, along with Roman Skalka missed four games with Griess claiming the top prize by way of the tie-breaker.

During Sandy Creek’s 44-24 win over Cross County, a total of 68 points were scored, with Griess predicting that 62 points would be scored, missing by just six points, Hansen predicted that 54 points would be scored, missing by 14 points, while Skalka missed the tie-breaker by 19 points, predicting 49 points would be scored.

This week’s Pigskin Picks will be the final grid contest of the 2023 football season.

Wed
01
Nov
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Clay County youth win 2nd Hastings Midget football championship, Oct. 22

Clay County youth win 2nd Hastings Midget football championship, Oct. 22

Sandy Creek players on the championship Big G Jets out of the Hastings youth league included, from the left: Lane Hemberger, Charlie Shaw, and Landry Borer.

On Sunday, Oct. 22, a mid-afternoon football championship was decided on the campus of Hastings College, and Lloyd Wilson Field. The defending champions, the Big G Jets, 6-0, versus the Hastings Pepsi Chargers, 5-1, with the Chargers lone loss coming at the hands of the Jets in the regular season.

Three Clay County players, Charlie Shaw, Landry Borer, and Lincoln Davis, of the defending champion Jets came up big.

The first quarter was dominated by the Chargers behind a primarily runheavy offense, directed by quarterback Wesley Martin, as Martin accounted for all of the Chargers’ scoring in the first two quarters.

The first possession, the Chargers took the opening kickoff, drove 67 yards to draw first blood, with Martin running it in from two-yards out, and added the extra point.

Wed
01
Nov
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Harms joins 2013 Midland volleyball in being inducted into 2023 Warrior Hall of Fame

Harms joins 2013 Midland volleyball in being inducted into 2023 Warrior Hall of Fame

Harms is shown with her parents, Kim, left, and Dan, right, as well as her sister Danielle Fellows, following the Oct. 20 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. COURTESY PHOTO | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Harms joins 2013 Midland volleyball in being inducted into 2023 Warrior Hall of Fame

Ashlee Harms, a 2016 Midland University graduate holds her Hall of Fame plaque, following an induction ceremony on Friday, Oct. 20 in Fremont. COURTESY PHOTO | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Harms joins 2013 Midland volleyball in being inducted into 2023 Warrior Hall of Fame

Glenvil native, and Sandy Creek graduate, Ashlee Harms, shown in the back row, sixth from the left, joined her 2013 teammates on Friday, Oct. 20, to be inducted into Midland University’s Warrior Hall of Fame. COURTESY PHOTO | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Even seven years removed from competitive college volleyball, Ashlee Harms and her 2013 teammates on the 2013 Midland University volleyball team are still remembered as the volleyball team that put Warrior volleyball on the map.

That team was inducted into the Midland University’s Warrior Hall of Fame in a ceremony held during Homecoming festivities Friday, Oct. 20.

Harms is a 2012 graduate of Sandy Creek High School, and a Glenvil native, where her parents, Dan and Kim still live.

Wed
01
Nov
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Cougars move to 10-0

Cougars move to 10-0

While Weeping Water kept junior Connor Rempe (1) in check, he had a huge interception return for a touchdown. Here Rempe hurdles Indian defender John Ridge, as Jacob Petr (9) for the Cougars looks to help Rempe clear a path on this play. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars move to 10-0

Head coach Andrew Kuta and quarterback, Ethan Shaw talk during action against Weeping Water, Friday, Oct. 27. JASON BROCKMAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars move to 10-0

Ethan Shaw and Ben Sullivan led the Sandy Creek running attack during the Cougars’ 22-20 second-round playoff win over Weeping Water. Shaw had 130 yards on 22 carries, and Sullivan 23 yards on three carries. Here, Shaw pulls the ball back from Sullivan, as Jacob Petr (9) blocks. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars move to 10-0

In the aftermath of a key quarterback sack, Jack Clark (88) and Will Claycamp (77) celebrate with a smack on the ground after taking down Weeping Water’s Riggs Wilson in the second half of the Cougars’ 22-20 win over the Indians. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars move to 10-0

Sandy Creek freshman, Wes Biltoft delivered several punishing blows on tackles against Weeping Water. In all, he had 13 tackles, including five solo tackles, like this one on the Indians’ running back Cole Essary. Looking on during the play for the Cougars is Ethan Shaw (2) and Jacob Petr (9). TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Cougars move to 10-0

Ethan Shaw, with this run, secured Sandy Creek’s two-point win over Weeping Water, gaining a first down on the play, enabling the Cougars to run the clock out and advance to the third round of the playoffs. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

The Cougars win and move onto the next round of the state playoffs with a tough 22-20 win over the Weeping Water Indians.

Sandy Creek came into the game undefeated at 9-0, with Weeping Water coming in with a 7-2 record, as the Cougars being the fifth-seed and Weeping Water the 12th-seed. This game was a dog fight from the beginning to the very end of the game. It was back and forth at the beginning, but the Cougars would hold off and move onto the next round.

On the victory, head coach Andrew Kuta shared what it means to him as a coach, and an alumni to get to the third round of playoffs, since it hasn’t been since the 2003 Cougars got this deep in the playoffs, falling to Lawrence-Nelson 21-14 in overtime. He said, “its been 20 years since we’ve been there so it means a lot to me, and it means a lot to see the way these young men bought into this program and the culture, it’s just a little more special to me being an alumni from here and playing here.”

Wed
25
Oct
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Sutton splits with Jeffs, Scouts in SNC consolation quad, Oct. 17

Sutton splits with Jeffs, Scout

Senior, Lily McCroden picks up this serve during action against Fairbury in the second-round of the Southern Nebraska Conference tournament in Sutton, Tuesday, Oct. 17, as senior Reagan Robinson looks on during the play, with head coach Shelley Mohnike also looking on. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Sutton splits with Jeffs, Scout

Seniors Marlie Drudik (13) and Carly Skalka, right, go up for this block in action agaist David City, a three-set loss to the Scouts. ANDI LANDENBERGER | CLAY COUNTY NEWS

Following a tough three-set loss to Milford in the opening- round of the Southern Nebraska Conference volleyball tournament, the Sutton Fillies remained at home for a four-team consolation quadrangular that pitted the Fillies against David City and Fairbury, two teams that Sutton just went to battle with, Oct. 5, in Fairbury.

Sutton gained revenge over the Jeffs in the opening game, after Fairbury downed the Fillies Oct. 5, in straightsets, winning the match 2518, 25-21 on the Fillies home court.

Sutton hit at a .191 clip, while converting on 58 of 68 total attacks at the net. The Fillies were led by seven kills from senior Lily Mc-Croden, while junior Jacee Haight added six kills, with freshman Kamryn Steinhauer downing five kills in the win.

Setting up the attack, senior setter Kennedy Perrien put up 20 assists, while going a perfect 46-46 in the match.

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