Cats C2-6 District Runner-Up
Kumpf Ends Senior Season with Breakout Game
Launch the media gallery 1 playerC2-6 District Finals - Monday, February 25, 2013
The Hemingford Bobcats fought hard at Sidney on Monday Night, clawing their way to within five points late in the game against (22-3) North Platte St. Pat's, but couldn't quite catch the Irish, losing (43-51) to the team that will represent the West in the 2013 State Boy's Basketball Tourney in ten days in Lincoln. Senior Kyle Kumpf led Hemingford with 15 points as he repeatedly hit deep shots that kept the Cats within striking distance, scoring the first eight Hemingford points and eleven of the Cats' first fifteen.
The Irish were able to score inside and at the free-throw line, making 19 of 26 attempts at the charity stripe. The Cats tried only five, and made three, a real difference in the game. Sophomore Matthew Wood scored 14 points to back Kumpf up, with Colt Foster and Blake Hansen grabbing several rebounds. Kyle Kaman and Brady Turek both showed great hustle on defense, creating numerous turnovers.
Early on, the Cats stole the ball from the Irish time and time again, but failed to cash in on the offensive side. With the loss, the Cats end their 2012-2013 Season, but did a great job finishing games, helping to build for a 2013-2014 season that should see continued success. The Cats lose two strong senior leaders in Brady Horstman and Kyle Kumpf, but will bring back the rest of an athletic bunch of Bobcats for Coach Randy Hiemstra.
C2-12 Sub-District Finals - Thursday, February 21, 2013
Making the drive to Gering High School for a C2-12 sub-district basketball game has been a path that many Hemingford fans have followed over the years, with victories coming now and then in opening rounds, but rarely in a sub-district final. That changed Thursday night, when long-time nemesis Bridgeport, a two time winner over the Hemingford Boys this season, was unable to stay with the defensive pressure the Bobcats kept bringing, and fell to the hometown boys, (49-43).
With the win, Hemingford moves to (19-5) on the season, and advances to the 2013 C2-6 District Final, to be played Monday, February 25th, 6:30 PM at Sidney High School, vs (21-3) North Platte St. Patrick’s. The winner will head to Lincoln in two weeks for the 2013 State Tourney!
The Cats took an early 4-0 lead on Bridgeport, only to see the Bulldogs go on a 9-1 scoring streak, leaving Hemingford behind after a quarter 5-9. In the second quarter, both teams started to find the basket, but Bridgeport was able to outscore the Cats 14-13 to take a 23-18 Halftime lead.
With the support of a packed gym and some halftime adjustments by Head Coach Randy Hiemstra, Hemingford came out and outscored the Bulldogs 14-9 in the third stanza to knot the game at 32 going into the fourth quarter. Hemingford was buoyed by defensive pressure from Kyle Kaman and Brady Turek, and loose balls were scooped off the glass by Blake Hansen. Hansen and Colt Foster showed plenty of grit, scrapping with taller bulldogs under the basket time and time again.
In the fourth, timely free-throw shooting , especially by Foster, and a three-pointer from Kyle Kumpf set the tone for a 17-11 Bobcat advantage, moving the final score to 49-43 Hemingford.
Matthew Wood showed good leadership and drove the lane more than once to finish with 11 points, complementing Foster’s 16. Kumpf finished with 9 points and continually hounded Bridgeport’s leading scorer Jaime Gonzalez, who was still able to score 22 points as the only Bulldog in double figures.
Parents, Grandparents, and longtime Bobcat fans stayed after the game to congratulate players and coaches, (and each other), as they tried to remember the last time the Cats had advanced to a District Final.
As near as this writer can find, using old yearbooks and old players, that was way back in 2000-2001 when John Haas, Matt Trickler, Brett Sorensen, Brison Kuhn, and Brennan Vogel led the Cats to a 17-7 record and a district final against Grant.
Other members of that outstanding 2000-2001 team were Silas Cheek, Brian Linegar, Kyle Wade, Keal Messersmith, Loran Swanson, Brian Stables, and Brad Kuhn. Managers were Brock White and Chris Deans, and Coaches were Mo Hanks and Chris Watt.
Other members of this years outstanding 2012-2013 team are Jameson Forgey, Brady Horstman, Matthew Mayer, Johnny Manning, Toby Phillips, Ethan Skinner, Joseph Rozmiarek, Jason Randolph, Jacob Horstman, Danny Manning, Cody Laursen, Cole Walters, and Tanner Benge. Managers are Mason Hiemstra and Luke Cullan; Coaches are Randy Hiemstra, Joe Collins, and Taryn Wood.
GO CATS !