Bancroft-Rosalie made a flurry of three-pointers late in the third quarter to gain a cushion on North Platte St. Pat’s and the Panthers never trailed after that,

The Panthers won, 59-53, on Wednesday night in the first round of the Nebraska Boys’ State Basketball Tournament at the Devaney Center.

Bancroft-Rosalie (23-4) advances to the semifinals where they will play Howells-Dodge (22-5), while St. Pat’s season ends with a 19-7 record.

The Irish had some momentum early. They took a 12-6 lead on a three by Heirigs. The Panthers scored the next seven to get ahead but Heirigs scored the next five with a basket and a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter to put St. Pat’s up, 17-13.

Bancroft-Rosalie overtook the Irish in the second quarter and led 29-26 at halftime after K.J. Blackhawk hit back-to-back threes to end the first half.

St. Pat’s tied the game at 37 on a Heirigs bucket in the third. But Jaden Browning and Sam Dick knocked down threes for the Panthers. Blackhawk buried another one at the buzzer to give Bancroft-Rosalie a nine-point lead at the end of the third.

Peyton Kramer brought the Irish back within striking distance by scoring the first seven points of the fourth on a basket, a three-point play and two free throws.

But St. Pat’s couldn’t tie the score nor take the lead as the Panthers hit timely buckets down the stretch to hold the Irish at bay.

This year marked the sixth straight year St. Pat’s qualified for the elite state tournament. It is also the second straight time the Irish lost in the opening round. Going into the season, it wasn’t a certainty they would make it back to Lincoln after their leading scorer and rebounder, Brecken Erickson, among others, graduated.

A starting five of Heirigs, Kramer, Logan Winder, Sutton Tickle and Trey Furmanski solidified during the season, and St. Pat’s didn’t miss a beat as they won sub-districts and they defeated Central Valley in the district final.

Winder will graduate along with Porter Connick and Isaac Irish, who came off the bench. But Heirigs returns along with Tickle, Kramer and Furmanski to form a solid core, with hope make it seven straight next year.

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