By Dale Miller
dale.miller@theindependent.com

The Kearney junior guard scored 20 points including an insurance free throw with 11.1 seconds left which secured a 42-38 win over Grand Island Senior High at the Heartland Events Center.

Maher made three 3-pointers and went 7-for-10 from the free throw line for the Class A No. 7-rated (Omaha World-Herald) Bearcats.

"She hit a few threes for us in the first half," Kearney coach Jason Boyd said. "She hit a couple when they were in their zone and took them out of their zone a little."

The Islanders (10-9) were concerned about sisters Nicole and Ashley Arp. While they were held to a combined 16 points, Maher did the damage.

"Maher seemed like she hit everything for a while," Grand Island coach Kelli Jeffries said. "We were worried about the Arps, and she stepped up."

Kearney (16-3) held a 23-21 halftime lead and slowed it down in the third quarter. Each team only managed seven shots, with the Bearcats making five compared to the Islanders' two to take a 35-26 lead.

"There was a stretch in the third quarter where they stretched it out on us," Jeffries said.

The Bearcats continued to try and slow it down in the fourth where they only attempted three shots.

Leading 40-32 with 1:17 left, Kearney couldn't seal the win at the free throw line. The Bearcats went 3-for-8 the rest of the way, allowing Grand Island to pull within 41-38 on a pair of free throws by Stacia Robertson with 17.8 seconds left.

Maher did make 1 of 2 free throws with 11.1 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.

"In the fourth we were trying to get a good shot," Boyd said. "All of a sudden there were 2 1/2 minutes left and I said now we are only going to shoot uncontested lay-ups."

Kearney finished the game 15-for-25 on free throws while Grand Island only got four and made three.

Grand Island appeared ready to get in foul trouble early. Kearney was in the bonus with 3:32 left in the first quarter but the Islanders avoided fouling again for almost 10 minutes.

Foul problems were part of a slow start that saw G.I. commit three turnovers and three fouls in the first 51 seconds.

"At times we played well," Jeffries said. "At the beginning of the game and the beginning of the second half, we did not play well. Especially at the beginning of the game, I think we had four possessions before we got a shot."

The Islanders did have success on 3-pointers, making 5 of 9 to keep close to Kearney most of the game.

"They're athletic and do a lot of tracking things," Jeffries said. "You do not get a lot of great looks. The kids settled down after the first few minutes and our kids hurt them (from outside). I still think we needed to get the ball inside more."

Ariel Krolikowski led Grand Island with nine points. Alex Miller and MaKayla Gowen each added eight.

Robertson, who returned from an ankle injury, scored five.

"It's the first day she's played all week," Jeffries said. "It was a gametime thing. She warmed up and felt well, and she played more than I thought she would."

KEARNEY 42, GRAND ISLAND 38

KEARNEY (16-3)

Maher 5-10 7-10 20, N. Arp 1-5 2-5 4, Winchester 0-2 0-0 0, A. Arp 5-7 2-2 12, Peters 0-4 1-2 1, Epley 0-0 3-4 3, Rousseau 1-3 0-0 2, Maloley 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 12-31 15-25 42.

GRAND ISLAND (10-9)

Miller 3-6 0-0 8, O'Boyle 0-3 0-0 0, Tomlin 2-7 0-0 6, Krolikowski 4-9 0-0 9, Gowen 4-5 0-0 8, Kinne 1-2 0-0 2, Armes 0-1 0-0 0, Robertson 1-3 3-4 5. Totals 15-36 3-4 38.

Kearney 12 11 12 742

Grand Island 10 11 5 1238

3-point field goalsKearney 3-8 (Maher 3-4, N. Arp 0-1, A. Arp 0-1, Peters 0-2), Grand Island 5-9 (Miller 2-4, Kinne 0-1, Tomlin 2-3, Krolikowski 0-1). Fouled outnone. ReboundsKearney 27 (A. Arp 7), Grand Island 20 (Gowen 6). AssistsKearney 5 (N. Arp 3), Grand Island 10 (Tomlin, Robertson, Gowen 2). TurnoversKearney 15, Grand Island 17. Total foulsKearney 13, Grand Island 23.

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