Flyers Top Mustangs, Will Meet Irish Again in D2 State Tourney

Isabel Preister scored a game-high 24 points, leading Humphrey St. Francis to a 61-54 win over McCool Junction in a girls state basketball D2 quarterfinal Thursday.   

St. Francis trailed 23-13 after the first quarter, but took a 32-28 lead late in the second quarter and the game was tied 32-all at the half.

The Flyers, making their sixth straight appearance at state, improved to 20-6 and kept alive their hopes of winning a fifth championship in school history.  The Mustangs, who were riding a 16-game winning streak coming into their sixth state tourney ever and first since 2003, finished at 24-3. 

In Friday’s semifinals, St. Francis will meet old nemesis Falls City Sacred Heart.  The two have squared off in the past two D2 state finals, with the Irish winning last season after the Flyers prevailed in 2021.  Tipoff at the Bob Devaney Sports Center is set for 6 p.m.  The game will be aired on KLIR 101.