Thrice is Nice For North Bend Girls, Osceola Boys Fall

The North Bend Central girls rallied to defeat Lincoln Lutheran 35-31 in overtime today as the Tigers earned a three-peat in the C1 state basketball tournament. 

North Bend used a pressure defense to help score the final five points in regulation and all four points in the extra period.  All four points in OT were courtesy of Josie Cleveringa.  The Tigers sophomore missed on a three-point try in the final second of regulation, but hit a trey and made a free throw in the final four minutes to complete a nine-point game.  Junior Kaitlyn Emanuel led NBC with 13 points and nine rebounds. 

It was the third straight title and fifth all-time for North Bend, which was 27-2 this season and went 78-7 in the three championship campaigns.  Lincoln Lutheran, led by second-year head coach and former Scotus assistant Wade Coulter, ended 24-4 and settled for a runner-up finish after placing third last season. 

In the third place game in the boys D2 state tournament today, Osceola fell to Falls City Sacred Heart 63-40.  The Bulldogs ended the season with a 22-7 mark.