Bobcats fall in subdistrict final

The third time playing Elgin Public/Pope John wasn't the charm for the Lady Bobcats in the girls' subdistrict final. At the end, EPPJ outlasted Summerland, 44-42.

Coach Jacob Birch said, against EPPJ, his team had an outstanding first quarter and led the game 14-1 at that point.

"EPPJ battled back and it was a back-and-forth fight until the end," he said. "I was very proud of the way our girls competed and played all out. Defensively and on the rebounds, we brought great energy and intensity."

Lydia Robertson scored 19 points and Ady Mlnarik finished with a double-double, dropping 10 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

Birch said, "We led for the first 30-plus minutes of the game and ultimately just couldn't quite hang on at the end. Credit EPPJ, they battled back and did a great job.

The Bobcats advanced to the final after a 67-37 rout of Neligh-Oakdale

Birch said the Lady Bobcats were able to use defense to "get a lot of things going in transition."

"We did a great job of filling up the scoring column," he added, noting that Robertson had a career-high 31 points. Mlnarik had another game with more than 20 points and added double-digit rebounds and nine steals .According to Birch, Preslie Robertson, Ella Bolling, Jenna Funk and Caydence Schumacher all made a big impact defensively and on the rebounds.

Stats vs Neligh-Oakdale:

L. Robertson: 31p, 7r, 4s, 4to

P. Robertson: 7p, 2r, 3a, 2s, 1b, 6to

Mlnarik: 25p, 10r, 6a, 9s, 1b, 1to

Bolling: 2p, 5r, 1a, 2s, 4to

Funk: 6r, 1a, 2s, 1b

Aislynn Kester: 1to

Bailey Ahlers: 1r

Schumacher: 2p, 1r, 2s

Stats vs EPPJ:

L. Robertson: 19p, 3r, 2a, 5s, 1b, 3to

P. Robertson: 3p, 7r, 4a, 1s, 2b, 1to

Mlnarik: 10p, 16r, 1b, 6to

Bolling: 2r, 1a, 1s, 2to

Funk: 6p, 7r, 1a, 1s, 2b, 3to

Schumacher: 4p, 2r