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Leyton has unfinished business next season

Clearing out the cobwebs from winter sports gone by …

Leyton’s fourth-place finish in last weekend’s Class D2 state tournament was a nifty cap on a 22-3 season.

Sure, the Warriors could have played better in the semifinals loss to Spalding/Spalding Academy, but Gary Oltmann’s team just got caught in one of those buzzsaws that you can’t escape.

Granted, the team is also losing a lot in terms of its heart and soul that is senior Sam Schumacher, and the onus is on the rest of the Warriors’ returnees to try and fill the void.

Junior guard Dylan Brenner hinted that he might be able to fill some of the void, as he scored 27 points in Saturday’s third-place game, a one-point loss to Falls City Sacred Heart.

Both Schumacher and Oltmann made references to the Warriors making an impression on those who don’t see Panhandle basketball on a regular basis.

Oltmann noted that Leyton’s has unfinished business when it comes to the state tournament series. Bounced from the Elite Eight last March, the Warriors made progress with a fourth-place finish, and Leyton deserved to be in the conversation.

No disrespect to Spalding, but I don’t think the Knights are 20 points better than the Warriors. Granted, under the same circumstances, any game is going to get ugly. The Warriors were snagged in transition on a 94-foot floor, and Spalding had the depth and legs.

With 10 less feet to cover in a high school gymnasium, I don’t think the game gets out of hand, but that’s one man’s opinion.

Next year, Leyton returns Brenner, center Brennan Cruise, Chris Melzer and A.W. Frerichs to go with sixth man Cody McKay. Now, it’s time for the rest of the reserves to improve and fill in roles next season.

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This winter had numerous highlights.

Of course, Leyton’s triple-overtime win against Sandhills/Thedford in the Sutherland D2-6 District finals has to top the list. Had the Warriors lost the game, they would have not been a top seed, and would have likely fallen out of the running in terms of wild-card points.

That’s how close it was.

Next in line has to be Layne Harvey’s three free throws in the final ticks, that enabled the Sidney Raiders nip Alliance 61-60 on Feb. 15. Harvey was fouled on a 3-point shot attempt, and with his ailing grandfather watching from the corner, the sophomore calmly splashed all three attempts to enable Erik Kohl’s team to reverse what seemed to be a sure defeat.

Sidney senior wrestler Tanner Wintholz’s third-place finish in the state 195-pound division was a show of determination. Knocked out in the opening round by the eventual state champion, Wintholz came all the way back in the consolation bracket, and didn’t lose again.

Creek Valley’s girls improved quite a bit this season, enough so to upset their way to the Minuteman Athletics Conference tournament title. The Lady Storm hadn’t made it past the first round in years, and turned the trick in Bill Wilber’s first try. Look for big things next season from Creek.

Sidney’s Lady Raiders came storming back at Scottsbluff in January, rallying from a double-digit deficit at halftime to win handily. Tyler Shaw’s team also had a clutch 32-21 Dec. 13 win at Alliance, when Madi Malzahn intercepted a pass and fed Karissa Segelke for the game-winning basket.

Potter-Dix basketball also had some moments. The Coyotes boys team made it all the way to the District finals before losing to D1 runner-up Paxton, and the girls made the national record book early against Sedgwick County, in a contest with 105 free-throw attempts.

That total ranks second all-time nationally.

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Winter’s over, and spring sports are upon us.

Sidney and Creek’s track and field teams will compete indoors Saturday at Chadron, while Peetz (Colo.) baseball will hit the diamond next week.

Boys’ golf will also begin in a couple weeks.

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