OGALLALA – The Kimball High girls are headed to Lincoln and the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament after capturing the C-l District playoff game with Hershey this past week in Ogallala. The Lady Longhorns had advanced to the District playoff after winning the Cl-12 sub-district and Hershey got there by winning the Cl-ll sub-district. Coach Ken Smith had a game plan that allowed his girls to avenge an earlier loss (50-31) at the hands of the Lady Panthers, and they did it in grand style winning 58-44, that’s a 33 point swing from the first meeting! With the exception of the third quarter, the Kimball ladies may have played their best basketball of their four year careers, as far as the seniors are concerned. Kimball looked sharp from the get-go as Jenna Provance controlled the opening tip and Jaclyn Christensen scored the first basket on a base line move. Danielle Perry hit the first of 4 treys a short time later, Heather Dickson converted a layin off a steal and pass from Kayli Rageth. Christensen made a strong move inside to get her second basket of the game and when fouled in the act of shooting, converted the free throw and Kimball led 10-0. Perry then nailed her second three point fielder and it was a 13-0 lead for the Lady Horns. Hershey got on the score board with a rebound put-back basket,  but Heather Dickson, who was 6, for 6 at the line for the game, hit a pair of free throws, and Christensen fed Cierra Pedersen for an easy basket and despite Dane Elsasser swishing a trey, Kimball was on top 17-5. At the end of the period, Kimball led 18-9. They had shot 6 for 9 from the field, were 2 for 2 on three point attempts, 4 for 5 at the line, had dished out 6 assists and had only 4 turnovers. Hershey scored the first 3 points of the second period but Kayli Rageth answered with a trey and in so doing, set a new school record for points scored in a season. She had scored 393 coming into the district playoff game and was sitting 1 point behind the school record of 394 set by Melissa Christensen in the 1999-2000 season. Her three pointer put her at 396 for the new record with lots more basketball to be played. No time for any ceremonial activities however as the Kimball ladies were much more concerned about winning this all important contest and earning the right to advance to the state tournament. Miss Rageth would nail one more trey on the night and finish up with 12 points running her new school record to 405 points with more basketball ahead this season for the tall and talented junior star. At one time in the second period Kimball had doubled the margin leading 30-15 and at half time they led 30-21. Hershey picked up the pressure in the third period and Kimball had 10 turnovers as they were outscored 14-7 in that time frame. The Lady Panthers actually tied the game at 33-33 with 2:37 to play in the third stanza, but they never held the lead as Kimball was still on top 37-35 when the third quarter ended. During the time out period prior to the start of the final quarter, coach Smith informed his girls to get composed, take care of the basketball, and play confident. They responded to his instructions like champions. Dickson hit an 18 footer to start the period, Rageth nailed her second trey of the game, and followed with a 17 footer. Dickson made a steal and fed Rageth for a layin and then the senior point guard hit a 16 footer and suddenly Kimball was back on top, and in control, with a 48-35 lead. Hershey got their first basket of the final period with 2:14 to play, but despite the three pointer by Josey Schomp, Kimball still held a 10 point lead. Miss Dickson made it a 12 point difference when she scored a layin with 1:59 to play. Coach Smith wanted his girls to be patient and take the good shot in the closing minutes and seconds, but Hershey was in great shape foul wise with only 2 team fouls and less than two minutes to play. They (Hershey) were able to foul away without sending Kimball to the foul line, but once they reached the 7 team foul status, the Kimball ladies put on a free throw shooting exhibition going 8 for 8 at the charity stripe. Down the stretch Danielle Perry hit 2, Dickson 4, and Christensen 2 and they outscored Hershey 21-9 in the final period. Kimball shot an even 50 percent from the field going 19 for 38 including 6 for 14 from three point range, were 14 for 17 at the foul line for 82.3 percent, out rebounded Hershey 22 to 18, had 15 steals, 18 assists, 2 blocks, 23 turnovers, and 11 fouls. Heather Dickson led Kimball scoring with 16 points going 5 for 9 from the field and 6 for 6 at the line. She also had 5 rebounds, 7 steals and 3 assists. Kayli Rageth had 12 points on 5 for 8 shooting including 2 for 5 on three pointers, and had 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound and 1 blocked shot. Danielle Perry showed off her long range abilities with 4 treys on 7 attempts and was 2 for 2 at the line for 14 points. She also dished out 4 assists. Jaclyn Christensen had 9 points going 3 for 3 at the line, had 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 7 assists and 1 block. Jenna Provance had 4 points and 7 rebounds, and Cierra Pedersen had 3 points and 3 rebounds. Hershey finished with 14 for 49 shooting from the field going 5 for 14 on three pointers, were 11 for 16 at the line, and had 18 rebounds and 17 fouls. Maria Munsen scored 26 points on Kimball in their win over the Lady Horns in their first encounter was held to 7 this time around. Schomp led Hershey with 15 including 3 treys, Ann Kuroki had 9 with 1 trey, Dana Elsasser 9 with 1 trey, and Taryn Dobbil 2. Both schools had great followings with the Hershey side perhaps a bit larger, but the Kimball fans were certainly boisterous in their support of the Lady Longhorns. At the final buzzer it was sheer elation for the Kimball coaches and their players, as well; as the fans. The Kimball players got to enjoy a picture taking session, got to cut down the nets, got to receive their championship plaque, and will now become the first Kimball team since the 1999 team, ten years ago, to play in the state tournament, and once again, they will tangle with Hershey. When the C-l pairings came out over the weekend, Kimball was the No. 5 seed with their 20-4 win-loss record and 44.6250 power rating while Hershey is the No. 4 seed with a record of 18-4 and a power rating of 44.9545 which got them into state tournament play by virtue of a wild card berth. The Kimball-Hershey contest is set for tonight (Thursday) at 8:45 Lincoln time (7:45 Kimball time). All first round C-l games will be played at Pershing Auditorium with No. 7 Lincoln Christian (15-7) facing No. 2 Crofton (21-1) at 2 p.m. Thursday, No. 3 Boone Central (21-2) facing No. 6 Bennington (18-3 at 3:45, No. 1 Bishop Neumann (22-1) facing No. 8 Minden (16-7) at 7 p.m. and the Kimball-Hershey game the night cap on Thursday evening. All winners advance into the semi finals at the Devaney Sport Center on Friday with the upper bracket winners playing at 2 p.m. and the winners of the bottom bracket, including Kimball, to play at 3:45 p.m. The championship game is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Center, and the format now calls for a consolation game as well for third place which will be played at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Lincoln East High School. All first round winners are guaranteed three games. Travel and departure plans for the Lady Horns has them leaving Wednesday morning, stopping in Lexington for a shoot around and lunch, travel on to Lincoln where they will get settled in. Coach Smith said, “We will get up Thursday and go watch some basketball and then get ready for our game Thursday night.” Western Nebraska fans might want to try and catch the Alliance-Adams Central game in Class B at 10:45 a.m. Thursday morning at Pershing, or the Perkins County-Concordia game in Class C-2 at 9 a.m. Thursday morning at Lincoln Northeast. Kimball 18  12  7  21--58Hershey  9  12  14  9--44