BRIDGEPORT, NE — The C2-12 sub-district final is set after a pair of boys basketball contests Tuesday night in Bridgeport, Neb.

The Bridgeport Bulldogs took down the Kimball Longhorns 87-26 in the first game of the double-header while the Bayard Tigers used a late surge to get past the Hemingford Bobcats 55-46. 

The Bulldogs started off strong in their contest, roaring out to a 9-0 lead early in the first. Junior Rafi Cantu scored nine for Bridgeport in the opening frame as the Bulldogs took a 26-9 lead into the second quarter. 

Off a 7-0 run to start period two, Bridgeport expanded its lead to 48-17 at the break. Cantu and junior Mason Nichols hit double digits for points in the first half, with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Bulldogs hit 10 three-pointers in the first two quarters of play, including a combined seven from Cantu and Nichols. 

The Bulldogs hit five more shots from beyond the arc in the third quarter as they went on a 16-0 run to start the second half. This gave Bridgeport a 64-17 lead and also put the running clock into effect. By the time that clock ran out on the game, four players for Bridgeport were in double digits as the Bulldogs won 86-27.

Cantu lead the way with 19 points while Nichols had 18. Senior AJ Kenner hit four shots from beyond the arc in the contest and finished with 16 points. Senior Cade Loomis had 15 points in the contest. 

Kimball was lead by freshman Wyatt Cords who had eight points. 

While Bridgeport lead wire-to-wire in its contest, Hemingford and Bayard swapped leads numerous times in their game. 

After a tightly contested first quarter, the score was knotted at eight heading into the second period. The teas traded one-point leads back and forth in the second period. As the period wound down, Bayard got into a rhythm while breaking Hemingford's took take a 22-16 advantage. This was the largest lead either team held in the first half. It didn't last long however as the Bobcats came right back and tied the game with less than a minute left in the first half. 

The Tigers got one more shot to fall before the end of the contest to take a 24-22 lead into the break. 

Hemingford took the lead with two quick buckets to start the third period at 26-24. The Bobcat's score went back to odd numbers after senior Kenny Wyland hit one of two free throws on a trip to the line. This allowed the teams to trade the lead back and forth again. Bayard held a 34-33 advantage late in the third. Hemingford had opportunities at the rim in the closing seconds of the period, but couldn't convert so the Tigers held on. 

The teams continued to hand off the lead to one another until Hemingford took a 41-38 lead just over halfway through the fourth quarter. Tigers head coach Michael Simons took a timeout to strategize with his team and it paid off big time. Out of the break, Bayard strung together the first real run from either squad in the contest. The Tigers embarked on an 11-2 run to take a 49-43 lead with about 80 seconds left on the clock. 

Bayard never looked back, holding on for a 55-46 victory. After Simon's timeout, Bayard outscored Hemingford 17-5 to clinch the win. 

Senior Daemon Avilez lead the Tigers with 14 points. Sophomore Trent Marquez, senior Trevor Reisch and junior Garret Hopkins also hit double digits with 11, 10 and 10 points, respectively. 

Junior Ethan Specht paced the Bobcats with 13 points. 

Bridgeport (21-2) will now face Bayard (13-10) in a sub-district championship game on Thursday in Bridgeport. It will be the fourth meeting between the two schools this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The game will be carried on KSID 98.7 Sky FM.