LINCOLN, Neb. — Omaha Concordia slowed down the Pierce offense and held off the Bluejays for a 53-45 win on Wednesday.

The victory puts the #5 Mustangs (24-3) in the Class C-1 semifinals for the second time in the last three years. #4 Pierce ends its season with a 23-4 record.

Concordia held Pierce to just five points in the first quarter. They extended weathered a push by the Bluejays in the second quarter but scored at the buzzer at the end of the 3rd to take a seven-point lead. The Mustangs overcame several 4th-quarter threes from Pierce to secure the win.

The win sets up a matchup with #8 Auburn in the semifinals. The two teams played in the semis in 2021, with the Bulldogs winning 39-37 in overtime. This year’s game will be at 9:00 a.m. Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. It will be televised on News Channel Nebraska.

Omaha Concordia: 9, 9, 14, 19 = 53

Pierce: 5, 11, 9, 20 = 45

Omaha Concordia… McCafferty 18, Sunde 11, Wilson 10, Thrasher 9, Shepherd 5

Pierce… Scholting 20, Brahmer 18, Anderson 4, Watts 3