Lady Cougars Earn First Ever NSAA District Plaque

By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

It has been thirty years since Lyons and Decatur consolidated to form Northeast High School.  In that era, LDNE athletics has won a State Championship and had  two Runners-Up.  There are a string of plaques noting district honors won by sporting and activity programs.

Up to 2012 there is one award that cannot be found in the trophy room- a NSAA trophy for volleyball.  1996 and 2009 were outstanding teams, but they stumbled in sub-districts finals.

The 2013 team found itself being the smallest school in the EHC.  They played against only two D-2 schools during the regular season and beat them.  Despite a 9-22 season record, they had high hopes for playoff success at sub districts held in Pender.

The Cougars had a first round contest against Winside.  LDNE had faced the Wildcats in September with a 2-1 victory.  The second match had the same results.  Northeast won 3-1.  The teams traded wins in the first two sets, but Northeast stepped up their game for easy wins in games three and four.

Brianne Haskell had a good hitting game with 14 kills while also leading the team in digs with 26.  The seniors all made sure that this was not their last match with good games.  Vanessa Peterson had 6 kills and 7 blocks.  Haley Bacon served 4 aces and had 6 blocks.  Hannah Christiansen had 7 kills and 3 blocks.   Libero Sarah Alford had 21 digs.

The second round game was against top seed Bancroft-Rosalie.  The Panther boasted an 18-13 record.  They opened the match with a 25-22.

Vanessa Peterson said that the team was pretty confident that they could beat B-R.  “We consider them rivals and we really want to beat them.   We knew we could play better and we did.”

The next two sets were decisive wins as the Cougars won 25-19 and 25-18.  The fourth set was close but LDNE came out on top 25-23.  Northeast had won their sub district.

The team got a big lift at the serving line as they had 15 aces.  Hannah Christiansen led the way with 9.  Brianne Haskell had 14 kills.  Vanessa Peterson had 7 blocks. The team had 121 digs with Haskell leading with 25 while Alford had 23.

The district finals were held at Fremont Middle School on November 7.  Their opponent was a 25-5 Mead team that was rated number in the state by the Omaha World -Herald.

“We knew they would be a challenge,”  said Vanessa Peterson.  “We just had to try our hardest.”

The Cougars had a great start as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead.  They were up 8-4 with the help from kills from Darcy Simonsen, Hannah, and Vanessa.

The Raiders slowly pulled back into the game and tied the score at 14.  The teams traded points. With kill by Hannah the score was knotted at 17.  Mead scored four of the next five points to gain a 21-18 lead.  Northeast got another three points, but the Raiders tallied 4 to win the set.

Mead jumped out to a 7-0 lead in set two.  Northeast battled back to a 13-9 difference, but Mead put the match out of reach as they ran off ten straight points on a way to a 25-11 win.

The Mead front line over powered Northeast in the third set.  They had six kills and three blocks as they started with a 10-0 lead.  Northeast could not change the momentum and would lose 25-8.

With no experience in district finals the girls left the court after the congratulating the Champions.  It was a big surprise when the announcer asked for the captains to come forward and receive the Runner-Up plaque.  Coach Cronin was there to receive it for the  team.

“We did not know that we were going to get a trophy,” said Peterson.  “It was so exciting when  Coach Cronin showed it to us.  I am so proud of our team.”

The Cougars finish the 2013 season with a 11-23 record and a NSAA District plaque.

Winside            15        27        13        9

LDNE              25        25        25        25

K A B D:  Maddie  1  0  0  10,  Darcey  1  0  1  17,  Brianne  14  1  1  26,  Abby 0  0  0  0,  Sarah     0  0  0  21,  Kelly  9  1  2  16,  Vanessa 6  2  7  7,  Hannah  7  1  3  7, Haley  5  4  6  16.  Set Assists:  Darcey 27.

B-R                  25        19        18        23

LDNE              22        25        25        25

Maddie 2  0  0  15,  Dasrcey  2  1  0  17,  Brianne  14  2  1  25,  Abby  0  0  0  12,  Sarah  0  0  0  23,  Vanessa  3  1  7  56,  Kelly  5  1  0  13,  Hannah  7  9  4  5,  Victoria 0  0  0  0,  Haley  5  1  5  6.  Set Assists:  Darcey  27.

Mead               25        25        25

LDNE              21        11        8

Maddie 0  0  0  10,  Darcey  1  1  3  6,  Brianne 6  0  2  9,  Abby  0  0  0  2,  Sarah  0  0  0 11,  Vanessa 3  1  6  3,  Kelly 2  0  0  6,  Hannah  2  0  1  4,  Victoria  0  0  0  0, Haley  1  1  1  5. Set  assists:  Darcey 12.

Lady Cougars Parents Night

Pictured on Parents Night is: Sarah Alford with her parents Linda and Leroy, John and Shelly Bacon and Haley, Lisa and Tavis Christiansen and Hannah and Grace and Vanessa Petersen. Photo Credit/Pat Sharp, LDNE.

Good Luck Lady Cougars in District Finals! Beat Mead!!!

From back row left to right is Coach Bruhn, Kelly Wakeley, Brianne Haskell, Hannah Christiansen, Maddie Ronnfeldt, Vanessa Peterson, Kayci Kramer, Natalia Castle, Coach Cronin. Middle row from left to right is Mickayla Petersen, Abby Peterson, Lexie Bacon, Darcey Simonsen, Tessie Collins, Libby Henneman. Front row left to right is Kelsey Payton, Shyanne French, Victoria Maslonka, Sarah Alford, and Haley Bacon.
Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Go Cougars, beat Falls City SH

Here are many pictures of the Cougar season! Let’s cheer the Cougars on to victory!!!

The players, cheer and pom squads enjoying a great Cougar season. All Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Cougars defeat Meridian in first round of playoffs

By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

Cougars vs. Meridian. Photo Credit/Pat Sharp, LDNE.

The Lyons-Decatur Football team took a decisive win in their first round playoff game.  The Cougars overpowered Meridian by the score of 60-18.

The Cougars got off to a fast a start as Chevy Henneman took the opening kickoff to the house.  Henneman sprinted up the left middle of the field for a 72 yard score.

After the Mustangs advanced past midfield, the defense rose to the occasion and stopped a fourth down attempt.

Henneman got another score when he swept around end from 15 yards out. On their third possession Dakota Riecken got behind the defense for a 62 yard pass reception from Alex Brehmer.  Brehmer added a 20 yard scoring run before the first period was over.

Northeast got three more TDs in the second period while holding Meridian scoreless.  Dylan Hardeman and Marcus Hegy had short scoring plays, while Henneman broke loose for a 55 yard score.  Northeast led 52-0 at the half.

The Mustangs got on the score board with a drive after the second half kickoff.  The Cougars responded with their own drive and Henneman got his fourth score of the night on a 25 yard run.

Northeast had a potent offense as they ran for 317 yards and passed for 90.  Henneman got 138 yards on 14 carries.  Brehmer ran 12 times for 141 yards.  He completed 6 of 7 passes.  Hegy caught 2, Riecken 3 and Fuston 1.

Sixteen players recorded tackles with Dakota Riecken leading the way with 16 including a TFL.  Alex Brehmer also had double digit tackles with 13.  David Bishop had another good game at  defensive end  with 7 tackles.  Henneman and Christiansen, and Hegy had 5.  Hegy and Fuston each recorded a sack.

Good Luck Cougars!!!!!

Front Row-Joey O’Connor, Dylan Hardeman, Jacob Whitaker, Thomas Fuston, Bren Shatto, Montana Riecken
Middle Row- Taylor Fuston, Jayden Vetick, Chevy Henneman, David Bishop, Bobby Simpson, Marcus Hegy, Jaden Peeden
Back Row- Charles Webb, Shane McCulloch, Dakota Riecken, Alex Brehmer, Cole Christoffersen, Jon Christiansen, Tyler Hardeman. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

LDNE District Volleyball Finals

7:00  P.M.

LDNE football vs. Falls City

By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

After their 60 to 24 win over Meridian the Cougars will have a big test in their second round game.  They will take on D-2’s number one seed,  Falls City Sacred Heart.

The Irish disposed of Kenesaw by the score of 58-0 last Thursday.  After four offensive touches  they were ahead 21-0.  Sawyer Kean took the opening kick off back for a 78 yard TD.   After a 3 and out, Kean raced 50 yards on their first offensive play.  Their third possession consisted of a 22 pass followed by a 49 yard TD reception. They finished the half off with three more TD passes and another run.

Chazz Dunn, thier QB,  hit 9 of 10 passes for 201 yards.  Colin Niemeyer caught 5 for 130 yards and3 TDs.

Kean had 72 yards rushing on 6 carries.

FCSH is very quick and athletic. They use motion and different formations to create mismatches.

The Irish went 8-0 in the regular season.  They averaged 59.75 points per contest while giving up just 7.5.

Where is Meridian High School?

By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

Where in the world is Meridian High School?  That was the question that Cougar fans asked when the Nebraska Class D-2 football brackets were released on Saturday.  The Cougars will face off against the Mustangs in first round game on October 31 at 5:00 P.M. on their field.

Meridian is located in Jefferson County, next to Kansas.  The school is at Daykin  which is 29 miles west of Beatrice.

The game should be a highly contested game as Meridian is the number eight seed in the East Bracket with a 41.375 power rating. Northeast is number nine with 41.00.

The Mustangs finished the season with a 5-3 record.  Their most notable win was the 14-6 season opener against Lawrence -Nelson who had a 6-2 record.  Meridian was defeated D-2’s number one seed Fall City Sacred Heart 49-6.

They averaged 44 points per game while giving up 29.25.  Coach Maresh says that they are not a particularly big team, but they are capable of putting up the points.  They have an I-Back who has rushed for about 1000 yards.

The Cougars finished the season with a 7-1 mark.  Power points were harder to come by as the first five opponent finished in the division 3 with losing records.  A division three win is worth 40 points.

No team can run the read option like the Cougars.  They rushed for 339 yards per game as Northeast amassed 2715 yards with 40 TDs on the ground.  Teams that tried to stop the run paid for it as LDNE  connected on 35of 62 passes for 676 yards and 15 TDs.

Alex Brehmer, the quarterback,  had a school record 1526 yards with a 10.6 average per carry.  He connected on 31 of 55 passes for another 14 scores.  Junior Chevy Henneman took the pressure off Brehmer as he totaled 1078 yards for a 7.05 average and 15 TDs.

The receivers are led by Dakota Riecken with 17 catches for 310 yards and 7 TDs.  Marcus Hegy has 8 catches with 3 TDs and Taylor Fuston has 2 catches, each going for a score.

Dakota Riecken led the defense that held opponents to just 1494yards, just 187 per game rushing while giving up 98 yards/game passing.  Riecken has 144 tackle.  Alex Brehmer tallied 102.  Chevy Henneman and David Bishop are other top tacklers with 63  and 50 respectively.

The Cougars have out scored their opponents by twenty points.  They average 48.3 while giving up 28 points per game.

A win on Halloween most likely would create a match up against the number one seed, Falls City Sacred Heat, on November 6 .  Lyons-Decatur would-be the host team.

Lady Cougars season comes to a close

By Clare Wiltse
Sports Contributor

The Northeast girls ended their regular volleyball season with a four game losing streak. They lost EHC matches to Pender and Tekamah Herman in the past week.

The Lady Cougars hope to turn things around as they play in the D-2 District 4 at Pender on November 4. They will take a 9-22 record into the tournament where they will face off against (5-23) Winside. The Wildcats have lost their last twelve matches. The winner will take on the other bracket’s victor between (17-13) Bancroft-Rosalie and (4-16) Walthill. The Cougars faced the Panthers in the EHC tournament and came out on top with a 2-1 win. “The win over Bancroft-Rosalie has to be a confidence builder,” stated Coach Cronin.

The (10-17) Pendragons won 3-1. After falling 25-21in the first game the Cougar came back strong for a 25-16 win. Pender won he match by taking the next two 25-20.

Statistic leader were Brianne Haskell with 10 kills, Darcey Simonsen and Hannah Christiansen with six blocks, Christiansen with 2 ace serves, and Brianne Haskell with 20 digs.

(23-7) Tekamah-Herman was a tough draw for the Parent’s Night Game. The Tigers won 3-0.

Four seniors played their last home match: Sarah Alford, Vanessa Peterson, Hannah Christiansen, and Haley Bacon. Bacon would top the team with 2 ace serves and 5 blocks. Libero Alford had 16 digs. Peterson combined for 3 kills and 4 blocks. Christiansen had 5 kills and 3 blocks.

LDNE 21 25 20 20

Pender 25 16 25 25

K A B D Maddie 1 0 0 10, Darcey 1 0 6 15, Brianne 10 0 0 20, Sarah 0 0 0 18, Vanessa 8 1 4 5, Kelly 7 0 0 9, Hannah 7 2 5 9, Victoria 0 0 0 9, Haley 5 0 6 7.
Set assists: Darcey 32

T-H 25 25 25

L-D 23 13 19

Maddie 2 0 0 11, Darcey 0 1 0 7, Brianne 11 0 1 13, Abby 0 0 0 4, Sarah 0 0 016, Vanessa 2 4 4 0, Kelly 3 1 0 7, Hannah 5 0 3 1, Haley 5 2 5 2, Lexie 0 0 0 6. Set Assists: Darcey 14, Lexie 8 Haley 1, Kelly 1.