Cougar Basketball Wrap-Up
March 31, 2014 Leave a comment
By Clare Wiltse
Sports Contributor
Four years ago a new coach took over at Northeast. He inherited at team that had graduated seven seniors. There were only two players with extended varsity playing time. It was a definite rebuilding job and meant using four freshmen. The team struggled and finished with a 6-17 record.
The next season the four sophomores were joined by two more classmates and helped propel the Cougars to an 11-12 record.
The last two season the team has been a .500 team in spite of playing in one of the toughest conferences in Nebraska. The EHC Elkhorn Division has had a State Champion team in 2013 and 2014. The team did not have the physical attributes, mainly height, but made up for that with true grit. They had a 12-12 record in 2013 and finished this season with an 11-11 mark.
“We had a chance to post the first winning record since 2004,” said Coach Derek Lahm. “In the last two games we were just not ourselves. It should not take away from our season and the great effort the team gave each game.”
The seniors have put their mark on the Cougar Top Ten List. Alex Brehmer eclipsed All-Stater Bret Kroger’s records in games played and steals. He is second to Kroger in career assists with 216. His 78 assists in 2014 is tied for fourth. His 50 steals in ninth best for a season.
Dakota Riecken, an undersized post player, did not let size deter him. His 62.4% shooting is second to 6′ 7″ Brett Sailors’s 67%. For his career he converted 57.9%, again second to Sailors. His 78 and 173 free throws is fourth best for season and fifth best for career at NHS. He is tied for third in career offensive rebounds (173) and ninth in total rebounds (395).
Bobby Simpson put his name on the list as a three point shooter. He had 42 which places him in sixth place. His career total of 101 is fourth best. He is eighth in free throw percentage for a season at 78.1%.
Junior Chevy Henneman broke into the top ten with 35 three pointers this season. He is tied with Derek Haskell.
The class of 2014 has three 500 career point players. Dakota Riecken finished with 571 points. Bobby Simpson score 519 points and Alex Brehmer had 510.
Taylor Fuston had career marks of 43 points, 42 rebound and 19 steals to go with 16 assists. He was on varsity for three seasons.
David Bishop scored 77 points and grabbed 77 rebounds in this three seasons. He also had 26 steals and 12 assists.
The 2014th season saw the Cougars finish in a tie for fourth in the Elkhorn Division with a 3-4 record. The co-champions Bancroft-Rosalie won State and Dodge-Howells took third in Lincoln.
Despite their .500record the Cougars won all the statistical categories exception rebounding. Their tough man-to-man defense held opponents to 49.2 point per contest and forced 356 turnovers. They had 213 steals. The opposition had a 35 rebound advantage in rebound.
Northeast will have four returning players with experience on the varsity level. Chevy Henneman will be the top returning scorer with an 8.7 average. Sophomore Marcus Hegy averaged 7.2 ppg and was third best in rebounding with 92. Sophomore Alec Anderson was a valuable reserve with a 1.6 ppg average. His season was cut short by a hand injury.
Freshman Montana Riecken gained varsity experience in 2014. He will have the tough job of replacing Alex Brehmer at point guard next year.
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