By Brian McKim
On Monday night, the Falls City Sacred Heart Irish boy’s basketball team traveled to Hampton, Ne to take on (14-9) Medicine Valley. At stake on Monday night at Hampton High School was a trip to the NSAA state basketball tournament next week.
The Irish got off to a good start Monday night as senior Jack Fiegener drilled a trey from the wing on the Irish’s first possession to take a 3-0 lead. A steal by Jake Froeschl and a layup at the other end put SH up 5-0. After a bucket by the Raiders, Brogan Nachtigal hauled in an offensive rebound and put back to make the score 7-2 less than three minutes into the action. After consecutive hoops by Medicine Valley, the Irish outscored Medicine Valley 6—1 to take a 12-7 lead after one quarter.
Much like the first period, Fiegener nailed a three from the wing to begin the scoring in the second quarter. A free throw and a hoop with under a minute to go are all the Raiders could muster in the second quarter. Meanwhile, SH a couple of jumpers and layups and took a 23-10 halftime lead.
Senior guard Jake Froeschl dominated the third period, scoring eight points as SH increased the lead to 38-14. The Irish defense allowed just two field goals in the period and the offense capped off the scoring with a long three at the buzzer by Sam Dunn to give SH a comfortable 24-point lead, 38-14.
Fiegener led the Irish down the stretch, scoring seven of the Irish fourth-quarter points as SH outscored Medicine Valley 15-8 in the final eight minutes and cruised to the 53-22 district win.
The Irish defense put pressure on the Raiders all game long, forcing 19 turnovers while committing just seven of their own. Neither team got to the foul line as SH was 3-6 and Medicine Valley finished 4-8.
Jack Fiegener led the Irish with 17 points, while Jake Froeschl finished with 16. Hayden Kramer scored nine and Hudson Stout had seven to lead the Raiders.
Scoring vs. Medicine Valley, Jordan 6, Froeschl 16, Fiegener 17, Nachtigal 4, Simon 2, Keithley 5, Dunn 3.
The Irish will be playing in their fourth consecutive state tourney, having won the D2 crown in 2018 and 2020. This will be the Irish’s eighth trip to Lincoln in the last ten seasons. The Irish defeated Humphrey St. Francis last year, 45-33, to win the school’s tenth basketball title.
