 The Chargers went to battle in the Class D2 state semifinal, but came up just short at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday night. Third-seeded Osmond topped Riverside, 62-50, handing them their first loss of the season. The #2 Chargers will now play for third place against top-seeded Falls City Sacred Heart at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Lincoln Southeast. Coach Joe Imus said although his players may feel disappointed to be playing in a third place game on Saturday, they have the opportunity to end their season on a high note. “We get to play against Fall City Sacred Heart who we played in the state championship last year, and ending the season beating them would be a good accomplishment,” Imus said After the semifinal game, the coach said he told his team that they should be proud of their 23-1 record. “And anytime you end your season in Lincoln, it’s always a great thing,” Imus said. “A lot of people don’t ever get the opportunity to be down here and we’ve been spoiled to be down here all the time. Hopefully, it sinks in to them when they’re older, how great of an accomplishment it is.” Tredyn Prososki paced the Chargers with 28 points against Osmond, followed by Joseph Bloom with 10, Michael Bernt 6, Ty Martinsen 3, Keaton Carraher 2 and Trey Carraher 1.  In a dominating second-half performance, Riverside cruised to a 67-48 victory over Exeter-Milligan to advance in the Class D2 State Tournament in Lincoln on Thursday night. The #2 seed, they will play #3 Osmond in the semifinal matchup at 8:45 p.m. Friday in the Bob Devaney Sports Center. After the Chargers opened up the game with a 4-0 lead, the Timberwolves clawed their way back into the contest and took a 15-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Withstanding several runs by E-M and putting together a 23-point second quarter, Riverside regained the lead at halftime, 35-30. After a sluggish start, Coach Joe Imus said he was proud of his team’s perseverance. “That’s what we talked about at halftime,” Imus said. “We didn’t feel like we played our best going in, but we felt like Exeter was playing really well and we were able to put together a better second half that we are capable of.” In the second half, the Chargers outscored the Timberwolves 31-18 to win their first-round state tournament game and improve to 23-0 on the season. Junior Tredyn Prososki led Riverside with 32 points, including five 3-pointers. “Coach said if you find some space, pull it, so that’s what I did,” Prososki said. Coach Imus said Prososki has been starting since he was a freshman, so was comfortable playing in his seventh state tournament game. “Another thing that we talked about at the half is that the lights are kind of too bright for a couple of our guys, but the lights are never bright enough for him,” he said. The coach said E-M’s defensive game plan was to collapse on 6-7 post player Joseph Bloom. However, he said Bloom made a huge impact on defense, blocking seven shots in the contest. “He gave us so much on defense and rebounding and even shots he didn’t block, he contested them,” Coach Imus said. Bloom added 10 points for Riverside and Michael Bernt drained 13. Rounding out the scoring for the Chargers were Trey Carraher and Ty Martinsen 4 apiece and Trent Carraher 3.  The Riverside boys basketball team is Lincoln-bound for their fifth consecutive state appearance after defeating Wallace, 65-38, Monday night to win the Class D2-3 district championship at Minden.
 Boone Central/Newman Grove senior Jon Merten capped his impressive career with a runner-up finish at 220 pounds at the Class C state wrestling tournament Saturday. Facing Arlington’s Remington Gay, Merten scored the opening takedown to take an early 2-0 lead. Gay answered six unanswered points to end the match. Trailing 4-2 late in the match, the senior Cardinal took a desperation shot, but Gay sprawled away from Merten and spun behind for the takedown. Merten finishes the year 41-4 with a second-place finish.  Boone Central senior Ethan Dozler claimed hardware on Saturday at the state wrestling tournament. Dozler faced Brady Hull of Logan View in the 160-pound third-place match and dropped a 4-3 decision.  Boone Central/Newman Grove senior is one win away from capturing Boone Central’s first, and Newman Grove’s first since 2008, state championship. “I feel pretty good and the last match felt pretty good,” Merten stated. “I’m hoping I can go after it tomorrow.” The Cardinal 220 pounder took an early lead and was up 3-0 after two periods against Austin Marx of Battle Creek. Marx scored an escape early in the third, but unable to find the equalizing takedown, as Merten held on for the win. “The last period was pretty nerve racking,” Merten added. “I wanted to get another takedown, but he’s good at defending them and I just couldn’t. 160 pounder Ethan Dozler fell in his semifinal match against unbeaten Caleb Long of Valentine. Dalton Rasmussen (285) Will Grape (120) and Gavin Dozler (106) each lost in their heartbreak round matches to end their tournament runs. Ethan Dozler faces Conner Halverson of Gordon-Rushville in the consolation semis Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Merten takes on Arlington’s Remington Gay in the 220-pound championship match at 2 p.m.  All five Boone Central/Newman Grove wrestlers are still alive in the Class C state tournament after picking up wins Friday afternoon. Gavin Dozier went a perfect 2-0 in the session at 106 pounds. Dozler opened with a 3-0 decision over Trevin Edwards of Loomis/Bertrand, before rallying past Gibbon’s Jose Escandon, 3-2. Will Grape bounced back after a 1-1 day on Thursday to survive a late flurry against Ord’s Kaden Boyce. After several reversals, near falls and takedowns, Grape emerged victorious with a 13-10 decision. Dalton Rasmussen scored a pair of falls to advance to the heartbreak round of the heavyweight bracket. Trailing 4-1 late in the third period against Ord’s CJ Hoevet, Rasmussen tossed Hoevet to his back and stuck junior 285 pounder. The semifinals and consolation heartbreakers begin tonight at 5 p.m.  A pair of Boone Central/Newman Grove wrestlers earned a spot in the Class C state wrestling tournament semifinals on Thursday at Omaha’s CHI Health Center Arena. Jon Merten and Ethan Dozler each went a perfect 2-0 to seal a spot in the semifinals. Ethan Dozler opened the tournament with a 4-1 decision over Malcom’s Adam Stewart. The 160 pounder followed it up with a second-period pin against Hershey’s Colten Ballentine. “The is one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had,” Ethan Dozler stated. “I’m so thankful for my coaches and family for pushing me so far. Now I’m going to go get a higher medal.” Merten cruised to the semis with a pair of wins at 220 pounds. “They were good, but I’ve been working on my shots all week,” Merten commented. “I tried to get better at my setups. It looks like it paid off.” After defeating Milford’s Jack Chapman in the opening round, 7-3, Will Grape fell to Caydon McCracken on Battle Creek in the 120 quarterfinals. Gavin Dozler (106) and Dalton Rasmussen (285) lost their openers to drop into the consolation bracket. The consolation round begins Friday at 12:30 p.m., followed by the semifinals at 5 p.m.  Five Cardinals are Omaha-bound after qualifying for the state wrestling tournament during the Class C-2 district meet on their home mat. Gavin Dozler (106), Will Grape (120), Ethan Dozler (160), Jon Merten (220) and Dalon Rasmussen (285) all punched their state ticket on Saturday in Albion. In arguably one of the most stunning matches of the day, Rasmussen was down to his final nine seconds in the heartbreak round. Down 2-0 with state on the line, he scored a takedown in the final seconds to rally for a 3-2 in over Wilber-Clatonia’s Eric Escobr, sealing his trip to Omaha. Grape and Rasmussen both qualified early in the day during semifinals. Grape pinned Logan View’s Luis Jimenez Hernandez in 5:42 to advance to the championship. Grape dropped an 8-6 decision to Zak Hansen of Stanton in the final, which was a back-and-forth battle that could have gone either way as the grapplers traded reversals for three rounds. Merten scored the lone district championship on the day for Boone Central/Newman Grove in a tight 3-2 decision over Josh Bailey of Johnson County Central. In the semifinal, Merten scored a major decision 10-2 over Wayne Moore of David City. Ethan Dozler finished third with 4-2 decision over Isaiah Borgmann of Stanton. He flew through the heartbreak round in dramatic fashion with a pin over Gavin Jackson of Wood River in a quick 1:59. Gavin Dozler placed fourth after a sudden death loss to Jose Escadon of Gibbon. Gavin fought back in the final seconds of the third period to force the extra period, sending the Cardinal faithful to their feet. But Escadon took Gavin down for the win over the Cardinal. 106 Gavin Dozler (32-17) placed 4th and scored 10.0 team points.
Will Grape (30-19) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points.
Aaron Saldana (8-10) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Tyson Haddix (28-24) place is unknown and scored 8.0 team points.
William Karmann (4-27) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Ashton Schafer (18-21) place is unknown and scored 7.0 team points.
Ethan Dozler (37-9) placed 3rd and scored 16.0 team points.
Taylor Weber (10-28) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Richard Cleveland (11-22) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Bryce Kennedy (8-18) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Jon Merten (38-3) placed 1st and scored 21.0 team points.
Dalton Rasmussen (29-13) placed 3rd and scored 14.0 team points.
 Nine Cardinal wrestlers still have their eyes set on the Class C state wrestling tournament. Boone Central/Newman Grove is hosting the Class C-2 meet, which continues on Saturday in Albion at 10 a.m. After Friday’s action, Gavin Dozler, Will Grape, Ethan Dozler and Jon Merten remain perfect in the tournament and are just one win away from guaranteeing their spot at state. All four won their quarterfinal matches to advance to the semifinals. Aaron Saldana, Tyson Haddix, Ashton Schafer, Richard Cleveland and Dalton Rasmussen all advanced in the consolation bracket. The season ended for William Karmann, Bryce Kennedy and Taylor Weber, who lost by a heartbreaking medical forfeit. 106 Gavin Dozler (31-15) place is unknown and scored 5.0 team points.
Will Grape (29-18) place is unknown and scored 6.0 team points.
Aaron Saldana (8-9) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Tyson Haddix (27-23) place is unknown and scored 7.0 team points.
William Karmann (4-27) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Ashton Schafer (18-20) place is unknown and scored 7.0 team points.
Ethan Dozler (35-8) place is unknown and scored 6.0 team points.
Taylor Weber (10-28) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Richard Cleveland (11-21) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Bryce Kennedy (8-18) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Jon Merten (36-3) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
Dalton Rasmussen (26-13) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
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