Sports

Cody-Kilgore fans packed the stands on Thursday, February 27, 2025, hoping to see their Cowboys (15-8) triumph in the D2-12 Round 2 matchup against the Hay Springs Hawks (13-9). The rematch against Hay Springs was a much-anticipated conclusion to the subdistrict series. Fortunate for the Cowboy faithful, Cody-Kilgore did not disappoint as they defeated the Hawks 65-63 in dramatic fashion at the CK Corral in Cody.

Round one action in the D2-12 subdistrict tournament tipped off in Cody, NE, as the Cowboys (14-8) earned the top seed for the postseason series. Game one featured the Cowboys against the fourth-seeded Sioux County Warriors (6-13). The Cowboys previously defeated the Warriors twice during the regular season, and this matchup ended in similar fashion: a Cowboy victory, 62-37.

Game two pitted the second- seeded Hay Springs Hawks (13-9) against the third-seeded Crawford Rams (8-13). During the regular season, the Hawks dispatched the Rams on two occasions.Unfortunatelyforthe Rams, the third time was not a charm as the Hawks swooped to victory. The game was not absent of drama, as sure-shooting Crawford junior, Taylor Homan putonascoringclinicduringthe first quarter of action, which propelledCrawfordtoa9-21lead over Hay Springs. Homan also reached a basketball milestone when he drained a three-point shot that netted him over 1,000 careerpoints.Behindhisefforts, Crawford headed to halftime leading 22-34. At the conclusion of the third quarter, it became apparent that Hay Springs had weathered the first half Ram stampede. Although trailing 4549attheendof thethirdquarter, momentum had shifted toward the Hawks. Throughout the fourth quarter, both teams traded scores in a dramatic fashion. A technical foul on Crawford resulted in Hay Springs taking the lead for the first time in the game, but the contest remained undetermined until free throws turned the tide for the Hawks. With nine seconds left in regulation, the Hawks led 61-60, and they sealed the victory by making three free throws following Crawford fouls. With the win, the Hawks set up an intriguing subdistrict championship game against the Cowboys. This season, Hay Springs and Cody-Kilgore have faced one another three times. Despite an early season blowout win against the Hawks, the Cowboys have lost two close games to Hay Springs by a total of five points.

The Valentine Badger Cheer team competed in their first-ever cheer competition on Friday, February 21, 2025. The team had decided in December that they were going to compete in the C2 Game Day category.

As Mother Nature tried to throw a wrench in the Lady Badgers postseason, the Lady Badgers weren’t ready for their season to be over. The Badgers entered the postseason as the number two seed in the subdistrict and had to play the number three seed, Bayard Tigers.

The Badgers played a great game against the Gordon-Rushville Mustangs. They came out a little slow in the first quarter but got their game going and didn’t look back. Outscoring the Mustangs in all four quarters, with the second quarter being the strongest, with a score of 21-4. They outlasted the Mustangs by a score of 80-43. With five Badgers in double digits, 80 is just one point shy of their highest for the season.

The Badger Speech team traveled to Battle Creek on Saturday, February 21, 2025. The team brought home six medals.

The NSAA Girls State Championship got underway Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. For the first time, the girls will have a two-day standalone state tournament separate from the boys. Also new this season, there are two classifications of schools for girls wrestling.

Valentine Badger wrestling team sent seven boys to NSAA State Championship Wrestling. As a team they scored 43.5 points.

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