Dragons, Bulldogs to face off in district championship

Mid-Buchanan senior Ian Wegenka's go-ahead basket with seconds on the clock punches Mid-Buchanan's ticket to a district championship bout with a long-time rival.

Mid-Buchanan and Bishop LeBlond went the distance in Wednesday's Class 3 District 15 semifinals, trading baskets in the final quarter that could have gone either way. Bishop LeBlond senior Jacob Winkelbauer capitalized on what could have been the game's winning basket with under 30 seconds to play. Winkelbauer cashed in on an and-one call by hitting not only a two foot basket to tie the game at 72, but knocking down the ensuing free throw to give LeBlond the lead at 73-72.

With just over 10 seconds left on the clock, Mid-Buchanan senior Raife Smith, who battled foul trouble throughout the contest, got a steal on LeBlond senior Cooper Waterman on the sidelines. Smith took the ball himself to the basket, missed the layup attempt to take the lead. The ball ended up in the hands off an off-balanced Waterman on the baseline who tried to save the ball from going out of bounds, but that attempt at a save pressed the ball into the stomach of Wegenka who acted quickly to put up a shot and make the game's winning shot. LeBlond had one last chance at a heave from near midcourt and the seconds ticking off the clock, but the shot was come up short. 

Mid-Buchanan will move on to play the East Buchanan Bulldogs, who defeated North Platte earlier in the evening 56-50 on Wednesday, for the Class 3 District 15 championship. The two will face off on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at East Buchanan High School.