Opening round action of the Class B district 1 tournament featured a battle between the Lady Bulldogs of Alliance and the Devils from Plattsmouth. Lexington High School hosted the event. Using a big second half, it was the Blue Devils advancing with a 51 to 27 win over the Dogs. Alliance finishes their season at 5 and 20. Down by just 4 in the final moments of the third period, Alliance was outscored 9 to 0 as the Devils pulled away. Leading the Bulldogs offense was freshman Reese Armstrong who ended 10 points while senior Addison Weber added 6.
Early buckets by Armstrong and Brooke Bailey helped AHS storm ahead 4 to 0. The Blue Devils answered back with 5 straight but a pair of free throws by Bulldog Brinlee Lanik gave Alliance a 6 to 5 advantage at the midway stage. The period came to a close with a Devil hoop and the Bulldogs down 7 to 6.
Both teams struggled in the second with Plattsmouth scoring 7 and Alliance tallying just 2. A Devil three early in the period made it 10 to 6. Plattsmouth then added to their margin with a 2 putting the score at 12 to 6. Armstrong answered for Alliance with a bucket at the 2 minute mark that gave the Dogs life. Quarter #2 came to an end with a Plattsmouth basket that made the halftime score Plattsmouth 14 Alliance 8.
Only two Dogs got into the scorebook in the third with Weber scoring 6 and Armstrong adding 5. Six early tallies by Weber is how the third started as AHS closed within 2 at 16 to 14. Weber had an old fashion three point play along with a trey to lead the Dog comeback. Four in a row by the Devil ensued that made it 20 to 14. Back came Alliance with Armstrong sinking a 3 pointer and hitting a pair of free throws. Up by 4, the Devils responded with 9 straight to increase their margin. A killer three pointer by Plattsmouth at the buzzer made the board read Plattsmouth 32 Alliance 19 after three periods of play.
In the fourth, Alliance got a bucket by Ande Girard to get off to a super start. Unfortunately, it was close as the Dogs would get. Up 11, the Blue Devils went on a 10 to 0 spurt to surge ahead 42 to 21 with 5 minutes left to play. AHS’s Paz Cody stopped the spree with a three but 6 in a row by the Devils put the contest away. Alliance last tallies came from a bucket by Hannah Benzel and a free throw by Armstrong.
Final Plattsmouth 51 Alliance 27
ALL 6 2 11 8 27
PLATT 7 7 18 19 51
Scoring for Alliance Weber 6 Bailey 2 Armstrong 10 Lanik 2 Girard 2 Cody 3 Benzel 2