• Video: Skutt vs. Gross highlights:



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Charlie Wallrapp was Omaha Skutt's only reliable scorer in Thursday night's River Cities Conference boys basketball semifinals.

The 6-foot-6 senior scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half, and his free throw with 3.2 seconds left lifted Class B's No. 1 team to a 55-54 win over Omaha Gross.

“At halftime, we told him not to be afraid to step up and look for the 3,'' Skutt coach Jon Burt said.

Wallrapp made three 3-pointers in the third quarter, the last good for a brief 38-37 lead, then his basket with 2:54 left in the game pulled the SkyHawks (12-1) into a 47-47 tie.

They would not trail again.

His 3-point play with 2:16 left gave Skutt a 50-47 lead. It held leads of 52-49 and 54-51 before 6-3 senior guard Joe Guinan knocked down a game-tying 3 for Gross on a pass from Dylan Travis with 32 seconds left.

Skutt held for the last shot. Wallrapp called time out once, after getting trapped near the midcourt line. Skutt got the ball back to him after the ensuing inbounds pass, and he drove the lane, drawing a blocking foul. He missed the first free throw and made the second.

Gross junior Travis, in those 3.2 seconds, was able to drive into the frontcourt to launch a 3-pointer while several Skutt defenders converged on him. It hit off the glass and the front of the rim, leading to the second disappointing loss to the SkyHawks in eight days for the Class B No. 6 Cougars (9-4).

Skutt advanced to Saturday's 7 p.m. RCC final at Gross against South Sioux City, which beat Beatrice 47-43 in overtime.

Thursday's three games at Skutt, including a girls semifinal, drew an estimated 1,500, Skutt Athletic Director Mike McMahon said.

Jerad Warner led Gross with 15 points and 14 rebounds after getting 31 points in the 70-65 loss to Skutt on Jan. 14.

Travis and backup guard Thomas Jurgensen each added 10 points for the Cougars.

James Hajek, Skutt's 6-9 senior center, avoided foul trouble in the rematch and had nine points and 14 rebounds. He had back-to-back baskets after Gross took its biggest lead of the final quarter, 47-41 on a Travis 3 with 4:39 left.

Dan Phelps had all nine of his points for Skutt in the first half.

“We both played better defense tonight,'' Gross coach Tim Powers said. “The last time, each of us was getting easy shots.''.

Omaha Gross (9-4)...................11 14 16 13—54

At Omaha Skutt (12-1)......10 12 17 16—55

G: Joe Guinan 6, Tony Nelson 8, Dylan Travis 10, Jerad Warner 15, Ben Coenen 2, Thomas Jurgensen 10, Shaun McWilliams 3.

S: Michael Guinane 5, Dan Phelps 9, Charlie Wallrapp 24, Jacob Smith 4, James Hajek 9, Myles Jablonski 2, Corey Homan 2.

Skutt girls 71, South Sioux City 49

Ashley Harry had 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half, in which the host SkyHawks took a 40-25 lead.

Maggie Smith added 12 points and Mayme Conroy 11 for Skutt (12-1), which is ranked third in Class B.

Tristen Sharp had 16 points for South Sioux City (9-2), which was ranked ninth in the Top 10 and second in Class B.

Skutt will play Beatrice, a 47-41 home winner over Omaha Roncalli, in the 5 p.m. final Saturday at Gross.

South Sioux City (9-2).................11 14 17 7—49

Omaha Skutt (12-1)......................21 19 18 13—71

SSC: Tawni Greeley 6, Allison Pfeifer 2, Kacie Kavanaugh 2, Ashley Miller 6, Shelby Saul 4, Morgan Hansen 4, Sara Hohenstein 7, Andreana Sharpback 1, Tristen Sharp 16.

Skutt: Mayme Conroy 11, Sarah Nordstrom 2, Meghan Korth 6, Keri Koley 3, Lauren Ruden 6, Lauren Kluthe 2, Shannon Mettling 4, Maggie Smith 12, Kacey Eggink 1, Ashley Harry 17, Kylee Polsley 7.

Contact the writer:

444-1041, stu.pospisil@owh.com

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