• Video: Highlights from the Omaha Skutt-Beatrice game:



• Photo Showcase: Friday's semifinals

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LINCOLN — There's no delicate description for Omaha Skutt's victory over Beatrice in Friday's Class B state semifinals.

“That was a brawl,” Skutt coach Jon Burt said following his Class B No. 4 SkyHawks' 46-43 win over the sixth-ranked Orangemen at the Devaney Center. Skutt moves back into the finals, where it won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.

It was anything but easy getting there. The SkyHawks had to do it down the stretch without their two leading scorers — and against a conference rival that had reached three consecutive state finals.

It wasn't until Beatrice guard Trevor Menke missed an off-balance 3-pointer from the top of the key that Burt and company were able to breathe easy. Menke had hit a deep 3 against Lincoln Pius X as time expired in the first round to give the Orangemen a one-point win.

“It was just two typical Class B teams banging it out,” Burt said. “They don't go away. They showed that last night. They're a champion.”

Skutt started the game on a 6-0 run, holding Beatrice scoreless for the first 5½ minutes. The Orangemen scored the next 12, a spurt that lasted into the second quarter. It was countered with an 8-0 run by the SkyHawks, who never trailed after going into the locker room down 20-19.

Danny Phelps scored a quick bucket to start the second half, Jacob Smith added another and Skutt eventually led by as many as eight late in the quarter.

But Beatrice didn't quit.

Orangemen senior Daniel Jenkins — playing in only his second game with the team after moving from Independence, Kan. — scored in the final minute of the third quarter and added a basket to start the fourth and bring Beatrice within 34-30.

The teams went scoreless for the next three minutes, then traded free throws until Menke hit a 3 with just over two minutes to go to get the Orangemen within one. It was Menke's first bucket of the night.

Skutt's Charlie Wallrapp then knocked down four straight free throws, part of his 6-for-6 showing from the line after missing his first three of the game.

“That was gutsy of him,” Burt said. “He's had some free throw bugaboos the last month.”

Beatrice knocked down another 3-pointer. Skutt countered with two more free throws. Menke converted a three-point play in which Wallrapp fouled out. Skutt executed a perfect sideline out-of-bounds play for a Myles Jablonski bucket with 26 seconds left.

Punch after punch until the final seconds.

After Skutt's Smith missed a pair of free throws that would have put the game away with 12 seconds to go, Menke came down the floor and looked for the same high ball screen he had used the night before for the game-winner.

Skutt doubled him, forcing an off-balance attempt that wasn't close.

“We just couldn't get it back,” Beatrice coach Jim Weeks said. “I thought if we tied it, we had a great shot. It hurts. It's tough. It's a tough one to deal with.”

Wallrapp scored 12 points before fouling out, Jablonski added 11 and Hajek had 10 for Skutt. Hajek added seven rebounds and four blocks before he also fouled out. Jablonski had three 3s.

Beatrice's Jenkins led all scorers with 18 points, going 7 of 10 from the field. Phil McClure added 13 for the Orangemen, whose seven seniors will end their careers in the third-place game against Ralston at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lincoln Northeast. It will be the 12th state tournament game for some of them.

“It's a special group,” Weeks said.

Beatrice (18-6)......................10 10 8 15 - 43
Om. Skutt (21-6).....................6 13 15 12 - 46
• B: Trevor Menke 8, Tommie Bardsley 4, Phil McClure 13, Daniel Jenkins 18.
• OS: Myles Jablonski 11, Danny Phelps 4, Charlie Wallrapp 12, Jacob Smith 9, James Hajek 10.

Contact the writer:

850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com

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