Prior to the start of Thursday’s state tournament game against Mead, Wauneta-Palisade assistant boys’ coach Rod Gaston said the game would be decided by who could control the tempo.
    While WP favored an up tempo style of game throughout the season, Mead shrugged off season ending injuries and battled through the season by slowing its games down.
    WP head coach Dave Kuhlen said WP wanted to increase the tempo of the game since Mead wanted to just play five players and have so many sets to prepare for.
    WP got off to a very slow start offensively, missing its first seven shots from the floor and allowing Mead to open up an 0-11 lead. Brody Nordhausen scored WP’s only basket of the first quarter.
    Dennis Cavanaugh jumpstarted the Broncos in the second quarter. Cavanaugh made a two pointer on WP’s first possession of the quarter and followed it up two possessions later with a three pointer.
    The Broncos continued to narrow the gap. Greg Gaston hit a three pointer and Caid Doetker a free throw bring the score to 11-15.
    Another trey by Cavanaugh cut the lead to one, 14-15. Following two Mead free throws, a runner by Duncan Rector kept WP within one point.
    The Broncos didn’t score over the final 3:48 of the half, however, and trailed 16-24 at halftime.
    Nordhausen hit the boards early in the second half. His put back on the Broncos first possession followed by Gaston’s convention three-point play after a steal and layup made the score 21-26.
    Mead used a free throw and three pointer to hold onto the lead, but Cavanaugh was able to match the Raiders three-point bucket.
 

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