LINCOLN, NE - The Johnson-Brock Eagles started the defense of their State Boys Basketball crown with an impressive 73-32 win over the Elmwood-Murdock Knights on Wednesday, as heard on B103.

The two teams traded the lead back & forth for roughly half of the first quarter, but the Eagles ended the frame strong to build a 16-9 lead heading into the second quarter. Johnson-Brock added to that lead in the second quarter, pushing that advantage to 20 points at recess, 36-16. Elmwood-Murdock was unable to make a threatening run the rest of the way.

Camden Dalinghaus led the top-seed with 19 points, while adding seven rebounds and five assists. Brody Koehler was close behind with 18 points & another seven boards, while shooting a very efficient 9/11. Austin Meyer was the last Eagle in double digits with ten points & twelve rebounds for the double-double. The team wound up hitting 50% from the field, went a perfect 6/6 at the free throw line, had a big turnover advantage (15-8), and dominated the glass (43-23).

Elmwood-Murdock senior Aidan Schmidt scored more than half his team's points with 19, plus he had five blocks & five boards. Nobody else hit more than one bucket in the loss.

The Knights' season closes with a record of 14-12, while the Eagles will clash with four-seed McCool Junction in the semifinal round of the Class D1 State Tourney on Friday morning at 9 a.m. on B103.