Josh Rowan
C-H sports writer
OVERTON – Just 17 miles separate S-E-M and Overton, as the Mustangs traveled those miles to take on the Eagles in Overton’s home finale Friday evening.
The girls’ began the night looking for their second home win of the season and to end their regular season on a high note heading to sub-districts.
The Eagles were no match for the Mustangs, as S-E-M routed Overton in the girls’ final home game 49-32.
S-E-M used a steady offensive attack to take a 14-7 lead after the first quarter and outscored Overton 15-7 in the second quarter to take a 15-point lead at halftime.
Overton didn’t lie down and quit, holding S-E-M to just 7 points in third quarter, but only managing to score three. The Eagles outscored the Mustangs 15-13 in the final quarter, but just couldn’t cut into the lead to get back in the game, giving S-E-M the win.
Sophomore Laurie Callahan played a stellar game, scoring 13 points and grabbing six rebounds. Callahan also had four steals on the night. Senior Kayla Stauffer scored eight points in her final home game in an Overton uniform and also grabbing a team-high five steals.
The girls struggled shooting the basketball for most of the game, going 12-49 (25 percent) while shooting only 6 of 13 (46 percent) from the free throw line. S-E-M didn’t shoot the ball any better, going just 30 percent (17-57) from the field.
The Mustangs also won the rebounding game 27-24.
Overton falls to 2-15 on the year and will open up with Bertrand (1-18) in first round of the D1-10 sub-district tournament.
The Overton boys were looking to hand S-E-M another drubbing as the fifth-ranked Mustangs were routed 75-62 in the semi-finals of the Fort Kearny Conference tournament.
The game was a lot closer than the crowd expected, but in the end, senior Jared Hodgson prevented the game from going into overtime, as a buzzer beater propelled the Eagles past S-E-M 60-58.
The game looked as if the Eagles would roll S-E-M once again, as Overton led by two after the first quarter, but then extended their lead to 34-28 by halftime.
The Mustangs put Overton on the ropes as S-E-M outscored the Eagles 22-9 in the third quarter to take a 50-43 lead going into the final quarter. The Eagles were able to rally the troops and even up the game at 58 with seconds remaining. Zach Olmstead missed a free throw with time running down, but Hodgson came out of no where to grab the rebound and get the put back as the buzzer sounded. The crowd erupted as the Eagles escaped defeat.
Overton didn’t have one of it’s best shooting nights, going 20-60 (33 percent) while shooting 10-14 (71 percent) from the free throw line. S-E-M shot 37 percent from the field while going 14-17 (82 percent) from the charity stripe.
Jacob Olmstead led the Eagles’ attack with 21 points and four rebounds on the night. Senior Jared Shafer impressed many in his final home game, scoring 17 points and nabbing seven boards. Zach Olmstead was the third Eagle to score in double figures, going for 13 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The fourth-ranked Eagles move to 15-3 on the season with one game to go as they host Gibbon on Friday. S-E-M falls to 16-4 on the season.

• Overton Boys Basketball
• Overton Eagles
• Overton Girls Basketball

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