BOYS BASKETBALL: Kubik’s Late Three-Pointer Lifts No. 10 Southeast Past No. 6 North Star

LINCOLN–(KFOR Dec. 6)–After one of the most furious comebacks in recent memory, it seemed as if Lincoln North Star garnered too much momentum for Lincoln Southeast to protect their wire-to-wire lead.

But with the game tied at 47, it was Southeast forward Gavin Kubik who stepped up and sank what turned out to be the game-winning three-pointer with 14 seconds left that gave the Class A No. 10 Knights a 50-47 victory over the No. 6 Gators at the Prasch Center on Friday night, in the season opener for both teams.

Kubik, who finished with nine points, had a 15-foot shot attempt blocked in the same final possession before he hit the three-pointer from the deep right wing.  North Star called time out to set up a final play to force overtime, but Jordan Castor’s three bounced of the back rim before time ran out.

Southeast (1-0) jumped out to a 14-3 first quarter lead, taking advantage of poor shooting and turnovers from North Star and using the transition game.  That included a 7-0 spurt.  The Knights increased the lead to 29-13 at halftime and it seemed the Gators had a tall hill to climb.

North Star (0-1), however, went on a scoring explosion in the third quarter, outscoring Southeast 18-11 as Castor scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the period.  The Gators still trailed 40-31 heading into the final quarter.

North Star kept chipping away at the deficit and never led, but Castor’s basket with 2:40 to go in the game tied it at 47.

Mike Ngoyi led Southeast with 15 points and Roman Lambert added 10 for the Knights.