With winter storm Kayla bearing down on central Nebraska, coach Sara Partington and her Aurora Huskies girls basketball team celebrated their first Central 10 Conference tournament title since 1982 the only way she could think.
With a 6:00 am Monday morning practice.
“We have a big game coming up on Friday (with Waverly),” said Partington, in her first year at Aurora where she also teaches elementary physical education. “And, we knew that practicing after school or even thinking about getting a Tuesday practice in would be tough.”
Such is the new focus that Partington has brought to the Huskies program that is now 13-5 overall and ranked fifth in today’s Omaha World-Herald rankings. They are intent, as they coach said, on making history for the school that has long been a volleyball power.
“We’ve talked about that really since the beginning of the season,” said Partington, who led Wahoo Neumann to consecutive state finals as a player in 2008 and 2009, winning the title her senior season. “We haven’t been to state since 2007; only four times total and we’ve never won a game there. We’d like to get down there and do that this year.”
Brash goals for a first year coach. But attainable for her team that doesn’t start a senior and in the month of January went 9-1 after a 4-4 start that included losses to three ranked teams.
Against now-No. 6 York on Saturday in the conference finals, the Huskies erased a 33-30 deficit heading into the fourth quarter for a 41-39 win that avenged a 63-47 loss to York just before Christmas. Adyson Narber had 14 points and Jasa Scheierman had 12 points for the Huskies in the win.
“York is so good,” Partington said, “so good. We knew we’d have to win that game with defense and rebounding and I think that’s exactly what we did. We had the lead most of the first half and they took it to us as the end of the first half and had the lead at halftime because we didn’t rebound very well.”
Aurora took the lead for good by scoring the first six points of the fourth quarter, four of them by Keri Oswald who finished with eight points. The title was shared with the boys team, who beat Crete in the finals.
So, just how have the Huskies done it? Good question, the coach said.
“I think for us, it’s really been about focus,” Partington said. “We talk about being focused all the time and then each day, recommitting to the team. Today, I’ll be the best rebounder. Or, the best defender. Or, the best ball handler. And, we needed belief.
“I think the girls, from day one, have bought into the belief that they can be the team that can be that team that makes history for our school.”
Narber leads the team in scoring at 12.8 points per contest as the Huskies are averaging 47 points per game and give up just over 39. Scheierman averages 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest with 6-foot post Corrie Schneider leading the team at nearly 12 rebounds per contest. Sophomore Brooke Williams is third in scoring at 9.2 points per game and Oswald averages 5.9 an outing.
They all bring something to the table, Partington said.
“It’s really taken an entire team effort,” the coach said. “All the way down to our bench. We have had players on our bench step up and give us great minutes throughout the season as well.”
But for a coach who has had “basketball in my blood since I could walk,” the journey has been just as important, if not more.
“My dad coached my club team starting in third grade,” said Partington who played collegiately at Nebraska-Omaha before ending her career at Briar Cliff with a pair of national tournament appearances. “One of those girls was in my wedding. Those relationships are what it’s all about. That’s what I want for these girls. I want that impact to last way beyond basketball and high school. I don’t want them to ever forget it.
“We talk about attitude and effort and this team has been great about those things. They have been a dream to coach. They come to practice and work hard everyday. And, my staff has been awesome.”
Let’s Rewind
Rankings | OWH Boys | OWH Girls | LJS Boys | LJS Girls
Crossroads Conference Friday games- WATCH via Striv Sports
Central Conference Saturday games- WATCH via Striv Sports
Omaha South still looking the part- NE Prepzone
