The South Loup Bobcats endured a weekend of tough losses, dropping a pair of games to Cambridge and Pleasanton, but showed flashes of strong play and resilience across both contests.

South Loup opened the weekend Friday, Dec. 12 on the road at Cambridge, falling 66–51 after facing an early deficit. The Trojans jumped out in the first quarter, but the Bobcats settled in offensively and matched Cambridge’s pace through the middle portion of the game. South Loup scored 16 points in the second quarter and 17 more in the third, trimming the margin and keeping the game within reach entering the last quarter.

Senior Dylan Pandorf led the Bobcats with 15 points, shooting efficiently from both the perimeter and inside. Junior Malachi Neth added 13 points while converting 6 of his 9 shots, and senior Crew Witthuhn finished with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds to anchor the Bobcats on the glass. Conner Paulsen contributed 9 points and was a strong leader on the offense, dishing out 7 assists while also grabbing 7 rebounds. Despite forcing 15 turnovers, South Loup struggled to contain Cambridge’s offense, as the Trojans pulled away late behind strong performances from Brady Ahlemeyer and Hodge Raburn.

The Bobcats returned home Saturday, Dec. 13 to face Pleasanton and were tested by a Bulldogs team that shot well from the tip-off. Pleasanton built a 45–20 advantage by halftime, but South Loup responded with its best stretch after the break, outscoring Pleasanton 38–31 in the second half and winning the fourth quarter 21–9.

Pandorf brought the heat for South Loup with 21 points and going 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. Paulsen added 19 points, connecting on 4 three-pointers while also leading the team with 7 assists. Caleb Furrow provided valuable minutes off the bench, scoring 6 points and pulling down 3 rebounds, while Tysen Schacher and Dawson Downing contributed on both ends of the floor. The Bobcats finished with 22 rebounds and 12 assists, showing improved offensive flow as the game progressed.

While the contests did not fall South Loup’s way, the Bobcats continued to demonstrate growth, competitive spirit, and improved execution over the course of the weekend. With strong senior leadership and increased contributions from underclassmen, South Loup will look to build on those positives as it continues through the final games before the holiday break.

The Bobcats will challenge the Medicine Valley Raiders at Arnold on Friday, Dec. 19, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. for boys’ varsity play. Then the final contests for 2025 will be Dec. 22-23 at the Maxwell Holiday Tournament, with start times TBA.