- Broncos Softball Beats Peru St. 5-2
- Broncos Baseball Beats Briar Cliff
- Hasting Baseball is defeated 1 - 0 by Northwestern in Second Game
The Broncos swept both the regular season and tournament crowns for the first time since the 2006-2007 season when they won the national championship.
The game represented the final home contest for five seniors. Hastings did not lose a game at Lynn Farrell Arena this season. The team has dropped one contest on its home court in the past two seasons.
Senior Lindsay Ducey, HC's all-time leading scorer, led the Broncos with 20 points and nine rebounds. Senior Heather McKeon added 15 points, all coming from three-point range. McKeon went 5-of-8 on threes.
McKeon is not afraid to shoot from anywhere on the court, either. And it is not always intentional.
"People think I always know where the 3-point line is, but I don't," she said. "I just kind of wander around out there and sometimes I keep getting further and further out so that (my teammates) can see me. It was great to get my shot back. That was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders because I've struggled lately. That felt great."
The senior's three pointers came at crucial times.
"Tonight, (McKeon) shot the ball extremely well," said Jeff Dittman, head coach. "Those were huge baskets."
Ducey and sophomore Alicia Statler, the Broncos' post players, each picked up their fourth fouls with over 10 minutes left in the game.
"I think this was the first time we ever really had both post players in serious foul trouble," McKeon said.
With Ducey and Statler in foul trouble, McKeon guarded the post, something she said she does not mind doing.
"Our post play has been a big part of our success all season," Dittman said. "When they were in foul trouble, we knew we were going to have some problems."
Hastings improved to 30-3 on the season and will enter the NAIA National Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. The Broncos will not play again until the national tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, next week.
In the first round of the tournament the Broncos will face Main-Fort Kent which is coming off its third straight Sunrise Conference championship. Tip off will be at 1:45 p.m. March 10. The game can be seen live on HCTV6 and heard on 90.1 KFKX.
