Ogallala defeats DC West in Boys' High School Varsity Basketball on December 31st, 2025; Ogallala wins DC West Holiday Tournament

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By: Evan Troxel

The Ogallala Indians Boys' High School Varsity basketball team defeated the Douglas County West Falcons by a final score of 57 to 28 on Wednesday afternoon, December 31st, 2025, in Valley, Nebraska, where Douglas County West plays their home games.

As a result of the win, Ogallala won the Douglas County West (DC West) Holiday Tournament with the games being played on December 30th and December 31st, 2025.

Ogallala won on December 30th over Beatrice 69-39 in which you can read about that game story from my own personal website.

Douglas County West won at home over Omaha Gross Catholic 42-33 on December 30th to play Ogallala for the Holiday Tournament championship game.

Sawyer Smith was the top scorer again for Ogallala for the third straight game as he totaled 19 points.

Smith made one three-pointer, he made six free throws and he made five two-point baskets.

He scored just five points in the first half.

Smith has scored at least 15 points in every game this regular season.

Trey Schieber was the top scorer for the DC West Falcons. He scored six points on three two-point baskets. He scored four points in the second quarter.

The game and really the entire first quarter was a slow start on the scoreboard for both teams as Ogallala led 3-0 because of a three from Lincoln Gillen with 6:04 left in the first quarter.

Nolan Asher and Trey Schieber each made a free throw for DC West.

Sawyer Smith made a three and DC West trailed 6-2 with 4:02 left in the first quarter.

Two minutes later, Ogallala led 10-2 because of a three from Tanner DeCastro with 2:05 left in the first quarter.

DC West trailed 11-3 at the end of the first quarter in probably Ogallala's lowest scoring first quarter of the season at the Varsity level.

Sawyer Smith made two free throws for Ogallala to get to 11 points.

Kayden Foster scored DC West's third point of the game on a free throw make.

The Falcons were able to cut the deficit to four as they trailed 11-7 with 4:50 left in the second quarter because of two-pointers by DC West's Trey Olsen and Trey Schieber.

The Indians then got the scoring going shortly after.

Rylan Gilmore and Tanner DeCastro each completed a three-point play by making a two-pointer and then immediately making a free throw after that.

Rylan Gilmore then drained a three.

Ogallala led 20-9 with 2:01 left in the second quarter.

DC West got their eight and ninth points from a two by Nolan Asher.

There wasn't much scoring left in the remainder of the second quarter and Ogallala led at halftime 23 to 11.

Rylan Gilmore made three out of four free throws right before halftime for Ogallala.

Trey Scheiber made a two-pointer before the half for DC West.

In the second half, the Falcons struggled as Ogallala led 29-12 with 5:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Zane Wohlers made a free throw for DC West.

Tanner DeCastro made a two-pointer, Sawyer Smith made a two and DeCastro made another two for Ogallala to give the Indians a 29-12 lead.

Ogallala then tacked on some more points because of a two-pointer by Sawyer Smith, two free throw makes by Rylan Gilmore and two free throw makes by Sawyer Smith and Ogallala led 35 to 12 with 3:26 left in the third quarter.

Tanner DeCastro then made four straight points and Sawyer Smith made a free throw to get Ogallala to 40 points.

Trey Schieber made a two and Zane Wholers made a two for DC West to get to 16 points and then Ogallala's Tanner DeCastro made a dunk to get Ogallala to 42 points.

The Indians led 42-16 with 1:15 left in the third quarter.

Nolan Asher made two free throws for DC West to get to 18 points.

Sawyer Smith made a two for Ogallala and DC West trailed 44-18 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Ogallala scored a lot in the first half of the fourth quarter as DC West trailed 51 to 20 with 5:04 to go in regulation.

Lane Smith got DC West to 20 on a two as they trailed 44-20.

Blake Robb and Tanner DeCastro each made a free throw, Rylan Gilmore made a three and Sawyer Smith scored two more for Ogallala to get to 51 points.

Rylan Gilmore made a two for Ogallala and then Sawyer Smith made a two and a free throw to complete a three-point play.

A little over a minute later, Ogallala led 56-20 with 3:45 remaining.

Colton Trost made a two for the Falcons and then Tanner Hanke made a free throw to get DC West to 53 points.

DC West found some success in the last minute of the game as they trailed 57-23 with 54 seconds left.

Rhys Gilmore made a free throw to get Ogallala to 57 points.

Caiden Hoops made a two for the Falcons and then Gage Travis hit a three for DC West to get the Falcons to 58 points.

Ogallala won the game and 57-28 and remains unbeaten at 6-0.

DC West (7-1) suffered their first loss of the season on Wednesday.

For DC West, Nolan Asher scored five points. He made three free throws.

Zane Wohlers and Trey Olsen each totaled three points including a free throw make.

Colton Trost, Lane Smith and Caiden Hoops each made a two-point bucket.

Gage Travis made a three-pointer.

Kayden Foster and Tanner Hanke each scored one point.

For Ogallala, Tanner DeCastro scored 17 points. He made one three-pointer, two free throws and at least one dunk.

DeCastro scored six points in the first half.

He has scored at least 16 or more points in all but two games this regular season. DeCastro has also scored 10 or more points in all but one game this season.

Rylan Gilmore scored 16 points. He made two threes and six free throws.

Rylan Gilmore scored nine in the first half (specifically all in the second quarter) and five in the fourth quarter.

He has scored in every game this season and has scored at least seven in every game this season.

Lincoln Gillen made a three-point shot. He has scored at least three points in every game this season. Gillen scored at least nine points in each of the previous four Varsity games.

Rhys Gilmore and Blake Robb each made a free throw for Ogallala.

Rhys Gilmore has scored in every game so far this season!

Blake Robb has scored in four games this season.

DC West hosted Wayne on Saturday, January 3rd, a game in which they won 52-34.

The Falcons travel to LVSS today on Tuesday, January 6th.

The Falcons host Lakeview on January 8th and Omaha Nation on January 10th.

Ogallala played Olathe South from Olathe, Kansas, on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, and won 81 to 43.

The Indians host Bridgeport on Tuesday, January 6th, 2026.

Ogallala plays at Cozad on Friday, January 9th.

The Indians next home game is on Friday, January 16th against Sidney.