LEXINGTON - Lance Brester scored 15 points, Aiden Meyer added 15, and the Howells-Dodge boys basketball team used their size and experience to beat Bridgeport, 56-34, at the Class D1-6 District Final at Lexington High School Monday night.

Andy Dominguez chipped in 12 points, 8 in the fourth quarter, to help the Jaguars qualify for next week's Nebraska School Activities Association Boys State Championships in Lincoln. It'll be the third consecutive year, sixth overall, Howells-Dodge has made it to the state tournament. They were runner-up in 2021.

Trailing 5-2, Howells-Dodge went on a 7-0 run midway through the first quarter and never looked back to improve to 20-6 this season. Brester scored 10 of his 15 points in the first quarter and went 4-4 from the free throw line. The Jaguars were 10-13 at the free throw line as a team. 

The Bulldogs were led by Kolby Lussetto's game-high 18 points. Gage Nein finished with 12 points.

Bridgeport advanced to their sixth-straight district final with a win over Leyton last week in the D1-12 subdistrict tournament. They concluded their season at 16-10. Kason Loomis is the only graduating Bulldog off this year's team.