Once the final horn sounded from Hermann High School last Thursday and Friday night, the Bearcats nearly had a sweep of Gasconade County basketball bragging rights for a year.

If not for Terra Heidle’s Owensville junior varsity Dutchmen defeating Hermann 35-31 Thursday night, the Bearcats would’ve had a clean sweep of both the JV and varsity basketball doubleheaders.

Deadlocked at 10-10 after one quarter, OHS won the second quarter 11-7 to take a 21-17 halftime lead against their county rivals to the north.

Tyler Heidbrink (8) and Brendan Decker (7) combined for 15 of Owensville’s 21 first-half points.

More than doubling up Hermann 9-4 to open the second half, Owensville took a 30-21 lead into the final seven minutes from Hermann High School.

In spite of being doubled up 10-5 in the fourth quarter, Heidle’s JV Dutchmen held on to split the junior-varsity doubleheader in Hermann Thursday night.

Decker led the Dutchmen with a team-high 12 points followed closely by Heidbrink with 11 markers.

Zaid Epstein added three points followed by the OHS JV quartet of Austin Lowder, Landon Valley, Ashton Kramme and Austin Terry with two points each.

Derek Brandt rounded out the scoring for the JV Dutchmen with a fourth-quarter free throw for one point.

Hannah Wehar’s JV Dutchgirls took the court against the Lady Bearcats opening Thursday’s twin bill at Hermann.

In spite of playing with only five players, Owensville stayed within single digits of the host Lady Bearcats before falling 28-21.

Keira Hendrix led the JV Dutchgirls with seven points to go along with five points apiece from Cami Gray and Leah Reed.

Kyla Hendrix finished out the scoring with four points. Elena Ortega was also on the court for the JV Dutchgirls.

Friday’s varsity doubleheader at Hermann kicked off with Ryan Flanagan’s Dutchgirls taking on Andy Emmons’ Hermann Lady Bearcats.

Down 16-5 after one quarter, Owensville saw their deficit balloon to 16 by a halftime score of 29-13.

Breanna Diestelkamp led the Dutchgirls with nine first-half points followed by three from Anna Finley and a second-quarter free throw for one point from Anna Skornia.

Without enough answers for a potent Hermann offense, OHS’ second shot at a win against Hermann was unsuccessful.

Diestelkamp posted a team-high 15 points for Owensville followed by seven from Finley and six points from Skornia.

In the nightcap between Todd Rehmert’s Dutchmen and former OHS head boy’s basketball coach Josh Vinyard’s Bearcats, Vinyard’s squad handed the visiting Dutchmen a 64-42 loss.

No further information on the game was available by press time.

Owensville will host St. James in a homecoming tripleheader Friday night beginning at 5 p.m.