LINCOLN - Beatrice's Lady Orange basketball team has faced many challenges this season.

In the first round of the B-1 District basketball tournament Tuesday at Lincoln Southwest, however, the only “challenge” proved to be getting through the opening minutes of the game as the Lady Orange downed Nebraska City's Lady Pioneers 62-29.

With its win, Beatrice advances to the district semifinals and will face second-seeded Lincoln Pius at 8 p.m. Thursday at Southwest.

In the other semifinal, top-seeded Crete will take on Firth Norris, a 50-44 first-round winner over Waverly in overtime, at 8 p.m.

The B-1 District final is slated for 7 p.m. Friday at Southwest.

Lady Orange coach Steve Hartman said it was “important” for Beatrice to get off to a good start in its game against Nebraska City.

“We set the tone with defense,” Hartman said. “Mallory (Johnsen) and Chloe (Emerson) got some tips and provided pressure and energy out front early in the game.”

Hartman said Beatrice's one-three-one zone worked well against the Lady Pioneers and helped the Lady Orange get things going.

Beatrice was up 5-4 with just over two minutes gone in the first quarter when senior Kristina Gould and the Lady Orange started to run away from the Lady Pioneers.

Gould hit a two-pointer and then connected on back-to-back threes as Beatrice went up 13-4 with 2:44 left in the first period.

Gould had also scored the game's opening bucket and added a bonus free throws, giving her 11 points in the early going.

Johnsen then took over the scoring load for the Lady Orange, hitting a three-pointer, a two-pointer and then a single free throw.

At the end of the initial quarter, Beatrice led 19-4.

Getting Gould going offensively early in the game was a key for the Lady Orange, Hartman said.

The senior finished with a game-high 17 points.

“We needed to get Kristina going early,” Hartman said. “She hit some perimeter shots, which was big for us. She needs to hit shots from the edge for us to be able to compete with the Pius' and Crete's down the road.”

Hartman said the Lady Orange didn't play “great” overall, but were good enough to advance, which is the most important thing at this point of the season.

Emerson, who had also had scored one of the first two buckets of the game for Beatrice, put up the first point of the second quarter with a single charity toss.

After two field goals by Nebraska City, Beatrice's Stacey Benash scored from the field for a 22-8 Lady Orange lead.

The Lady Pioneers hit a two-pointer, but Emerson answered for Beatrice from the field.

With 55 seconds left in the period, Nebraska City hit two free throws.

The Lady Orange responded with five charity tosses of their own as Emerson hit a single free throw and Johnsen went 4-for-4 from the line.

At halftime, Beatrice led 29-12.

The Lady Orange quashed any further challenge from Nebraska City in the third quarter by outscoring the Lady Pioneers 20-7.

Cassie Parks hit a three-pointer to open the period's scoring for Beatrice.

After back-to-back field goals by Nebraska City made it a 32-16 contest, Beatrice scored the next nine points.

Courtney Wallman hit a two-pointer, Benash connected twice from the field, Wallman had a single charity toss and Johnsen scored a bucket, putting the Lady Orange up 41-16.

Nebraska City hit a single charity toss, but Beatrice came right back with a field goal and free throw by Gould and a three-pointer by Parks, going up 47-17.

The Lady Pioneers scored from the field with 23 seconds left in the quarter, but Mary Jantz answered for Beatrice.

After three periods of play, the Lady Orange led by 30 points, 49-19.

Beatrice continued to dominate the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter.

Johnsen hit a two for the Lady Orange, Gould connected from behind the arc and Benash added a field goal for a 56-19 lead.

Nebraska City scored from the field, but Beatrice answered with a two-pointer by Rylee Bruhn and two free throws by Jantz as the Lady Orange opened up a 60-21 lead.

The Lady Pioneers scored eight straight points on four field goals to make it a 60-29 contest, but Jantz finished out the game's scoring with a bucket for Beatrice.

Finishing in double figures, along with Gould, for Beatrice was Johnsen with 14.

Nebraska City had three players score six points each to lead the team - Carrie Miller, Paige Luna and Joreen Nemec.

Neb City 4 8 7 10-29

Beatrice 19 10 20 13-62

Nebraska City ( 29 )

Carrie Miller six, Paige Luna six, Brea Smith four, Calli Earhart three, Rachel Gogan two, Capri Julifs two, Joreen Nemec six.

Beatrice ( 62 )

Kristina Gould 17, Mallory Johnsen 14, Chloe Emerson six, Courtney Wallman three, Cassie Parks six, Mary Jantz six, Rylee Bruhn two, Stacey Benash eight.

Three-point goals: Nebraska City none. Beatrice six (Gould three, Johnsen one, Parks two).