As is typical of tournaments this time of year there were plenty of surprises and outstanding performances at the Nebraska boys and girls state basketball tournaments.
Since Bellevue West won back-to-back Class A state basketball titles in 2004 and 2005, the road to Nebraska's big school boys state basketball championships made a sudden U-turn and passed through Omaha Central. The Eagles claimed championships in seven of the next eight seasons with the exception of Omaha Creighton Prep's 34-31 championship win over Lincoln Southwest in 2009.
But
Bellevue West displayed the ability to take its swagger back when the Thunderbirds knocked off Eric Behren's four-time defending champions 65-61 in a regular-season contest in late February.
The Thunderbirds backed that win up with a 68-50 opening round win over the Eagles Thursday before advancing to the championship contest with a 60-49 win over Norfolk. West secured its fourth state title with a 56-50 overtime triumph over Omaha Westside.
Omaha Central wasn't the only defending champion to take a tumble over the weekend. In fact, of the four defending champs that made it back into the field of 48, the boys field completed state competition without a repeat champion. Only Wahoo made it back into the championship game before falling 68-47 to crosstown rival
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo) in the C-1 final.
Defending C-2 champion Southern Valley lost 68-59 to eventual champ
Archbishop Bergan (Fremont) in opening round action, while
Howells-Dodge (Howells) backed up its 2013 D-1 title with a 70-48 consolation win over Clearwater-Orchard.
Skutt Catholic (Omaha) surprised tournament favorite and undefeated Elkhorn South by upending the Storm 66-59 in a Class B semifinal before finishing the job of winning a state title with a 59-45 triumph over Beatrice. Bergan had to survive a 58-55 overtime win over Doniphan-Trumbull in a C-2 semifinal before knocking Ainsworth off 71-69 in overtime in the championship contest.
Randolph battled through the D-1 bracket from the No. 6 seed to claim its first title since 2002 with a 54-42 win over Overton and
Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft) soared to a 62-47 triumph over High Plains. The Panthers' 54-44 semifinal win over consolation champion Falls City Sacred Heart was Bancroft-Rosalie's narrowest margin of victory during its three day run over the D-2 field.
Grand Island Northwest, Pierce, Crofton and Wynot all defended 2013 championships on the girls side March 8.
Northwest (Grand Island) upended Lincoln Pius X 66-58 for the Class B championship.
Pierce battled through the C-1 bracket from a No. 7 seed to bump tournament favorite Minden out of title contention with a 69-60 triumph.
Crofton outscored its C-2 competition 203-118 to win a third championship in a row, while
Wynot took top honors for the fourth-straight season with a 53-38 win over third seed Sterling.
Benson (Omaha) outscored Bellevue West 47-43 to secure the Class A championship, while Friend squeaked out a 44-43 Class D-1 title win over Humphrey St. Francis.
Record breakersAlthough Minden came up short in its bid to win the school's first girls state basketball championship, the sharp shooting Whippets broke or tied several state records from beyond the arc.
As a team,
Minden made 40 3-pointers in the three-game tournament.
Brooke Kissinger and
Taylor Kissinger tied Brooke's all-class and state tournament record for 3-pointers made in a tournament game with seven each. Brooke, a senior, tied her own record of seven in the Class C-1 69-60 title game loss to Pierce. Taylor, a freshman, did her damage in a 72-38 opening round win over Lincoln Lutheran.
Brooke finished tournament play with a tournament record 15 3-pointers made, bettering Wahoo sharp-shooter Mattie Murren's 2011 mark of 12 treys in a tournament. Taylor's 13 3-pointers made in 2014 would have broken the old mark as well.
Jamie Kissinger, a third sister, added seven total makes from beyond the arc and
Jenna Denney chipped in five tournament 3-pointers made.
Minden scored 211 points in the three tournament games, collectively, setting a C-1 record for team points scored in a tournament. The old mark of 203 was set by Cambridge in 1994.
Ainsworth's Brady Delimont ties single-game 3-pointer recordBrady Delimont shot
Ainsworth into the Class C-2 state title game by making a record-tying seven 3-pointers in a 69-56 semifinal win over Freeman Friday. Delimont scored 26 points in the 13-point win and finished with 58 points for the tournament.
After making five 3-pointers in a opening round win over Battle Creek Thursday, Ainsworth reestablished the all-class mark for 3-pointers made in a season by a team after making 16 of them in a 69-56 semifinal win over Freeman. The Bulldogs connected on eight more shots from beyond the arc in Saturday's 71-69 overtime loss to Archbishop Bergan in the Class C-2 championship game to finish the year with 289 3-pointers made. Bellevue West set the old mark of 276 in 2006.
Shepard climbing state tournament scoring chartAlthough
Fremont fell to Class A consolation champion Millard West 70-65 in opening round action, Tiger star
Jessica Shepard scored 23 points to bring her state tournament scoring mark to 134 points in seven tournament games.
Shepard, a junior, will have an opportunity to climb the tournament scoring chart if the Tigers can play their way into next season's state tournament and make a three-day run. The Nebraska recruit finished the season with a Class A record 780 points in 26 games. Chambers' Darcy Stracke set the all-class scoring mark of 872 points in 1996.
Leading scorers from the girls state basketball tournamentMckenzie Brown,
Northwest (Grand Island) 81 (27.0)
Kenzie Kulm,
Platteview (Springfield) 77 (25.7)
Ashlea Kerr,
Chadron 25 (25.0)
Hannah Riley,
York 24 (24.0)
Jessica Shepard,
Fremont 23 (23.0)
Brooke Kissinger,
Minden 68 (22.7)
Rachelle Tucker,
Pierce 67 (22.3)
Mary Janovich,
Gretna 22 (22.0)
Maggie Schulte,
Wynot 64 (21.3)
Brandan Tighe,
Homer 21 (21.0)
Maddie Simon,
Pius X (Lincoln) 62 (20.7)
Taylor Kissinger,
Minden 57 (19.0)
Sarah Mahr,
Sidney 19 (19.0)
Allie Vogt,
Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft) 19 (19.0)
Paige Husa,
Fairbury 18 (18.0)
Monique Schafer,
Stuart 18 (18.0)
Kaylee Jensen,
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) 53 (17.7)
Rachel Jelden,
Holdrege 52 (17.3)
Klaire Phillips,
Palmyra 17 (17.0)
Taylor Menke,
Friend 50 (16.7)
Shaneequah Watkins,
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) 49 (16.3)
Kennedy Sander,
Pius X (Lincoln) 49 (16.3)
Chloe Akin-Otiko,
Bellevue West (Bellevue) 48 (16.0)
Ann Schulte,
Duchesne (Omaha) 16 (16.0)
Brittany Lawrence,
St. Patrick's (North Platte) 47 (15.7)
All Tournament Teams
All-ClassKianna Ibis,
Benson (Omaha)Mckenzie Brown,
Northwest (Grand Island)Kate Liveringhouse,
Bellevue West (Bellevue)Maddie Simon,
Pius X (Lincoln)Rachelle Tucker,
PierceMaggie Schulte,
WynotKennedy Sander,
Pius X (Lincoln)Brooke Kissinger,
MindenJessica Shepard,
FremontKenzie Kulm,
Platteview (Springfield)Class AKianna Ibis,
Benson (Omaha)Kate Liveringhouse,
Bellevue West (Bellevue)Jessica Shepard,
FremontShaneequah Watkins,
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln)Chloe Akin-otiko,
Bellevue West (Bellevue)Marisa Lowe,
Millard West (Omaha)Montrese Weller,
Benson (Omaha)Moneeka Robinson,
Benson (Omaha)MVP:
Kianna Ibis
Class BMckenzie Brown,
Northwest (Grand Island)Katie Placke,
Northwest (Grand Island)Maddie Simon,
Pius X (Lincoln)Kennedy Sander,
Pius X (Lincoln)Rachel Jelden,
HoldregeKasey Hohlen,
Norris (Firth)Hannah Riley,
YorkMary Janovich,
GretnaMVP:
Mckenzie Brown
Class C-1Rachelle Tucker,
PierceJacy Bretschneider,
PierceBrooke Kissinger,
MindenTaylor Kissinger,
MindenKenzie Kulm,
Platteview (Springfield)Kylie Thiele,
Kearney Catholic (Kearney)Ashlea Kerr,
ChadronPaige Husa,
FairburyMVP:
Rachelle Tucker
Class C-2Allison Arens,
CroftonQuinn Wragge,
CroftonClare Hamburger,
St. Cecilia (Hastings)Shandra Farmer,
St. Cecilia (Hastings)Kaylee Jensen,
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey)Maggie Fillipi,
PenderBrandan Tighe,
HomerKlaire Phillips,
PalmyraMVP:
Quinn WraggeClass D-1Taylor Menke,
FriendAnnie Rohrig,
FriendMaggie McPhillips,
St. Francis (Humphrey)Christa Brockhaus,
St. Francis (Humphrey)Brittany Lawrence,
St. Patrick's (North Platte)Abby Drieling,
Emerson-Hubbard (Emerson)Kaylea Watson,
ArapahoeBridget Schneider,
St. Mary's (O'Neill)MVP:
Taylor Menke
Class D-2Maggie Schulte,
WynotCortney Arkfeld,
WynotJordan Lempka,
SterlingTaylor Cockerill,
SterlingDani Most,
GiltnerMaggie Goltz,
Sacred Heart (Falls City)Allie Vogt,
Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft)Monique Schafer,
StuartMVP:
Maggie SchulteFinal girls basketball rankings (MaxPreps Computer Rankings)
Class AClick here
Class BClick hereClass C-1Click hereClass C-2Click here
Class D-1Click here
Class D-2Click hereLeading scorers from the boys state basketball tournamentMichael Daum,
Kimball 28 (28.0)
Khryi Thomas,
Benson (Omaha) 78 (26.0)
Grant Lahm,
Scotus (Columbus) 73 (24.3)
Payton Helmstadter,
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) 24 (24.0)
Matt McLeod,
Ainsworth 71 (23.7)
Matt Thomas,
Elkhorn South (Elkhorn) 71 (23.7)
Derek Gentrup,
Boone Central/Newman Grove (Albion) 22 (22.0)
Ty Danielson,
York 64 (21.3)
Logan Fleming,
High Plains (Polk) 63 (21.0)
Connor Springman,
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) 21 (21.0)
Mitch Gude,
Lourdes Central Catholic (Nebraska City) 21 (21.0)
Malik Hluchoweckyj,
Bellevue West (Bellevue) 60 (20.0)
Skyler Werger,
Elwood 20 (20.0)
Dylan Brenner,
Leyton (Dalton) 20 (20.0)
Brady Delimont,
Ainsworth 58 (19.3)
Tyler Hagedorn,
Norfolk 55 (18.3)
Ben Simons,
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo) 54 (18.0)
Isaac Frerichs,
Freeman (Adams) 54 (18.0)
Creighton Buhr,
Doniphan-Trumbull (Doniphan) 54 (18.0)
Nolan White,
Exeter-Milligan (Exeter) 18 (18.0)
William Wallrapp,
Skutt Catholic (Omaha) 53 (17.7)
Jalen Barry,
Wayne 52 (17.3)
Nolan Nordhues,
Randolph 51 (17.0)
Jake Scheef,
Wahoo 51 (17.0)
B.J. Day,
Lincoln Southeast (Lincoln) 17 (17.0)
James Dumes,
Omaha South (Omaha) 17 (17.0)
Gage Horacek,
Fullerton 17 (17.0)
All Tournament Teams
All-ClassMalik Hluchoweckyj,
Bellevue West (Bellevue)Khryi Thomas,
Benson (Omaha)Nick Bouda,
Skutt Catholic (Omaha)Kevin Metoyer,
Omaha Westside (Omaha)Ben Simons,
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo)Adam Dykman,
Archbishop Bergan (Fremont)Matt McLeod,
AinsworthMichael Daum,
KimballNolan Nordhues,
RandolphGrant Lahm,
Scotus (Columbus)Class AMalik Hluchoweckyj,
Bellevue West (Bellevue)Khryi Thomas,
Benson (Omaha)Payton Helmstadter,
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln)B.J. Day,
Lincoln Southeast (Lincoln)Tyler Hagedorn,
NorfolkC.J. Johnson,
Bellevue West (Bellevue)Kevin Metoyer,
Omaha Westside (Omaha)MIke Herrmann,
Omaha Westside (Omaha)MVP:
Malik Hluchoweckyj
Class BNick Bouda,
Skutt Catholic (Omaha)Ty Danielson,
YorkNoah Appleget,
Pius X (Lincoln)Rylee Zimmerman,
BeatriceMatt Thomas,
Elkhorn South (Elkhorn)William Wallrapp,
Skutt Catholic (Omaha)Dillon Hernandez,
ScottsbluffAlec Cromer,
BeatriceMVP:
Nick Bouda
Class C-1Ben Simons,
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo)Jalen Barry,
WayneBen Scheef,
WahooJake Scheef,
WahooJordy Stoller,
Falls CityGrant Lahm,
Scotus (Columbus)Austin Woita,
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo)Derek Gentrup,
Boone Central/Newman Grove (Albion)MVP:
Ben Simons
Class C-2Adam Dykman,
Archbishop Bergan (Fremont)Matt McLeod,
AinsworthBrady Delimont,
AinsworthMichael Daum,
KimballIsaac Frerichs,
Freeman (Adams)Creighton Buhr,
Doniphan-Trumbull (Doniphan)Jonah Madsen,
Archbishop Bergan (Fremont)Hunter Quinn,
Southern Valley (Oxford)MVP:
Adam Dykman
Class D-1Nolan Nordhues,
RandolphTate Schutt,
Clearwater/Orchard (Clearwater)Garrett Watters,
RandolphLuke Hegemann,
Howells-Dodge (Howells)Gage Horacek,
FullertonTanner Ryan,
OvertonJoel Shafer,
OvertonMitch Gude,
Lourdes Central Catholic (Nebraska City)MVP:
Nolan Nordhues
Class D-2NIck Sjuts,
Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft)Dylan Brenner,
Leyton (Dalton)Chaz Dunn,
Sacred Heart (Falls City)Nolan White,
Exeter-Milligan (Exeter)Tanner Hudson,
Spalding/Spalding AcademySkyler Werger,
ElwoodLogan Fleming,
High Plains (Polk)Drew Zitek,
Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft)MVP:
NIck SjutsFinal boys basketball rankings (MaxPreps Computer Rankings)
Class AClick here
Class BClick here
Class C-1Click here
Class C-2Click here
Class D-1Click here
Class D-2Click here
