Here is how we see the Nebraska girls state basketball tournament playing out.
With the transfer of
Jessica Shepard to
Fremont, defending Class A Champion Lincoln Southeast's title defense took a major hit before the 2013-14 season even started. Not only did the Knights lose a talented senior class to graduation, but they lost their star power as well.
Lincoln Southeast (Lincoln) did finish the season 14-11 after bowing out to last year's big school runner-up Bellevue West 61-32 in the A-1 District final. That win combined with the championship game experience it gained a year ago make the Thunderbirds the favorite to win it all this weekend.
Jessica Shepard, right, is at Fremont this year. Lastyear (pictured) she was with Lincoln Southeast, whichdid not qualify this year.
Photo by Army National Guard
But don't count Fremont out. Not only did the Tigers add the Nebraska recruit Shepard, but former Bellevue East guard
Rylie Cascio Jensen came aboard as well.
Benson (Omaha) and
Millard West (Omaha) also have championship material up and down the lineup.
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln),
South Sioux City,
Kearney and
Bellevue East fill out the bracket.
Both defending Class B champion
Northwest (Grand Island) and runner-up
Norris (Firth) are back in Lincoln, but would meet in one of Friday's semifinals should they both get by first round competition. The Titans are trying to add a basketball championship to the volleyball title they won in November.
Pius X (Lincoln) has the potential to win it all with the return of
Maddie Simon and junior
Kennedy Sander at the post.
Gretna and
Holdrege are potential champions as well. Also trying to take home the championship hardware are
Sidney,
Duchesne (Omaha) and
York.
See the MaxPreps Nebraska girls basketball playoff bracketsIn Class C-1, defending champion
Pierce could potentially battle last year's runner-up
Kearney Catholic (Kearney) in the semifinals should they both get by a couple of high quality clubs
Chadron and
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo) in opening round action respectively. But the odds on favorite has to be
Minden, who hasn't lost in 25 contests this season, including a 53-46 win over the Stars in the C1-10 Sub district final.
Fairbury and
Platteview (Springfield) battle Thursday and
Lincoln Lutheran (Lincoln) is in the field as well.
Pender will try its hand at winning it all in Class C-2 after taking the D-1 title a year ago. But defending C-2 champion
Crofton is back as is its 2013 finals mate
St. Cecilia (Hastings). Both figure to have a say in who takes home the championship hardware.
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) combine forces this season and move up to Class C-2 making that bracket tough to pick.
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point), a program loaded with state tournament tradition, looks to have championship potential as well.
Dundy County-Stratton (Benkelman),
Homer and
Palmyra are in the house too.
With Pender moving up a class, last year's runner-up looks like a solid fit as the Class D-1 favorite.
Friend, whose only loss was to St. Cecilia (Hastings), could easily make the finals against
St. Mary's (O'Neill).
St. Francis (Humphrey) rides a 17-game winning steak into the tournament and hopes to add three more wins to the total, as does Flyer first round foe
Boyd County (Spencer).
Sutherland,
Arapahoe and
St. Patrick's (North Platte) also have championship aspirations, as does
Emerson-Hubbard (Emerson).
While
Sacred Heart (Falls City) and
Giltner are being penciled in as the Class D-2 finalists by some, three-time defending champion
Wynot is waiting in the shadows with all kinds of championship experience. After falling to Lindsay Holy Family in the 2010 D-2 championship, the Blue Devils have been crowned champion in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The rest of the field consists of
Wauneta-Palisade (Wauneta),
Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft),
Crawford,
Stuart and
Sterling.
State Tournament Qualifier's Longest Winning Streaks Minden, 25
Crofton, 21
St. Francis (Humphrey), 17
Benson (Omaha), 16
Duchesne (Omaha), 12
St. Cecilia (Hastings), 12
Arapahoe, 12
Sutherland, 11
Bellevue West (Bellevue), 10
Friend, 10
Chadron, 7
Giltner, 7
Northwest (Grand Island), 6
Pius X (Lincoln), 6
Fairbury, 6
Leading Scorers at the State TournamentJessica Shepard, Fremont 30.3
Mckenzie Brown, Northwest (Grand Island) 22.7
Brandan Tighe, Homer 22.0
Kaylee Jensen, Humphrey-Holy Family 21.4
Haley Thiele, Bishop Neumann 20.52
Kianna Ibis, Benson (Omaha) 20.24
Maddie Simon, Pius X (Lincoln) 19.6
Brooke Kissinger, Minden 19.4
Dani Most, Giltner 19.3
Rachelle Tucker, Pierce 18.5
Paige Husa, Fairbury 18.2
Kaylea Watson, Arapahoe 18.2
Maggie Schulte, Wynot 18.2
Abby Drieling, Emerson-Hubbard 17.9
Hannah Riley, York 17.6.
Team Scoring OffenseMinden, 71.24
Crofton, 69.16
Homer, 65.46
Fremont, 64.32
Chadron, 63.71
Bellevue West (Bellevue), 63.54
St. Mary's (O'Neill), 63.48
Millard West (Omaha), 63.27
Bellevue East (Bellevue), 61.92
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln), 61.76
Friend, 61.65
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo), 60.88
Northwest (Grand Island), 60.79
Kearney Catholic (Kearney), 60.72
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point), 60.00
Team Scoring DefenseCrofton, 29.40
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey), 30.37
St. Patrick's (North Platte), 30.50
Sacred Heart (Falls City), 31.04
Pierce, 31.75
St. Francis (Humphrey), 32.40
Minden, 32.52
Kearney Catholic (Kearney), 32.56
Friend, 33.77
Palmyra, 33.92
Fairbury, 35.00
Dundy County-Stratton (Benkelman), 35.15
St. Mary's (O'Neill), 35.22
Northwest (Grand Island), 35.38
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point), 36.08
First Round Rematches (Result(s))Class ABellevue West (Bellevue) -
Bellevue East (Bellevue) (69-59)
Fremont -
Millard West (Omaha) (67-53)
Class BGretna -
Norris (Firth) (49-48, 60-48)
Holdrege -
York (46-42)
Class C-2Pender -
Homer (49-20, 71-68, 61-63)
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point) -
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (59-44)
Class D-1St. Patrick's (North Platte) -
Sutherland (34-30, 45-31, 28-43)
Picking the field
Class ALincoln Northeast (Lincoln) (21-4) over
South Sioux City (18-7)
Benson (Omaha) (23-2) over
Kearney (19-6)
Bellevue West (Bellevue) (24-2) over
Bellevue East (Bellevue) (17-8)
Fremont (22-3) over
Millard West (Omaha) (23-3)
Benson (Omaha) (24-2) over
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) (22-4)
Bellevue West (Bellevue) (25-2) over
Fremont (23-3)
Consolation Championship – Fremont (23-4) over
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) (22-5)
Championship – Benson (Omaha) (25-2) over
Bellevue West (Bellevue) (26-2)
Dark Horse: Millard West (Omaha)Other players to watch: Kate Liveringhouse, Bellevue West;
Samantha Waldron, Millard West;
Peyton Hagen, Bellevue East;
Skyler Snider, Kearney;
Amaun Frazier, Bellevue East;
Maddison Voss, South Sioux City;
Augusta Thramer, South Sioux City;
Tantashea Giger, Lincoln Northeast;
Kelsey Stithem, Kearney;
Rylie Cascio Jensen, Fremont;
Madison Braun, Bellevue West;
Chloe Akin-Otiko, Bellevue West.
Class BNorthwest (Grand Island) (22-2) over
Sidney (17-7)
Gretna (19-5) over
Norris (Firth) (16-5)
Pius X (Lincoln) (19-2) over
Duchesne (Omaha) (18-6)
Holdrege (20-4) over
York (18-6)
Northwest (Grand Island) (23-2) over
Gretna (20-5)
Holdrege (21-4) over
Pius X (Lincoln) (20-2)
Consolation Championship – Gretna (20-6) over
Pius X (Lincoln) (20-3)
Championship – Northwest (Grand Island) (24-2) over
Holdrege (22-4)
Dark Horse: Norris (Firth)Other players to watch: Rachel Jelden, Holdrege;
Mary Janovich, Gretna;
Kasey Hohlen, Norris;
Kate Schulte, Duchesne (Omaha);
Sarah Mahr, Sidney;
Katie Placke, Northwest (Grand Island);
Ann Schulte, Duchesne (Omaha);
Kylie Hohlen, Norris;
Jamie Schuetz, Gretna;
Jenna Gillespie, Holdrege;
Kennedy Sander, Pius X (Lincoln).
Class C-1Minden (25-0) over
Lincoln Lutheran (Lincoln) (18-7)
Platteview (Springfield) (22-2) over
Fairbury (23-2)
Chadron (20-4) over
Pierce (20-4)
Kearney Catholic (Kearney) (24-1) over
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo) (20-5)
Minden (26-0) over
Platteview (Springfield) (23-2)
Kearney Catholic (Kearney) (25-1) over
Chadron (21-4)
Consolation Championship – Chadron (21-5) over
Platteview (Springfield) (23-3)
Championship – Minden) (27-0) over
Kearney Catholic (Kearney) (26-1)
Dark Horse: PierceOther players to watch: Kenzie Kulm, Platteview;
Ashlea Kerr, Chadron;
Jamie Kissinger, Minden;
Taylor Kissinger, Minden;
Allie Prososki, Kearney Catholic;
Bailea Kerr, Chadron;
Peyton Hinn, Chadron;
Jacy Bretschneider, Pierce;
Tara Ziegelbein, Lincoln Lutheran.
Class C-2St. Cecilia (Hastings) (21-3) over
Dundy County-Stratton (Benkelman) (23-3)
Pender (26-2) over
Homer (21-5)
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (24-3) over
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point) (22-3)
Crofton (24-1) over
Palmyra (17-8)
Pender (27-2) over
St. Cecilia (Hastings) (22-3)
Crofton (25-1) over
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (25-3)
Consolation Championship – St. Cecilia (Hastings) (22-4) over
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (25-4)
Championship – Crofton (26-1) over
Pender (28-2)
Dark Horse: Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point)Other players to watch: Allison Arens, Crofton;
Morgan Nikkila, St. Cecilia (Hastings);
Paige Ballinger, Pender;
Maggie Fillipi, Pender;
Colby Duvel, Dundy County-Stratton;
Clare Hamburger, St. Cecilia (Hastings);
Klaire Phillips, Palmyra;
Caitlin Peterson, Palmyra;
Melanie Stratmann, Guardian Angels Central Catholic;
Shandra Farmer, St. Cecilia (Hastings).
Class D-1Sutherland (20-5) over
St. Patrick's (North Platte) (20-4)
Friend (25-1) over
Arapahoe (23-3)
St. Mary's (O'Neill) (21-2) over
Emerson-Hubbard (Emerson) (15-8)
St. Francis (Humphrey) (23-2) over
Boyd County (Spencer) (19-4)
Friend (26-1) over
Sutherland (21-5)
St. Mary's (O'Neill) (22-2) over
St. Francis (Humphrey) (24-2)
Consolation Championship – St. Francis (Humphrey) (24-3) over
Sutherland (21-6)
Championship – St. Mary's (O'Neill) (23-2) over
Friend (27-1)
Dark Horse: Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point)
Other players to watch: Brooke Bauer, St. Mary's (O'Neill);
Taylor Menke, Friend;
Brittany Lawrence, St. Pats (North Platte);
Jalyne Schuster, Sutherland;
Sam Staggs, Sutherland;
Rochelle Wendland, Arapahoe;
Payton Blanke, Emerson-Hubbard;
Hannah Sobotka, Boyd County;
Christa Brockhaus, St. Francis (Humphrey);
Jacey Olmer, St. Francis (Humphrey).
Class D-2Sacred Heart (Falls City) (25-2) over
Wauneta-Palisade (Wauneta) (17-8)
Wynot (21-6) over
Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft) (15-9)
Giltner (23-2) over
Crawford (16-7)
Sterling (18-7) over
Stuart (17-8)
Sacred Heart (Falls City) (26-2) over
Wynot (22-6)
Giltner (24-2) over
Sterling (19-7)
Consolation Championship – Wynot (22-7) over
Sterling (19-8)
Championship – Sacred Heart (Falls City) (27-2) over
Giltner (25-2)
Dark Horse: Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft)
Other players to watch: Abby Magdanz, Sacred Heart (Falls City);
Maggie Goltz, Sacred Heart (Falls City);
Tailor Lee, Wauneta-Palisade;
Sydnee Harchelroad, Wauneta-Palisade;
Danielle Wieseler, Wynot;
Brianna Wegner, Bancroft-Rosalie;
Allie Vogt, Bancroft-Rosalie;
Kaitlin Rudloff, Crawford;
Jaden Schafer, Stuart;
Jordan Lempka, Sterling.
