By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
10 Things to Watch For:
10) The weather: If you don’t like the weather in Nebraska, wait 12 hours. Apparently, Mother Nature has elected to avoid the quagmire she produced in 2007. A nasty snowstorm socked the Lincoln area and nearly threw the schedule into a loop.
The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) decided to play the games as scheduled. The tip-off in the Class A game between Grand Island and Lincoln Northeast had around 30 people in the stands. Omaha Westside almost didn’t show up for their game and arrived just in time to win in overtime.
9) Height: Normally in Nebraska boys basketball, you are doing pretty well to have a 6-foot-7 center. But the Millard North girls have one of its own in junior Melissa MacFarlane. Seward has 6-4 sophomore Alyssa Kamphouse and 6-2 freshman Emily Kady. Even in Class D-2, Pleasanton has 6-4 Laura Zwiner. Zwiner had 15 blocks in the district final.
8) 9:00 a.m. starts: The NSAA has been criticized in the past for having games start at 9:30 a.m. The solution? Add a session on Thursday and Friday (moving from two to three sessions), which forced to move the early start back 30 minutes to 9:00 a.m. A similar plan in Oklahoma was scoffed at when it was introduced on a trial basis. It’s back this year in Oklahoma and will likely stay in Nebraska.
For the most part, the teams, schools, and fans would be there at 4:00 a.m. ready to go. The start time doesn’t matter. Then you get the criticism to add an extra session for the NSAA to make more money. Getting three games per session for $7 and $5 was highway robbery for the consumer. Find somewhere else in the nation that had prices that low. The NSAA should be criticized for taking so long to increase prices. For entertainment value, the prices and the extra session is worth it. (Note: Don’t tell the NSAA about the 4:00 a.m. start time idea)
7) The Bob Devaney Sports Center: With the new arena talk in Lincoln and constant talks to move the state tournament to the Qwest Center in Omaha, enjoy the Devaney Center while it lasts. Moving it from ‘Bob’s House’ would be a mistake, but it will happen some day.
6) South Sioux City: Everybody can take a year off, right? South Sioux City has been a national powerhouse for the past decade. Last season, they were missing from the state tournament. They are back this year with a 21-1 record and looking to win its 11th state title since 1995. 2006 was the first year the Cardinals didn’t make at least the final. Had they beat Ogallala in the 1999 final; South Sioux City would have won 11 straight state titles.
5) Metro dominance in Class A: Six of the eight teams in Class A are based in Omaha, but it’s Lincoln Southeast that has to be considered the favorite.
4) Class D-2 race: The eight teams at state have a combined 13 losses, with Mullen the only undefeated team at 21-0. It should be very interesting.
3) Marissa Kastenek: Good for Lincoln Southeast junior guard Marissa Kastenek. The North Carolina State commit fought tooth and nail to be allowed to play this season after the NSAA ruled her move from Crete to possibly be “of convenience”. She appealed twice and was finally allowed to play by a unanimous vote in January. She is arguably the best player in Nebraska and adds some spice to the Class A bracket.
2) Play for third: The NSAA is introducing a third place game for all classes to be held Saturday at the Pershing Center.
1) The Class B race: When a team like Crete (18-4) misses on a wildcard, you know Class B is full of unbelievable teams. When Elkhorn (20-2) and Lincoln Pius X (16-3) were denied District titles, Crete was out. Crete is arguably one of the top ten teams in the entire state regardless of classification. Six teams have realistic chances of taking home the title.
Class A
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
2:00 p.m.- Millard West (22-1) vs. Omaha Marian (16-8)
3:45 p.m.- Omaha Westside (17-8) vs. Kearney (21-3)
7:00 p.m.- Papillion-LaVista (13-9) vs. Lincoln Southeast (23-1)
8:45 p.m.- Bellevue East (21-5) vs. Millard North (19-4)
Millard West Wildcats (22-1) vs. Omaha Marian Crusaders (16-8)
Top Players: Heather Pohl, Millard West; Jasmin Corbin (jr.), Millard West; Clare Tokheim (soph.), Omaha Marian; Megan Salcedo, Omaha Marian
State Appearances: Millard West- 5; Omaha Marian- 24
State Titles: Millard West- None; Omaha Marian- 3 (1985, 2000, 2001)
How They Got There: Millard West defeated Lincoln Southwest in A-2 final, 63-36; Omaha Marian defeated Lincoln East in A-5 final, 54-52.
Fun Facts: Pohl scored a school-record 40 points on Feb. 2in a 75-65 win against Lincoln Southwest; Omaha Marian is making its state-record 24th appearance in the state tournament.
Omaha Westside Warriors (17-8) vs. Kearney Bearcats (21-3)
Top Players: Shelly Martin, Omaha Westside; Sarah Nelson (soph.), Omaha Westside; Ashley Arp, Kearney; Maggie Maher, Kearney
State Appearances: Omaha Westside- 9 ; Kearney- 12
State Titles: Omaha Westside- 1 (1999); Kearney- 1 (1982)
How They Got There: Omaha Westside defeated Bellevue West in A-6 final, 57-56; Kearney defeated Grand Island 34-27 to win A-7.
Fun Facts: Omaha Westside set a state-record with 189 total points in a victory over Bellevue West. Sarah Nelson scored 33 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in the victory; Kearney is making its first tournament appearance since 1997.
Papillion-LaVista Monarchs (13-9) vs. Lincoln Southeast Knights (23-1)
Top Players: Amy Monson, Papillion-LV; Chelsea Albers (frosh.), Papillion-LV; KK Houser (jr.), Lincoln Southeast; Katie Birkel, Lincoln Southeast; Marissa Kastenek (jr.), Lincoln Southeast
State Appearances: Papillion-LaVista- 12; Lincoln Southeast- 22
State Titles: Papillion-LaVista- None; Lincoln Southeast- 8 (1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003)
How They Got There: Papillion-LaVista upset Millard North in the A-3 final, 47-44; Lincoln Southeast took home the A-1 title over Papillion-LaVista South, 62-47.
Fun Facts: You may recognize the last name Albers. Chelsea Albers, a 6-1 freshman, is the younger sister of Mitch and Tyler Albers, both All-State players during their days at Papillion-LaVista. Marissa Kastenek was in the news earlier in the season after appealing an ineligibility ruling after she transferred to Southeast from Crete. Kastenek led Crete to a runner-up finish in Class B last season.
Bellevue East Chieftains (21-5) vs. Millard North Mustangs (19-4)
Top Players: Mercedees Morgan (jr.), Bellevue East; Terra Andreasen, Bellevue East; Melissa MacFarlane (jr.), Millard North; Kiley Herold, Millard North
State Appearances: Bellevue East- 14; Millard North- 11
State Titles: Bellevue East- 2 (2002, 2006); Millard North- None
How They Got There: Bellevue East defeated Millard South in the A-4 final, 40-35; Millard North earned the only wildcard in the Class A field after losing to Papillion-LaVista in the A-3 final.
Fun Facts: Mercedees Morgan’s father, Odell, won a state title with Omaha Burke in 1986; Millard North post player Melissa MacFarlane has the distinction of being the tallest player in the state. MacFarlane checks in a 6-7.
Prediction
First Round: Millard West over Omaha Marian; Omaha Westside over Kearney; Lincoln Southeast over Papillion-LaVista; Bellevue East over Millard North
Semifinals: Millard West over Omaha Westside; Lincoln Southeast over Bellevue East
3rd Place Game: Bellevue East over Omaha Westside
Championship: Lincoln Southeast over Millard West
Darkhorse: Kearney
Class B
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
9:00 a.m.- Gretna (16-6) vs. South Sioux City (21-1)
10:45 a.m.- Elkhorn (20-2) vs. Seward (20-1)
At Pershing Center
7:00 p.m.- Beatrice (12-9) vs. Alliance (23-0)
8:45 p.m.- Holdrege (21-2) vs. Lincoln Pius X (16-3)
Prediction
First Round: South Sioux City over Gretna; Seward over Elkhorn; Beatrice over Alliance; Holdrege over Lincoln Pius X
Second Round: Seward over South Sioux City; Holdrege over Beatrice
3rd Place Game: South Sioux City over Beatrice
Championship: Seward over Holdrege
Darkhorse: Alliance
Class C1
At Pershing Center
9:00 a.m.- Fairbury (16-4) vs. Crofton (22-1)
10:45 a.m.- Wahoo Neumann (20-2) vs. Milford (20-3)
2:00 p.m.- Norfolk Catholic (21-1) vs. Kearney Catholic (17-6)
3:45 p.m.- Hershey (17-4) vs. Minden (20-2)
Prediction
First Round: Fairbury over Crofton; Wahoo Neumann over Milford; Norfolk Catholic vs. Kearney Catholic; Minden over Hershey
Second Round: Wahoo Neumann over Fairbury; Norfolk Catholic over Minden
3rd Place Game: Minden over Fairbury
Championship: Wahoo Neumann over Norfolk Catholic
Class C2
At Lincoln Southwest
2:00 p.m.- Perkins County (21-0) vs. Elkhorn Valley (20-4)
3:45 p.m.- East Butler (21-2) vs. West Point Central Catholic (20-3)
7:00 p.m.- Cambridge (22-0) vs. Grand Island Central Catholic (16-7)
8:45 p.m.- Elmwood-Murdock (18-4) vs. Sutton (21-1)
Prediction
First Round: Perkins County over Elkhorn Valley; West Point CC over East Butler; Cambridge over GICC; Elmwood-Murdock over Sutton
Second Round: West Point CC over Perkins County; Cambridge over Elmwood-Murdock
3rd Place Game: Elmwood-Murdock over Perkins County
Championship: West Point CC over Cambridge
Darkhorse: Sutton
Class D1
At Lincoln North Star
9:00 a.m.- Hay Springs (17-5) vs. Elgin Pope John (23-2)
10:45 a.m.- Meridian (18-5) vs. Humphrey (19-3)
2:00 p.m.- Lawrence-Nelson (15-8) vs. Bancroft-Rosalie (24-0)
3:45 p.m.- Arapahoe (19-6) vs. Humphrey St. Francis (15-5)
Prediction
First Round: Elgin PJ over Hay Springs; Humphrey over Meridian; Bancroft-Rosalie over Lawrence-Nelson; Humphrey SF over Arapahoe
Second Round: Humphrey over Elgin PJ; Bancroft-Rosalie over Humphrey SF
3rd Place Game: Humphrey SF over Elgin PJ
Championship: Bancroft-Rosalie over Humphrey
Darkhorse: Meridian
Class D2
At Lincoln Southwest
9:00 a.m.- Falls City Sacred Heart (23-1) vs. Coleridge (20-3)
10:45 a.m.- North Loup-Scotia (22-1) vs. Ewing (20-3)
At Lincoln North Star
7:00 p.m.- Pleasanton (22-1) vs. Sioux County (19-2)
8:45 p.m.- Mullen (21-0) vs. Chambers (22-2)
Prediction
First Round: Falls City SH over Coleridge; Ewing over NL-Scotia; Pleasanton over Sioux City; Chambers over Mullen
Second Round: Falls City SH over Ewing; Chambers over Pleasanton
3rd Place Game: Pleasanton over Ewing
Championship: Falls City SH over Chambers
Darkhorse: Mullen
