By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Hansen’s Top Ten State Tournament Moments
10.) Who’s that kid? At the 2004 state tournament, Lincoln Southeast was set to face Bellevue East. Out of the locker room emerged a tall, lanky kid with funny hair, looking like it was out of a 1970’s disco video. After tip-off, it turned out this sophomore could play. It was Lincoln Southeast’s Matt Hill. Hill would dominate Bellevue East and lead his team to a 59-40 victory. Hill went on to Texas to play for Rick Barnes and is currently redshirting due to an injury. He recently cut his hair, for the record, after sporting it as a true freshman for the Longhorns.
9.) We are… Creighton Prep: Led by 6-9 junior T.J. Pugh and 6-3 high-flyer Othello Meadows, Creighton Prep roared its way to the 1994 state championship. The Junior Jays, under the direction of first-year head coach Scott Hawk, outlasted Omaha Burke in the first round, 81-77. In the semifinals, Prep squeaked past a talented Hastings team, 48-46. In the final, the Junior Jays avenged its only regular season loss against Nebraska competition by downing Lincoln Northeast, 57-44. Pugh went to Kansas, starting as a senior for Roy Williams. Meadows went to East Carolina and started for three years. Prep also had 6-8 Tim Ridder, who went to Notre Dame to play football, and three Division I baseball players on the roster. It was my favorite team of all time.
8.) Good luck finding a seat: Recruiting in state talent has not always been a priority for the University of Nebraska. Well, in the 2002 state tournament, fans had the privilege of watching three players that had signed with Nebraska. Grand Island’s 6-9 Wes Wilkinson along with Omaha Burke’s dynamic duo of 6-4 Jason Doriusseau and 6-9 Roy Enright filled the Devaney Center to its capacity.
7.) Cinderella story: Nobody outside of Grand Island expected it. In fact, if you would have asked the players, they would have said winning the state title in 1999 was beyond their wildest dreams. Well, dreams can and do come true. Grand Island came out of nowhere with a 13-9 record heading into the state tournament to come away with a 73-46 victory over Bellevue West in the final.
The Islanders took out top-seeded Lincoln East in the first round and followed it up with an upset of Columbus in the semifinals. Ironically, the last three non Omaha or Lincoln teams to take home the Class A title were coached by Grand Island’s Dave Oman; Norfolk in 1987 and Grand Island in 1999 and 2002.
6.) Mitchell Money: Omaha Burke’s Alvin Mitchell could shoot it. Boy, could he ever. As a junior in an opening round game against eventual champion Creighton Prep in 1994, Mitchell went nuts. In the 81-77 loss, Mitchell scored 44 points and hit 10 three-point shots. Mitchell went on to sign with Nebraska before transferring to Cincinnati. In 1999, Mitchell was huge in an upset over top-ranked Duke in the Great Alaska Shootout scoring six of his 14 points in the final two minutes. A teammate of Mitchell’s at Burke was former Davidson standout Ben Ebong.
5.) Wahoo Miracle: For those who were there, nobody will ever forget it. Trailing 61-55 with 11 seconds remaining in the Class B state championship game against Lincoln Pius X, Bernie Inbody made a 30-footer to bring the Warriors to within three. Inbody made a steal at midcourt, then dished it to Troy Glock. Glock’s three rattled around the rim and sank through as time expired, sending the game into overtime as pandemonium broke loose at the Devaney Center. Wahoo won 68-66 and extended its winning streak that went on to 114 games before ending.
4.) The shot: During the 1990 Class A state championship game, Lincoln Northeast’s Matt Shaw scrambled for a loose ball, grabbed it, and launched it 80-feet and in at the end of the first quarter. Check out the YouTube video. Lincoln Northeast took the lead 19-16 with Shaw’s Hail Mary, but lost to Terrance Badgett and the Packers, 65-53. Shaw went on to play football at Nebraska and was a starting tight end on the 1994 national championship team.
3.) Rocket Power: Speaking of Lincoln Northeast, head coach Rick Collura and his famous pink sweater won four straight Class A titles between 1995-98. Collura, now an Associate Principle at Lincoln Northeast, wore the pink sweater in the state tournament for good luck. In 1994, Northeast lost in the state final to Creighton Prep. Some of the names etched in Rocket lore are Alton Mason, Tee Mason, Greg Gerlach, B.J. Nannen, and Mike Hahn. It was an unbelievable run for the Rockets.
2.) Woolridge gets 50: At least for one afternoon, Omaha Benson guard Andre Wooldridge separated himself from Bellevue West guard Erick Strickland. In 1992, the hot debate in the Cornhusker state raged on: which one was better? In the Class A final, Woolridge won the argument by scoring 50 points in a 95-76 victory over Hastings. Woolridge went on to Nebraska before transferring to Iowa, becoming an All-Big Ten guard for the Hawkeyes. Woolridge played over 10 years professionally in Europe. Strickland, however, played nine years in the NBA.
1.) Friday the 13th Shocker: March 13, 1992. One of the most memorable runs in Nebraska history came to a shocking end. It was Wahoo and its 114-game winning streak, which was the second longest streak in the nation. Ogallala and Chad Spade did the deed. Ogallala seemed like it practiced for Wahoo’s vaunted 1-3-1 press for years. The 10,000-plus in the Devaney Center figured Wahoo would eventually come back, as usual. It never did. Ogallala won 84-68 and snapped Wahoo’s streak of four straight titles in the process. Lincoln Pius X would defeat Ogallala the next evening to win the Class B title.
Class A State Tournament Pairings
Thursday, March 6
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
2:00 p.m. - Ralston (21-2) vs. Bellevue East (16-9)
3:45 p.m. - Lincoln High (19-4) vs. Omaha Creighton Prep (21-2)
7:00 p.m. - Omaha Benson (16-7) vs. Bellevue West (23-2)
8:45 p.m. - Kearney (18-6) vs. Omaha Central (22-3)
Friday, March 7
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
7:00 p.m. - Ralston/Bell. East winner vs. Lincoln High/Creighton Prep winner
8:45 p.m. - Omaha Benson/Bell. West winner vs. Kearney/Omaha Central winner
Saturday, March 8
At Pershing Center
5:00 p.m. - Consolation Final
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
7:00 p.m. - Class A State Championship game
Class A Capsules (Click on team name for link to MaxPreps team page)
Ralston Rams (21-2)
Top Players: Dwight Smith, 6-3, sophomore (18 pts); Greg Smith, 6-6, junior (17 pts)
Strength: Athleticism; Weakness: Class B schedule
Final Ranking: 4th in Nebraska.
Key Wins: Beatrice, Lawrence (Kan.), Sioux City Heelan (Iowa), Omaha North; Losses: at Omaha Skutt, at Beatrice.
How They Got There: Defeated Omaha North 66-64 to win A-1 title.
State Appearances: 15; State Titles: 1 (1964)
Breakdown: Out of Ralston’s 15 appearances in the state tournament, only two have come in Class A. The last time Ralston was at the Class A tournament they upset defending champion Millard South in 1992. Ralston made 10 trips to state since its departure from Class A in 1994. Ralston loaded up on Class B teams all season long, but its two losses to Omaha Skutt and on the road to Beatrice are excusable. 75 percent of the Class A teams would likely suffer the same fate.
Bellevue East Chieftains (16-9)
Top Players: Jarrell Crayton, 6-6, junior (18 pts, 11 reb); James Futch, 5-8, senior (9 pts, 6 ast)
Strength: Inside play; Weakness: Outside shooting.
Final Ranking: Unranked.
Key Wins: Basehor-Linwood (Kan.), Webb City (Mo.), at Lincoln High, Omaha Bryan; Losses: Papillion-LaVista South, Junction City (Kan.), at Omaha Benson, Omaha Bryan (Metro Holiday), Omaha Creighton Prep (twice), at Omaha Central, Bellevue West, Millard West.
How They Got There: Defeated Lincoln Southeast in A-6 final, 54-45.
State Appearances: 9; State Titles: None.
Breakdown: It is only Bellevue East’s second appearance since 1974, the last time the Chieftains won a game at the state tournament. How good is Jarrell Crayton? The 6-6 junior is only playing his second season of organized basketball and is already considered one of the top post players in Nebraska. Guard James Futch is another viable option for the Chieftains. Many may be surprised Bellevue East is in Lincoln, but they are more than capable of creating an immediate upset against Ralston.
Lincoln High Links (19-4)
Top Players: Josh Riser, 5-7, senior (16 pts, 7 ast); Pete Uhing, 6-3, junior (11 pts); Dylan Flinn, 6-6, sophomore (11 pts, 71% FG)
Strength: Intangibles; Weakness: Depth
Final Ranking: 5th in Class A, 6th overall in Nebraska.
Key Wins: Omaha Central, Kearney, Papillion-LaVista South; Losses: Lincoln Southeast, Bellevue East, at Grand Island, Omaha Bryan.
How They Got There: Defeated Papillion-LaVista South in A-5 final, 52-45.
State Appearances: 55; State Titles: 15 (1914, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1927, 1930, 1934, 1938, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1958, 1959, 2003)
Breakdown: Not a lot of people expected the Links to be where they are. Flinn was on the freshman team, for example. Only Riser and Uhing were on the varsity team last season. The Links won the title in 2003 after a 44-year drought and have the potential to win another this season.
Omaha Creighton Prep Junior Jays (21-2)
Top Players: Matt Harmon, 6-4, senior (14 pts, 5 reb); John Karhoff, 6-8, junior (10 pts, 6 reb), Zane Hinkel, 6-2, senior (10 pts, 7 reb)
Strength: Intangibles; Weakness: Lack of go-to option?
Final Ranking: 1st in Nebraska.
Key Wins: Omaha Central, at Bellevue West, at Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst, Omaha Benson; Losses: Omaha Benson- twice (Metro Holiday and District final)
How They Got There: Wildcard.
State Appearances: 50; State Titles: 10 (1924, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1945, 1964, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1994)
Breakdown: Prep has lost two games this season, both to Omaha Benson. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Junior Jays struggle with athletic teams, either. Prep has defeated Omaha Central (twice), Bellevue West, and did manage to best Benson on one occasion this season. If you had to pick a leader, Matt Harmon is the one. Prep is very deep and very well coached. A definite state title contender.
Omaha Benson Bunnies (16-7)
Top Players: Brandon Hill, 5-10, senior (15 pts, 48% 3-PT) ; Kelvin Crandell, 5-8, senior (12 pts)
Strength: Guard play; Weakness: Size.
Final Ranking: 9th in Class A, 10th overall in Nebraska.
Key Wins: Omaha Creighton Prep (twice), Bellevue East; Losses: Bellevue West (twice), at Millard West, Creighton Prep, at Papillion-LaVista South, Lincoln High, Omaha Central.
How They Got There: Defeated top-ranked Creighton Prep in A-1 final, 59-53.
State Appearances: 33; State Titles: 2 (1920, 1992)
Breakdown: Which Benson team will show up in Lincoln? The one that beat Creighton Prep twice or the one that gave up 108 points to Omaha Central in a 36-point drubbing? The Bunnies run, well, like rabbits. They are small and quick and can take advantage of their athleticism.
Bellevue West Thunderbirds (23-2)
Top Players: Antoine Young, 6-0, senior (18 pts, 5 ast); Jeff Allgood, 6-1, senior (15 pts); Shomari Wellington, 6-5, senior (13 pts, 7 reb)
Strength: Shooting, pace; Weakness: Belief.
Final Ranking: 2nd in Nebraska.
Key Wins: St. Thomas Aquinas (Kan.), Omaha Benson and Omaha Central (Metro Holiday); Losses: at Omaha Central, Omaha Creighton Prep.
How They Got There: Defeated Millard West in the A-2 final, 59-55.
State Appearances: 12; State Titles: 3 (2000, 2004, 2005)
Breakdown: Bellevue West has had its heart torn out two straight years in overtime against Omaha Central in the state final. Do they believe they can win it again? Young, a Creighton signee, would have better numbers had he not been hampered by an ankle injury towards the end of the season. Allgood can flat out stroke it, evident by his tournament record 11 three’s last season. Wellington does the dirty work inside. It’s a recipe for great things.
Kearney Bearcats (18-6)
Top Players: Brett Maher, 6-1, senior; RJ Rhoads, 6-3, senior; Dane Bacon, 6-1, junior
Strength: Teamwork; Weakness: Size.
Final Ranking: 8th in Class A, 9th overall in Nebraska.
How They Got There: Defeated Grand Island in A-7 final, 60-57.
Key Wins: Newton (Kan.), Lincoln Southeast, Papillion-LaVista South; Losses: Manhattan (Kan.), Lincoln East, at Norfolk, at North Platte, at Grand Island, at Lincoln High.
State Appearances: 36; State Titles: None
Breakdown: Kearney has been successful in football and basketball in recent years, winning the 2006 Class A state title in football. Brett Maher’s addition from Utica Centennial was welcomed. RJ Rhoads and Dane Bacon are very good options for the Bearcats. The Bearcats have come up empty handed on all 35 of its previous trips to Lincoln.
Omaha Central Eagles (22-3)
Top Players: Josh Jones, 6-2, senior (20 pts); Ronnell Grixby, 5-9, senior (7 pts, 5 ast); Lorenzo Wilson, 6-5, senior (10 pts, 8 reb)
Strength: Belief; Weakness: Not many.
Final Ranking: 3rd in Nebraska.
Key Wins: Linn-Mar (Iowa), Bellevue West, Papillion-LaVista South, Omaha Benson; Losses: Bellevue West (Metro Holiday), at Lincoln High, at Creighton Prep
How They Got There: Defeated Omaha Bryan in A-3 final, 76-68.
State Appearances: 37; State Titles: 5 (1912, 1974, 1975, 2006, 2007)
Breakdown: It seems like everything Omaha Central touches turns to gold. Omaha Central is coming off two straight basketball titles, its first since 1975, and finally won a football title in November. They have the horses to do it again in 2008, giving the Eagles three straight titles. Central can pile on the points, too, scoring 108 in a victory over Omaha Benson. Josh Jones, signed with Creighton, got off to a slow start this season coming off a September heart surgery, but now is in full gear. Jones hit 10 three-point shots in a victory over Bellevue East. There will not be a more athletic team in the bracket. Don’t be shocked if Central does it again this time around.
2007 Class A Results
First Round
Omaha Creighton Prep 50, Omaha Bryan 49
Omaha Central 72, Millard North 55
Bellevue West 78, Norfolk 64
Kearney 76, Omaha Westside 71 (OT)
Semifinals
Omaha Central 76, Omaha Creighton Prep 54
Bellevue West 85, Kearney 77
Final
Omaha Central (19-7) 93, Bellevue West (18-10) 85 (OT)
Last Five State Final Scores
2007-Omaha Central (19-7) 93, Bellevue West (18-10) 85 (OT)
2006-Omaha Central (24-4) 84, Bellevue West (26-3) 79 (OT)
2005-Bellevue West (27-1) 67, Omaha Creighton Prep (17-7) 49
2004-Bellevue West (23-2) 70, Omaha Westside (21-5) 51
2003-Lincoln High (19-3) 43, Lincoln Southeast (21-3) 38
Class A State Tournament Records
Points, One Game: 97, Bellevue West, 1999
Points, Tourney: 249, Omaha Technical, 1963
Points, Both Teams: 186, Bellevue West 97, Lincoln Northeast 89 2OT, 1999 (state record)
Points, Losing Team: 89, Lincoln Northeast, 1999 (state record)
Individual Records
Points, One Game: 50, Andre Woolridge, Omaha Benson, 1992
Field Goals, One Game: 17, Andre Woolridge, Omaha Benson, 1992
Free Throws, One Game: 23, Kent Reckewey, Lincoln East, 1971 (state record)
Points, Tournament: 118, Kent Reckewey, Lincoln East, 1971
Three-Point Goals, Tournament: 11, Jeff Alllgood, Bellevue West, 2007
Three-Point Goals, One Game: 10, Alvin Mitchell, Omaha Burke, 1994
Predictions
Ralston vs. Bellevue East: If there was maybe one matchup that could pose problems for Bellevue East’s Crayton, it might be Ralston. Not only does Ralston have 6-6 Greg Smith, but it’s an athletic Greg Smith. Sophomore Dwight Smith, Brett Jorgenson, and Tito Martinez hold the key. Along with Dwight Smith, Ralston’s leading scorer, Jorgenson and Martinez have to be serviceable role players. Futch, the quarterback for Bellevue East’s offense, can’t afford to turn the ball over.
Advantage: Ralston
Lincoln High vs. Creighton Prep: This should be the best matchup of them all. Lincoln High has Josh Riser, who promises to give Prep fits. Pete Uhing can shoot at a consistent rate from behind the arc. Sophomore Dylan Flinn could struggle against Prep’s size. Matt Harmon is the key for the Junior Jays. Harmon has stepped up his scoring load as of late, and could be hard to match for the Links. Creighton Prep is just too good in this one.
Advantage: Creighton Prep
Omaha Benson vs. Bellevue West: Omaha Benson has proved that it belongs, but has had problems with teams that like to push the rock up the floor in a hurry. Benson has great guard play with the explosive Crandell and the sharpshooting Hill. Where it all goes wrong for the Bunnies in this matchup is inside. Bellevue West, also known for its guards, have a huge advantage inside with Wellington and 6-6 Stephen Palmtag. That is where West wins it.
Advantage: Bellevue West
Kearney vs. Omaha Central: These two are polar opposites. The size matches up pretty well, but that’s about it. Kearney will have to pin its hopes of the combination of Maher, Rhoads, and Bacon. All three are capable of putting up 25 points in a hurry. Central’s Josh Jones has been torrid as of late. He has scored at least 30 points in four out of the last six games. Central will have a huge advantage with Grixby, Donald Jones, and Wilson. Looks like an All-Metro final four.
Advantage: Omaha Central
Semifinals
Ralston vs. Omaha Creighton Prep: Ralston’s two players against Prep’s balanced attack. Prep all the way.
Advantage: Creighton Prep
Bellevue West vs. Omaha Central: A rematch of the 2006 and 2007 final, both high-scoring overtime affairs. Omaha Central has the mental edge over Bellevue West and should take one more step towards its third straight title.
Advantage: Omaha Central
Final
Omaha Creighton Prep vs. Omaha Central: Polar opposites. One likes to control the tempo by keeping the score under 60, the other would rather see the score in the 90’s. Central has too much talent and win its third straight crown.
Advantage: Omaha Central
