By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
This is Part I in a four-part feature on the Fremont Bergan boys’ basketball team in its quest for the Class D1 state championship. MaxPreps.com Nebraska correspondent Scott Hansen will follow the Knights every step during the state tournament.
FREMONT, Neb. - You could call them the 2008 version of the Hickory Huskers.
Of course, there are fundamental differences between the team featured in the movie "Hoosiers" and the Fremont Bergan Knights, but there are also glaring similarities.
Bergan, ranked No. 1 in Class D-1 with a 24-0 mark, is searching for its first state title since 1987. Being ranked in the All-Class top 10 in the Omaha World-Herald and MaxPreps.com carries some extra weight for the Knights. Bergan could be one of the best small-school teams in Nebraska history.
It is not often when a school the size of Bergan can produce a Division I talent like Wes Eikmeier. Bergan's version of Jimmy Chitwood has already been named Nebraska Player of the Year by Gatorade as a junior and averages 30.5 points per game this season. Eikmeier is headed to Iowa State next season.
Senior Brian Liekhus is the ultimate shooter. Liekhus averages 11.3 points per game this season for Bergan. On Feb. 19 in the opening round of Sub-District play, Liekhus was a major reason why Bergan was able to hit 14-of-22 from three-point range. Liekhus drilled seven of his 10 attempts from 19-feet, 9 inches.
Then, there is junior point guard Jim Wilmes. In a game against Wahoo Neumann on Feb. 8, Eikmeier was held to four points. Wilmes stepped in and hit for a game-high 23 and hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor, including three from behind the arc.
Travis Brown and Isaac Morrissey are Bergan's other starters, both averaging a shade over four points per game. They along with sixth-man Joey Spellerburg are Bergan's role players.
During its final practice before State, the Knights seemed relaxed. According to Eikmeier, Bergan knows the drill.
“We have been through this before. We know how to handle going to the state tournament. We are not intimidated by the setting,” Eikmeier said.
Head coach Chris Paulson wants his players to be relaxed.
“We have been through a lot. We want to go out there and enjoy it. We have had a good week of practice this week and I don’t expect us to be overwhelmed by it,” Paulson said.
Pundits across the state feel Bergan has its wake-up call in the District final victory over Freeman. In the 52-37 victory, Bergan trailed 30-28 with 1:07 remaining in the third quarter before the Knights stepped up the defensive effort.
“Give Freeman some credit. They came out and really took it to us. They defended really well. A lot of people panicked because it was against another Class D1 team, but they deserve the credit for slowing us down,” said Eikmeier, who scored all of his team’s points in the third quarter and finished with 25.
Bergan is also battle tested. The Knights had not played a team in its own class until the postseason. Bergan finished unbeaten with a schedule comprised of Class B, C1, and C2 opponents.
For the Knights, finishing with an unbeaten record and its first state title since 1987 may be enough. Should Bergan complete its goal, the Knights will be a team high school basketball fans in the Cornhusker state for years to come.
Class B
Thursday, March 6
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
9:00 a.m. - Omaha Skutt (20-5) vs. Elkhorn (15-6)
10:45 a.m. - Alliance (13-10) vs. Lincoln Pius X (15-6)
At Pershing Center
7:00 p.m. - York (13-8) vs. Beatrice (18-3)
8:45 p.m.- Gretna (17-6) vs. McCook (16-10)
Friday, March 7
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
2:00 p.m. - Omaha Skutt/Elkhorn winner vs. Alliance/Lincoln Pius X winner
3:45 p.m. - York/Beatrice winner vs. Gretna/McCook winner
Saturday, March 8
At Pershing Center
11:30 a.m. - Consolation Final
At Bob Devaney Sports Center
1:30 p.m. - Class B State Championship game
Omaha Skutt Skyhawks
Top Players: Jake Reinders, 6-8, senior; Andy Morris, 6-5, senior; Ryan Hildebrandt, 6-2, senior
Breakdown: Not only are the Skyhawks the two-time defending Class B champion, they have the most dominant frontcourt in the state. Aside from Reinders, the Skyhawks have 6-7 junior Zach Croonquist and 6-5 Will Morris.
Elkhorn Antlers
Top Players: Josh Lynch, 6-6, senior; Dan Spittler, 6-3, senior; Devan Walsh, 6-6, senior
Breakdown: Lynch set a modern-day state record with 25 rebounds earlier this season. In an overtime victory over Omaha Roncalli in the district final, Lynch scored 17 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and blocked six shots when they need him most. He is an all-state candidate.
Alliance Bulldogs
Top Players: Zach Bonness, 6-7, senior; TJ Peltz, 6-3, senior
Breakdown: Bonness is the leading scorer in Class B, averaging over 22 points per game for the Bulldogs.
Lincoln Pius X Thunderbolts
Top Players: KC Hyland, 6-6, senior; Joe Pleskac, 5-11, senior
Breakdown: Lincoln Pius X is the unknown of the field. Pleskac leads the Thunderbolts at 12.6 points per game. Hyland averages just under nine.
York Dukes
Top Players: Zac Groenke, 6-1, senior; Adam Fowler, 6-3, senior
Breakdown: The Dukes pulled an upset over Crete to just to get to this point. York is a tough nosed, balanced team and will make things interesting.
Beatrice Orangemen
Top Players: Mike Fox, 6-5, senior; Zach Ruiz, 6-3, senior
Breakdown: Fox averages 16 points and 10 boards a game, while Ruiz checks in at 14 points and seven rebounds per contest. Beatrice has the potential to win the whole thing.
Gretna Dragons
Top Players: Trent Miler, 6-0, junior; Bryce Arp, 6-7, senior
Breakdown: The Dragons allow just 40 points per game this season. Arp is the offensive leader, averaging 11.4.
McCook Bison
Top Players: Cory Gaston, 6-2, senior; Seth Schaeffer, 6-3, junior
Breakdown: Gaston averages 15 points and six rebounds per game for the Bison. Schaeffer is a solid number two option for the Bison.
Predictions
First Round: Omaha Skutt over Elkhorn; Lincoln Pius X over Alliance; Beatrice over York; Gretna over McCook
Semifinals: Omaha Skutt over Lincoln Pius X; Beatrice over Gretna
Third Place: Gretna over Lincoln Pius X
Final: Omaha Skutt over Beatrice
Darkhorse: Elkhorn
Class C1
Thursday, March 6
At Pershing Center
9: 00 a.m. - Pierce (23-0) vs. Boys Town (21-5)
10:45 a.m. - Minden (17-4) vs. Hastings St. Cecilia (20-2)
2: 00 p.m. - Lincoln Lutheran (11-10) vs. Chadron (19-2)
3:45 p.m. - Bennington (23-0) vs. Wisner-Pilger (23-1)
Friday, March 7
At Devaney Center
9: 00 a.m. - Pierce/Boys Town winner vs. Minden/Hastings St. Cecilia winner
10:45 a.m. - Lincoln Lutheran-Chadron winner vs. Bennington/Wisner-Pilger winner
Saturday, March 8
At Pershing Center
1:30 p.m. – Consolation Final
At Devaney Center
9:30 a.m. – Class C1 State Championship
Class C1 Top Players
Mychael McClure, 6-5, sr., Wisner-Pilger (14.8 pts, 10.4 reb)
Eric Koehlmoos, 6-0, jr., Pierce (15 pts)
Gavin Blum, 6-6, jr., Minden (10.8 pts, 12.7 reb)
Jake Hamburger, 6-3, jr., Hastings St. Cecilia (14.6 pts)
Elliott Eliason, 6-11, soph., Chadron (12.8 pts, 9.7 reb, 5 blks)
Isiah Gandy, 6-2, jr., Boys Town (12.8 pts)
Denver Klaus, 6-3, jr., Bennington (15.4 pts)
Predictions
First Round: Boys Town over Pierce; Minden over Hastings SC; Chadron over Lincoln Lutheran; Bennington over Wisner-Pilger
Semifinals: Boys Town over Minden; Bennington over Chadron
Third Place game: Chadron over Minden
Final: Boys Town over Bennington
Darkhorse: Hastings SC
Class C2
Thursday, March 6
At Lincoln Southeast
2:00 p.m. - Ravenna (23-1) vs. Perkins County (13-9)
3:45 p.m. - Grand Island Central Catholic (15-7) vs. Deshler (22-1)
7:00 p.m. - Oakland-Craig (16-8) vs. Ponca (21-2)
8:45 p.m. - Elmwood-Murdock (20-3) vs. Heartland (19-3)
Friday, March 7
At Pershing Center
2:00 p.m. – Ravenna/Perkins County winner vs. Grand Island Central Catholic/Deshler winner
3:45 p.m. - Oakland-Craig/Ponca winner vs. Elmwood-Murdock/Heartland winner
Saturday, March 8
At Pershing Center
9:00 p.m. - Consolation Final
At Devaney Center
5:00 p.m. – Class C2 State Championship
Class C2 Top Players
Greg Nissen, 6-6, sr., Ravenna (14.7 pts, 7 reb)
Brent Smith, 6-0, sr., Ponca (17.5 pts)
Zach Rosenboom, 6-6, sr., Oakland-Craig (18.9 pts, 10.5 reb)
Ned Goertzen, 6-2, sr., Heartland (17.5 pts, 5.8 reb)
Spencer Fahey, 6-0, jr., Elmwood-Murdock (18.8 pts, 3.8 reb)
Jens Scholl, 6-4, sr., Deshler (21.1 pts, 10.9 reb)
Predictions
First Round: Ravenna over Perkins County; Deshler over Grand Island CC; Ponca over Oakland-Craig; Heartland over Elmwood-Murdock
Semifinals: Ravenna over Deshler; Ponca over Heartland
Third Place game: Heartland over Deshler
Final: Ravenna over Ponca
Darkhorse: Grand Island CC
Class D1
Thursday, March 6
At Lincoln East
9:00 a.m. - Kenesaw (14-7) vs. Fremont Bergan (24-0), 9 a.m.
10:45 a.m. - Mead (19-3) vs. Palmer (20-3), 10:45 a.m.
2:00 p.m. - Callaway (15-4) vs. Hayes Center (22-1), 2 p.m.
3:45 p.m. - West Boyd (20-5) vs. Humphrey St. Francis (21-2), 3:45 p.m.
Friday, March 7
At Pershing Center
9:00 a.m. – Kenesaw/Fremont Bergan winner vs. Mead/Palmer winner
10:45 a.m. – Callaway/Hayes Center winner vs. West Boyd/Humphrey St. Francis winner
Saturday, March 8
At Pershing Center
9:30 a.m. – Consolation Final
At Devaney Center
11:30 a.m. – Class D1 State Championship
Class D1 Top Players
Neil Kilchriste, 6-2, sr., Palmer (21.6 pts, 11 reb)
Wes Eikmeier, 6-3, sr., Fremont Bergan (30.5 pts, 3.6 reb)
Eric Johnson, 6-1, jr., Mead (13.9 pts)
Matthew Gohl, 6-3, jr. Hayes Center (12.7 pts, 8.7 reb)
Randy Foltz, 6-0, sr., Humphrey St. Francis (12.7 pts)
Predictions
First Round: Fremont Bergan over Kenesaw; Palmer over Mead; Hayes Center over Callaway; Humphrey SF over West Boyd
Semifinals: Fremont Bergan over Palmer; Humphrey SF over Hayes Center
Third Place game: Palmer over Hayes Center
Final: Fremont Bergan over Humphrey SF
Darkhorse: Mead
Class D2
Thursday, March 6
At Lincoln Southeast
9:00 a.m. - Falls City Sacred Heart (23-2) vs. Potter-Dix (13-8)
10:45 a.m. - Ewing (24-0) vs. O'Neill St. Mary (20-3)
At Lincoln East
7:00 p.m. - St. Edward (20-3) vs. Pleasanton (22-1)
8:45 p.m. - Bruning-Davenport (20-5) vs. Hampton (19-4)
Friday, March 7
At Pershing Center
7:00 p.m. - Falls City Sacred Heart/Potter-Dix winner vs. Ewing/O'Neill St. Mary winner
8:45 p.m. - St. Edward/Pleasanton winner vs. Bruning-Davenport/Hampton winner
Saturday, March 8
At Pershing Center
7:00 p.m. – Consolation Final
At Devaney Center
9:00 p.m. – Class D2 State Championship
Class D2 Top Players
Brent Houchin, 6-4, jr., Bruning-Davenport (13.8 pts, 10 reb)
Austin Kaczor, 6-4, soph., Ewing (16.2 pts, 8.5 reb.)
Zach Sibbel, 6-3, jr., O’Neill St. Mary (19.3 pts, 12 reb)
Elijah Zwiener, 6-7, sr., Pleasanton (15.3 pts, 10.2 reb)
Shavontae Samuels, 6-0, sr., St. Edward (27.4 pts, 10.8 reb)
Predictions
First Round: Falls City SH over Potter-Dix; Ewing over O’Neill St. Mary; St. Edward over Pleasanton; Hampton over Bruning-Davenport
Semifinals: Falls City SH over Ewing; St. Edward over Hampton
Third Place: Ewing over Hampton
Final: Falls City SH over St. Edward
Darkhorse: Bruning-Davenport
