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Make A Memory

When I was a freshman in high school, my dad took me to three playoff football games on the same day. I’ll never forget it. The state semifinals of 1990. Now, all we do is play on Friday at 7:00 (or 6:00). The doubleheader is rare.

But, on this sunny and warm Saturday, dad and I tracked from Hampton to Doniphan for a 1:00 game between the Cardinals and perennial power Grant. I distinctly remember that the Cards were also playing in the state volleyball finals as well.

At 4:00 we traveled down the back roads to Kenesaw. The Blue Devils were hosting Newcastle in an 8-man show down. And the 7:00 game was in Wood River between Scott Frost (just a sophomore then) and Geneva, who would win the eventual Class C-1 state title the next week.

On Thursday, when Mother Nature wiped out most of the Class C and D sub-disrict finals, the delays gave Ella and I another chance. It took even more than just the weather. Likely some work arounds for different towns. A bus turning around at Kearney on Thursday. And an already scheduled youth basketball tournament that kicked the start of our last game to 7:00.

And maybe a little help from coach.

But dang it if we didn’t get it done.

1:00 — Malcolm and Holdrege. The Dolliver girls are still good. And, the Dusters, well, I am not sure anyone is going to want to see them in Lincoln.

4:00 — Howells-Dodge and Cross County. The Jaguars are just 18-7, but unbeaten in Class D-1. They will be a tough out if they advance to Lincoln.

7:00 — Oakland-Craig and GACC. 

We sandwiched our long Saturday with a trip to Milford on Friday night and coaching some hoops in Hampton with our Northwest junior high team on Sunday.

So thankful. The best weekend.

The Girls Hoops Power 20

The postseason is officially here as we look forward to the state girls basketball tournament which begins next Wednesday in Lincoln at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and Pinnacle Bank Arena leading into Saturday’s championship games. We can’t wait. Come say hello!! Let’s move into our final Power 20 of the season.

1 - Bennington (23-0): The Badgers will host the B-2 on Wednesday (either Lexington or Nebraska City) and then a likely district final against Central Conference foes Aurora or Crete. The Cardinals have won 13 of their last 14 and defeated Aurora twice in the past 30 days. Last week: 1.

2 - Omaha North (22-4): When the Vikings are on, they are the most dangerous team in the state. They will host the A-2 district with a district final against Bellevue West or Elkhorn South. Last week: 2.

3 - Lincoln North Star (22-1): Got a hard-fought win over No. 10 Pius and over watching you Millard South last week and earned the top-seed in the postseason. Will face the winner of Omaha Burke and Bellevue East to open their district tournament on Wednesday. Last week: 3.

4 - Millard West (18-4): The best win of the week for any of the Power 20 was the Cats 65-46 win over Kearney on Valentines Day. Millard West left little doubt in that one, sprinting to a 23-7 lead after the first quarter. The Cats had three in double figures with Londyn Whitney getting 15 points. If Kylee Paben gets that kind of help the rest of the way MW is a title contender. Last week: 5.

5 - Omaha Westside (20-5): The Warriors are 12-1 since the calendar flipped. A dangerous team to watch the next 10 days. Jump Kearney based on the head-to-head scores with Millard West, plus the win over Omaha North. Last week: 7.

6 - Kearney (18-3): Really wish we had the grade against Omaha Westview to put in here. Alas, we will see how districts and, possibly, the state tournament goes for the Bearcats. Last week: 6.

7 - Norris (20-3): Titans lost a 58-54 contest with then, No. 15 Omaha Marian last Tuesday but still have enough good wins to stay in the top 10. They would get to host two games in the B-1 district tournament this week. Last week: 4.

8 - Milford (24-1): Just one step before “survive and advance” season in Class C-1, Milford hung on last Friday to beat Class C-1, No. 8 Central City 44-43 behind 22 points and 16 rebounds from Shayla Rautenberg. How good is Class C-1? There are 11 teams with 20 wins or more. Last week: 7.

9 - Malcolm (24-1): Now 14 in a row for Malcolm who will play all of the postseason without starter Baylor Bratrsovsky after she suffered a torn ACL in their final regular season game. Yes, the Dolliver sisters are good. But there is plenty of help here. Promise. May have looked the best of Class C-1’s “big three” in the sub-district final round with a 45-36 win over Holdrege. Last week: 9.

10 - Lincoln Pius X (18-4): Played No. 3 Lincoln North Star to a 43-38 game last Tuesday, which should get the Bolts ready for the postseason. Our guess here is Pius has the taste of last year’s first round state exit still on their minds a little bit. Last week: 10.

11 - Lincoln Christian (23-2): Thought about a small demotion for Lincoln Christian after their loss to Raymond Central in the sub-district final. The Crusaders jumped out to a big lead and then the ball wouldn’t go in the basket. Ultimately their spot on this list will depend on next week. Last week: 11.

12 - Pender (24-2): The Dragons quest for a fourth title is off to a good start. Will host Johnson County Central in their district final on Saturday. Last week: 12.

13 - Omaha Marian (13-9): Our coaches poll won’t have as much love for Marian as the Power 20 and that’s okay. But the Crusaders have won nine of 10 and that includes wins over Westview, Southwest and Norris. The only lost to Iowa queens, Johnston. This team could give Kearney fits on Friday night if both advance. Last week: 15.

14 - Omaha Westview (18-5): The Wolverines could have moved up, had the game with Kearney been played (and won). Instead, they stay here but will still host their Class A district. Will need to advance to Lincoln to keep this spot. Last week: 13.

15 - Lincoln Southwest (14-8): Should both advance, the one district final in Class A that could have the most intrigue is Southwest and No. 20 Millard North. Both would be 15-8 at tip. Last week: 14.

16 - Gretna East (18-5): Like Bennington, should the Griffins advance, they would have a Central Conference foe in either York or Grand Island Northwest. A semifinal appearance in Lincoln will be required to stay in this spot. Last week: 16.

17 - Elkhorn Valley (25-0): A required flip now between Oakland-Craig and Elkhorn Valley (this matches our coaches poll now) after O-C needed overtime to defeat Guardian Angels Central Catholic on Saturday. Elkhorn Valley’s win was 54-38 on January 30. Last week: 18.

18 - Oakland-Craig (23-3): You know who doesn’t care that they dropped in this week’s poll? Oakland-Craig. In fact, they may welcome it. Last week: 17.

19 - Papillion-LaVista (15-7): Told you the Monarchs were playing for their ranking on Saturday against Lincoln Northeast and they responded with a 58-40 win. Last week: 20.

20 - Millard North (14-8): Snuck past Lincoln Southeast, 56-53. Depending on district and state results, might need to win their district to stay here for the postseason poll. Last week: 17.

Watching You (listed alphabetically by class): Bellevue West (13-10), Lincoln High (16-6), Holdrege (21-4), Alma (25-1), Bloomfield (25-0).

Wrestling Week in Omaha

The boys and girls state wrestling championships capped off their five-day run at the CHI Center in Omaha on Saturday. What a week for our friends at NEWrestle!! They have all the recaps on the NSAA homepage, and you can link on them below as well.

Boys team champions: Creighton Prep (A), Omaha Skutt Catholic (B), Battle Creek (C) and Plainview (D).

Girls team champions: Omaha Westside (A) and Adams Central (B).

Boys Wrestling Recap | Girls Wrestling Recap

Parting Shot

The Class A boys state basketball tournament might be as wide open as it has ever been. Get to Lincoln and you have a fighting chance. Boys districts brackets for Class A will be released later today.

How wide open? Only Omaha Westside has 20 wins and no team has fewer than four losses on the season. Here is Yasir Grixby of Omaha Central knocking down Lincoln Southwest last night in a buzzer beater.

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