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The Fire Marshal Game: Silver Hawks fly away again in sterling start to season

It looked like the old days at Southeast’s Prasch Activities Center, when basketball fans from around the state would clog up the LSE campus and surrounding neighborhood to watch their teams in the state tournament.

Friday night, it was those inside city limits converging on 37th and Van Dorn, finding any piece of real estate they could for their vehicles, standing in a line that snaked a few hundred feet out the door 45 minutes before Southeast’s No. 4-ranked basketball team hosted No. 1 Lincoln Southwest in a matchup of the state’s final two unbeaten Class A boys teams.

The fire marshal couldn’t even look the other way. Some waited 30 minutes or longer to get in before the doors were locked on the 3,400-seat facility.

They missed a heck of a show.

Southwest bolstered the state’s best start with yet another quality win, building a 15-point lead and holding off Southeast 76-69 to improve to 9-0.

“It feels really good. I mean now, people can’t say ‘oh yeah, Southwest is garbage.’ We’re undefeated. We proved our point already,” said junior guard Dakari Wilson.

“I knew we had a good team (before the season started). I didn’t know we had a 9-0 team, but it’s worked out so far.”

In what is becoming a banner year for the Star City, the Silver Hawks have already risen to the top of a crowded group of capital city squads.

Southwest now owns wins over No. 4 Southeast, No. 5 North Star, and a Lincoln High squad knocking on the door of the top 10. Only Lincoln East, in a 62-56 opening-night loss, has held LSW to fewer than 71 points in a game.

“It feels good. Being undefeated isn’t a goal that we have,” Southwest coach Alex Bahe said. “But these guys are bringing it every night. And we’ve won games in a variety of fashions. So we’re proving a lot to ourselves.”

They’re proving a lot to the rest of the state, too.

Driven by dynamic twin brothers Uzziah and Makkiah Sanders, who both score about 20 points a game, Southwest has the most potent offense in the state. Every offensive possession is a transition opportunity. Every driving lane clogged by an opponent to try and slow the Sanders brothers means an open three for Wilson or Hudson Mezger.

Southwest shot 51% from the floor Friday, and it felt like Southeast largely did a decent enough job of slowing the Silver Hawks down.

LSW was 10-for-16 from 3-point range — Mezger hit four in the second quarter to help Southwest build a double-digit lead. WIlson hit two in the fourth period, including a dagger 26-footer with 1:26 left, that allowed the Silver Hawks to hang on.

All five Southwest starters scored in double figures. Uzziah Sanders had 18 points and five rebounds. Makkiah Sanders had 15 points and seven boards. Wilson had 15 and nine rebounds. Mezger had 12. Kob Kerr had 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots.

Just get a few stops.

That had to be what Lincoln Southeast was thinking all night.

Easier said than done.

“The stat line that the twins put up night after night, you can’t be any better than that. So we knew our growth had to come from other spots,” Bahe said.

The growth is happening in the spotlight now, after a Cinderella run to last year’s state tournament. Now the Silver Hawks carry the target. 

Southeast took aim Friday, cutting a 15-point third-quarter deficit to five with two minutes to go. The Knights (8-1) hit eight threes of their own. Committed just six turnovers, and only one in the second half. Stayed even on the boards. Got 18 points and seven boards from Grant Fredericks and 18 points off the bench from Jameson Shea.

And still didn’t have enough.

“When you see yourself (win toughness games), you feel like it starts to become an identity piece,” Bahe said. “And it’s something we can pull from when we’re in these moments any night down the stretch.”

Now, the last unbeaten boys team in Class A will face its biggest test while trying to extend that streak one more day. 

No. 2 Omaha Westside, the Metro Conference tournament champs who on Friday night nearly rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat No. 3 Creighton Prep, comes to Lincoln Saturday for a 6:45 p.m. tip at Southwest. Dinner and high-level hoops.

Last season, when Southwest was just a fun late-season story, the Silver Hawks stunned Westside in a 57-55 district final win on the Warriors’ home floor. The following week, Westside delivered an 87-49 beatdown in a state tournament rematch.

Show up early if you want a seat.

Star Studded Showcase

The 16-team Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase tips off this morning at 8:50 at Kearney High School. This year’s event features six teams that are ranked in our all-class Power 20 rankings another four teams who are ranked in their respective class in the nebpreps.com Coaches Poll. 

8:50 AM — Class D-1, Arapahoe (9-2) vs. Class D-2 (RV) Mullen (6-3): Once ranked Arapahoe enters on a four-game win streak and the Broncos, who topped Class D-1 (RV) Brady on Thursday, have also won four in a row. Three Warriors are in double figures — Clara Hilker (13.7), Suttyn Shafer (13.1) and Sawyer Shafer (11.7). For Mullen, senior Hayley Donohoe averages 11.1 points per contest.

10:30 AM — Class C-2, (RV) Thayer Central (10-1) vs. Class C-2, No. 5 Alma (10-1): An intriguing in-class matchup between two teams with their thoughts on Lincoln. Thayer Central has just a 54-41 loss to Power 20, No. 8 Milford and is riding an 8-game win streak. Junior Paige Tietjen is averaging 17.1 points per contest for the Titans. For Alma, highly-ranked, do-everything freshman Tinley Ford is pouring in 21.3 points a game and Kam Scott is just over 14 points an outing.

12:10 PM — Class D-1, Cross County (8-4) vs. Class C-2, No. 2 Oakland-Craig (10-2): Defending C-2 champ O-C got back on track last night with a 64-26 win over Stanton after they were upset 70-65 by Omaha Nation on Tuesday. The Cougars have lost two of three heading to Kearney. Senior Briar Ray is averaging a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds per contest for the Knights.

1:50 PM — Class C-2, No. 1 Pender (11-1) vs. Class A, No. 7 Millard North (7-3): Kudos to Millard North for taking this one on over an uber-talented Pendragon roster that has won three straight small-school state titles. The Mustangs advanced to the Metro Conference semifinals and have losses to the top-three in Class A. Pender is undefeated in the state. Fort Hays State pledge Hadley Walsh scores nearly 17 points a game for Pender and the Mustangs counter with one of the top freshman in Nebraska, Mia McKenzie (18 points per contest).

3:30 PM — Class C-1, Broken Bow (8-4) vs. Class C-1, No. 8 Fort Calhoun (9-1): Tournament founder and host Kelly Cooksley has never backed away from a challenge in game five of this event. Now his Broken Bow Indians have won seven of eight and should give No. 8 Fort Calhoun a fantastic matchup as we head to a loaded evening slate. Senior Charlee Myers is averaging 15.2 points per game for Bow and juniors Ansley Elofson and Raeann Massey combine for 26 points a game for the Fort.

5:10 PM — Class C-1, No. 3 Milford (11-1) vs. Class C-1, No. 5 Ogallala (11-0): The Class C-1 heavyweight fights take center stage in this one as No. 3 Milford (No. 8, Power 20) takes on unbeaten Ogallala. East vs. West. A real preview of what we might see in the most competitive class at the state tournament. Stars galore. Crabtree, Rautenberg and Miller for Milford. For the Indians, O’Neill, Rasby and Caskey. Ogallala plays for a spot in next week’s Power 20 ranking.

6:50 PM — Class C-1, No. 1 Malcolm (10-1) vs. Class C-1, No. 6 Central City (11-0): Off of Thursday’s 66-64 loss to Milford — which will certainly turn the tide on the top of the C-1 poll — Malcolm looks to bounce back against unbeaten Central City. It’s the first big test for the Bison who own a 54-29 win over Minden. Sisters Halle (19.4) and Payton (18.7) Dolliver lead the Clippers, while Hope Paup, Sydni Homolka and Reagan Fousek all average double figure for coach Dan Negus’ Bison.

8:30 PM — Class C-1, No. 4 Gothenburg (8-1) vs. Class A, No. 5 Kearney (11-0): Last year, Drew Danielson changed the culture at Kearney finishing a game short of Lincoln. In Gothenburg, Tim Strauser’s team advanced to the state semifinals. Both coaches make us smile in agreeing to this night cap which will make both teams better for the stretch run. One thing the Swedes will have to do is handle the Kearney student section — one of the great home court advantages in the state. Two headed monsters for both teams: Zoe Beveridge and Halsey Thomalla for ‘burg and freshman Hallie Garner and junior Libby Province for Kearney.

“Discipline, drive, and dedication. Competitive spirit. A commitment to constant improvement. These qualities make great athletes and coaches. They also make great financial advisors. Northwestern Mutual advisors educate clients to make important decisions to live differently and achieve their goals of financial security. Learn more about joining our team. Karges Financial Group and the Great Plains District are proud supporters of Nebraska high school athletics.