It was just a normal, easy-going first round of the NSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament. And, then the Norris earthquake hit.

(Disclaimer: The Newsletter wasn’t even there to see it. We thought Devaney would be better. So, we’ll try to find all the social media we can for you.)

In short, Pius — which lost to Norris 76-33 in the sub-district — played a near flawless game for 31 ½ minutes. They led 48-44, but made just 2-for-8 free throws in the final 28 seconds and the door was cracked. Just enough.

Down 49-46, Macoy Folkerts hit this long one to tie it with 3.2 seconds left.

Overtime will be fun. But, Barret Boesiger had other ideas. Good night.

It was the first time that the NSAA used replay assist in a state tournament game (and, first ever non-final) since the Giltner, Howells Class D-2 championship game in 2012.

Insane. Norris 52, Pius 49. More angles below.

PLUS the interviews: Kevin Sjuts. Lauren Michelson. Austin Jacobsen.

Hometown Proud

Summerland coach Brett Kaczor still has all the Devaney Sports Center vibes he had as a player for Ewing.

He knows exactly what his players are trying to experience this week at the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament. And that they will play on after Thursday’s 68-55 win over EMF is just icing on the cake.

Kaczor played in two state championship games for Ewing — which is now a part of the Summerland school system with Clearwater and Orchard — in 2009 and 2010. The Tigers lost to “the shot” in 2009 (is this the Jimmy Motz newsletter?) before beating Hampton in the 2010 final.

Now a coach, Kaczor wants his team to experience the same things in Lincoln that he was able to do with his buddies.

“I have told these guys — especially this senior group — we knew they were going to be special. I told them, more than anything, I wanted to get them down here,” Kaczor said on Thursday after their win. “We accomplished that last year, but I told them you won’t have any better feeling than getting a medal around your neck.

“I want to absolutely do that.”

Kaczor coaches his team’s much like he learned growing up in Ewing. His Bobcats play an active zone that pressures at multiple points on the court. On Thursday, it caused 25 EMF turnovers and Summerland scored 27 points off them in transition.

Summerland, which lost in the Class C-2 first round to Cross County last year, has eight seniors with six in the rotation. Preston Hoke (20), Michael Koenig (18) and Alex Schindler (15) all scored in double figures in the opening round win.

“It’s a lot of our stuff that we used to do” Kaczor said. “I have Coach (Blake) Hoke who was a great player at (Clearwater/Orchard) and we have taken some of the stuff they used to do and try to mesh it all together.

“I think we learned last year that we need to be more physical. Rebounding can really lose you a game. We aren’t perfect at it, but it feels like we are getting better.”

There next test will be today in the 1:30 PM semifinal against eighth-seeded Archbishop Bergan. The Knights upset top-seed Freeman 51-49 on Thursday morning. Unlike Summerland, the Knights don’t have a single senior.

“Our chemistry is the biggest thing,” said Hoke, who also had six rebounds and five steals in his 20 point effort. “We all know what each other are going to do on the floor. We have been playing ball together since we were in kindergarten.”

Now their coach, who knows exactly how fun this should be, just wants to keep it going. For his players. For the communities that support them.

“These three communities have just been wonderful,” Kaczor said. “You saw the crowd today, to drive three hours for a state game in the morning. That shows a lot for our community.”

First Round Notebook

IMPROBABLE KNIGHTS: Down 57-49 with just 1:52 left, somehow, Lincoln Southeast pulled off a victory. By forcing turnovers (North Star turned it over six times in the final two minutes) and getting Michael Ngoyi to the free throw line. They didn’t hit a basket from the field during the comeback, but Ngoyi, who had 19 points, made 9-of-12 gifters in the final 105 seconds to lift LSE.

IMPROBABLE DEFENDERS: It was even more improbable for Archangels Catholic. Trailing 59-45 to Stuart with 2:20 left, the Defenders extended their stay in Lincoln with a game-ending 16-0 run. Gavin Geilenkirchen scored nine points in the decisive run and Tucker Czarnick made two free throws with 10 seconds left for the win. Stuart, which got 29 points from Kade Ramm, had four starters foul out of the game.

CARDINAL REVERSAL: In mid-December, Ogallala defeated Doniphan-Trumbull 75-33 at the Heartland Holiday Hoops Classic at Hastings College. On Wednesday, the Cardinals turned a full reversal on the Indians in a 57-45 win. Jack Poppe had 23 points, five rebounds and five assists and teammate Parker Volk had 20 points as D-T controlled nearly the whole contest. Ogallala had to play without leading scorer Sawyer Smith, who suffered an ankle injury in a Tuesday practice.

ROAD WARRIORS: Once down 29-12, Scottsbluff roared back to defeat Gretna East 65-60 on Thursday night. The Bearcats got 19 points from Nate Kelley in the win. How far will Scottsbluff go to prepare for the second weekend in March? Scottsbluff played just six home games during the season. They opened with two games in Norfolk, played in the Doane Holiday tournament and had an early January weekend in Crete and Bennington. The result? The Bearcats are the only team west of Hastings remaining in the tournament.

Quarterfinal Box Scores

Class A: Papillion-LaVista South 76, Papillion-LaVista 58. Millard North 62, Bellevue West 44. Omaha Westside 87, Lincoln Southwest 49. Lincoln Southeast 58, Lincoln North Star 57.

Class B: Norris 51, Lincoln Pius X 49. Omaha Skutt Catholic 71, Douglas County West 31. Scottsbluff 65, Gretna East 60. Elkhorn North 74, Wahoo 65.

Class C-1: Lincoln Lutheran 64, Fillmore Central 26. Ashland-Greenwood 60, Cozad 45. Doniphan-Trumbull 57, Ogallala 45. Omaha Concordia 49, Sidney 45.

Class C-2: Archbishop Bergan 51, Freeman 49. Summerland 68, Exeter-Milligan/Friend 55. West Holt 48, Yutan 33. Cross County 41, Cedar Catholic 38.

Class D-1: Johnson-Brock 73, Elmwood-Murdock 32. McCool Junction 65, Elm Creek 34. Howells-Dodge 54, Dundy County-Stratton 40. Bancroft-Rosalie 59, North Platte St. Pat’s 53.

Class D-2: St. Mary’s 50, Silver Lake 34. Archangels Catholic 61, Stuart 59. Wausa 61, Fullerton 33. Wynot 60, Elgin Public/Pope John 53.

nebpreps: Wednesday Notebook | Thursday Notebook

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