Lincoln Christian’s dream of a repeat in Class C-1 this season has been a perfect ride so far. Today, for a second championship and a 39th consecutive win, it’s another round with Milford.

At the heart of their drive for that championship has been senior Mattea Kassebaum who nearly put the Crusaders on her back in the fourth quarter of a 64-51 win over Gothenburg in the semifinals.

After Lincoln Christian seemingly had full control at 44-26 late in the third quarter, Gothenburg had a final burst. They tied the game at 49-all before Jessa Hueser made a 3-point basket that gave the Crusaders the lead for good at 52-49. Kassebaum would then score the next 10 Lincoln Christian points as they pulled away.

“It’s always been a goal for us to be able to play basketball here at Pinnacle Bank Arena, and to win a state tournament,” Kassebaum said.

Being in the state championship has been something Kassebaum and her teammates long dreamed about. Kassebaum said she especially looked up to former Crusader Chloe Dworak who led LC to the 2017 state championship.

In Friday’s semifinal, she passed Dworak as the school’s single-season scoring leader.

“Chloe was someone I have always looked up to,” Kassebaum said. “She is such a strong Christian and an amazing basketball player. It’s such a blessing to be able to pass her and have that record.”

Now, like Dworak was to her, she and her teammates would like to be heroes to the little girls who dream of playing for Lincoln Christian in the future.

“Knowing the other kids in our school look up to us, helps us to remember we are role models for them,” Kassebaum said. “Being a role model is important to us. It helps us keep our cool on the court, to respect officials, to praise our teammates and to really be a light for Christ.”

Semifinal Box Scores

Class A: Millard West 34, Lincoln North Star 28. Omaha Westside 47, Bellevue West 35. 

Class B: Skutt Catholic 58, Bennington 45. Gretna East 38, Waverly 34.

Class C1: Lincoln Christian 64, Gothenburg 51. Milford 67, Minden 61.

Class C2: Elkhorn Valley 47, GACC 42. Oakland-Craig 49, Crofton 45.

Class D1: Pender 53, Alma 40. Elm Creek 54, Cedar Catholic 49.

Class D2: Dorchester 39, Wilcox-Hildreth 31. Falls City Sacred Heart 47, Archangels Catholic 38.

The Notebook

LANCE’S LONG JOURNEY: Lance Moore is used to long trips to Lincoln. But this week might top them all for Moore, who is an official at this week’s tournament.

After an all-state basketball career for father Rusty at Mullen he now runs the family ranch and has turned into one of the top officials in the state. His Broncos won the 2017 Class D-2 state championship.

On Friday, he was at the Devaney Center to watch sister Tierston play for Alma in the Class D-1 semifinals for just a half. He was set to officiate the Class C-1 semifinal with Milford and Minden.

After that, it was in a car to Kansas City to watch sister Samantha and the UNK women’s team in the MIAA Conference Tournament quarterfinals against Washburn. The Lopers lost to Washburn 78-65. The family had to miss brother Clayton’s men’s game with the Lopers as their season ended with a 96-63 loss to Pittsburg State.

What’s more? Pun intended. Moore is back in Lincoln for today’s 4:30 PM, Class C-2 final between Oakland-Craig and Elkhorn Valley.

SPECIAL REMATCH: Milford coach Bryce Roth looks forward to the Eagles 11:00 AM rematch this morning with Lincoln Christian in the Class C-1 state title game. The teams played in a 3-team holiday tournament over in late December with them each also playing state tournament qualifier Silver Lake.

The first game went to Christian 69-67.

“We hit some threes in that game,” Roth said. “With 15 seconds left it was a tie ball game and then a ball bounced their way, they get a sideline jumper to take the lead and we had about a 30-footer at the buzzer that was on line, but just fell short.

“We were right there with them. It was a weird game. We jumped out on them and then they came back. They are so explosive.”

JADE’S DOUBLE TOO: While Millard West goes for a second straight state title in the 1:00 PM Class A state championship, transfer Jade Lewis will try as well. She was a lynchpin in Yutan’s 2024 Class C-2 state championship a season ago.

Millard West coach Marc Kruger said Lewis has brought great energy and winning plays to his team this season. With the Wildcats up three in the final minute against North Star, it was Lewis who came up with a key offensive rebound that led to two free throws and a five point lead.

“Toughness,” Kruger said. “I mean that rebound at the end. Then, she makes the two free throws. She is always in position to get offensive rebounds for us. That last one she was way up off the floor to get that one. I am just so proud of her.”

In a quick scan of the girls basketball championship program, it appears that Lewis would be just the second girl in state history to win a state title at two different schools if the Cats can get past Omaha Westside. The other was the state’s all-time leading scorer, Darcy Stracke, who won with Stuart as a freshman in Class D-2 (1994), then three straight with Chambers (D-1 in 1995 and D-2 in 1996 and 1997).

PROGRESS: The climb for Elm Creek’s four seniors has came under the watchful eye of head coach Jadyn Ehresman, who played in high school at Bertrand and Concordia University before an injury cut her career short.

Ehresman came to Elm Creek for the 2021-22 season when seniors Halle Knapp, Ryann Erickson and Ashley Bauer were freshman. Together, they have been through just about everything. Knapp and Bauer, who will play next year at Hastings College, are four-year starters.

The Buffs were 9-13 that first year, then 11-11 and 16-7 last year and just missed a Class D-1 district final. In the first final of the day today, the team that made progress is now 26-1 and gets their shot at two-time defending champion Pender.

For Coach Ehresman’s group — and especially the seniors — it’s the perfect ending.

One Quick Thing

Here is one quick thing to watch for in each state final game today. All games will be televised live on Nebraska Public Media. The games, in order.

CLASS D-1: Elm Creek brings a team that can match up with Pender. Slowing them down and stopping Maya Dolliver, Mady Dolliver and Hadley Walsh is another thing all togther. Mady Dolliver and Walsh have done most of the scoring so far as Maya, the senior University of Sioux Falls commit, has scored just 13 points in the state tournament. She’s done a lot of other stuff, too. The Buffs will have to guard and be balanced offensively.

CLASS C-1: The one we may be looking forward to most. In a game like this with stars on the inside and out — Ayla Roth and Shayla Rautenberg for Milford, Mattea Kassebaum and Kena Ailes for Christian — it sometimes comes down to the “other” players. Both teams have plenty of help. Who makes the biggest difference likely cuts the nets down.

CLASS A: Before you crown Millard West, know that this was a 51-48 game in mid-December. The key for Westside might not be slowing down the Gessert twins and Millard West’s offense. It might be figuring out a way to score — the Cats have given up just 61 points in two games during their title defense.

CLASS C-2: In their fourth straight state tournament, Oakland-Craig will play for the C-2 title a second time and try to win their first in school history. Elkhorn Valley, who has to be one of the most under-appreciated undefeated teams we can remember goes for their first state title since they won Class D-1 in 2010. Rennerfeldt, Ray, Guzinski for O-C. Broberg, Black, Rutjens for EV. This one is loaded with good talent.

CLASS B: Sometimes you feel like destiny in on your side. It feels that way for Omaha Skutt at this tournament. They are locked in and appear ready for the first state title in school history on appearance number five; and fourth in a row. They get “the athletes” from Gretna East, who turned in another defensive gem against Waverly and even made a few timely free throws in their 38-34 win over their conference mate. In their second year, can the Griffins add a second girls state title to their new trophy case?

CLASS D-2: Dorchester, man. What a story. Just the second time at state in school history, the Longhorns survived Silver Lake 38-37 on Thursday then pulled away from Wilcox-Hildreth for a 39-31 win on Friday night. Does the dream live on against perennial power Falls City Sacred Heart, who will make their 15th state finals appearance in Saturday’s nightcap.