Rick Tucker, Central Nebraska Today
LINCOLN — The 2026 Nebraska School Activities Association’s state boys basketball championships begin play on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena and the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Opening round games at both sites will tip off at 9 a.m. each day of the tournament.
Five of six defending champions have returned: Papillon-LaVista South (A), Omaha Skutt Catholic (B), Ashland-Greenwood (C-1), Archbishop Bergan (C-2), and St. Mary’s (D-2). Skutt Catholic seeks a fourth consecutive state title, which would tie the SkyHawks with Wahoo for the Class B record. Ashland-Greenwood seeks its fourth title in the last five seasons.
Up to date championship information will be delivered via the NSAA Boys Basketball Championship Central page. All first round and state semifinals will be broadcast on the NFHS Network. Saturday’s six championship contests will be broadcast on Nebraska Public Media.
CLASS A: Omaha Westside seeking breakthrough title
You could forgive Omaha Westside for getting a little impatient.
For all the athletic success the school has experienced this decade, one big piece remains missing from the trophy case: a boys state basketball championship.
Not that the Warriors haven’t been trying. A three-point loss in last year’s state final was preceded by semifinal trips in 2024, 2023, and 2020, and a runner-up finish in 2014. Always, Westside would run into one of the state’s powers — Bellevue West. Millard North. Last season’s feel-good champ, Papillion-La Vista South.
So for now, the 1980 Class A championship remains the only gold one in the basketball trophy case.
“We’ve had some success (in Lincoln). We’ve also had some tough losses, some things that have worked well, and then also some things that you maybe wish you could have a do-over and try to do a little bit better,” said Westside coach Jim Simons. “Everybody’s different. I think this is maybe the seventh time we’ve been down there since I’ve been the head coach. I mean, I certainly feel better about our process and our preparation, how we want to go about the week than I did the first time.”
High-major recruit London Dada is the biggest name, but far from the only one in the Westside lineup. A massive group featuring the 6-foot-8 Dada, 6-foot-7 Emre Gedik, 6-10 Will Preston and 6-5 Donnie Barfield, with plenty of athletes around them, means the Warriors win the “off the bus” contest most every night.
They’ve won on the court most nights, too, going 23-4 with three of the losses by one or two possessions. The Warriors come to Lincoln on a 12-game winning streak.
“We’re proud of the year that we’ve had. We brought a number of guys back from the group last year that was in it right until the very end, but we also had several key losses,” Simons said. “So it’s a new group, it’s a new team, but the core group of our guys have experience being in the tournament, being in PBA, playing on the court from last year. How much it helps, I guess we’ll find out on Wednesday.”
Westside will face Lincoln High (16-8), which is in the tournament for the first time since 2010. The hometown Links are led by one of the top players in Class A in Brady Nick, and took down Creighton Prep on the Junior Jays’ home floor to win the A-3 district title and advance to state.
Lincoln High has Westside’s full attention, Simons said. That’s the most important thing for the Warriors right now. But the allure of history figures to follow this group as far as it will go.
“We have a lot of guys that have been in the program for a long time and have a lot of experience, and have stepped up into bigger roles and done a really good job,” Simons said. “And obviously, we’ve got some really talented players. We’ve got good length, good size. Those things help. And this group from the beginning, when we got together back in June, it’s been a group that’s worked really hard and has gotten along well with one another.”
The second Class A game will see Lincoln Southwest (21-4) take on Millard North (19-6). The Silver Hawks are back at state for the second consecutive year on the strength of one of the most dynamic offenses in the state, one that averages 75 points per game behind twin brothers Uzziah and Makkiah Sanders. Millard North is making its seventh consecutive state trip, with the previous six producing five state final appearances, two championships, and a semifinal.
On the other side of the bracket, Bellevue West (20-5) faces Papillion-La Vista (18-8). The Thunderbirds’ ninth consecutive trip to state and 24th in the last 37 seasons once again has the program in the mix for a championship thanks to a 13-2 record since the calendar flipped to 2026. Papillion-La Vista broke a seven-year state tournament drought last season, and is seeking its first state win since going to the finals in 2017. The teams met Dec. 11, with Bellevue West picking up a 68-62 win.
Creighton Prep (20-6) earned Class A’s lone wildcard after falling to Lincoln High, and will take on defending champion Papillion-La Vista South (17-6) in the final Class A game. The Junior Jays own wins over the Nos. 1, 2, 4, and 5 seeds in the bracket, and figure to be plenty hungry. Beloved Papio South coach Joel Hueser, who announced his retirement earlier this season, is coaching his final games for a Titans program he founded when the school opened in 2003.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: London Dada (Omaha Westside), 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 50% shooting. Brady Nick (Lincoln High), 18.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals. Uzziah Sanders (Lincoln Southwest), 23.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.6 steals, 61% shooting. Trelly Akins (Millard North), 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks. Bryce Johnson (Bellevue West), 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.3 steals. Sam Boudreau (Papillion-La Vista), 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 68 3-pointers. Max Jungers (Creighton Prep), 12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 blocks. Levi Webb (Papillion-La Vista South), 19.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (WEDNESDAY). At Pinnacle Bank Arena | Omaha Westside (23-4) vs. Lincoln High (16-8), 1:30 PM; Lincoln Southwest (21-4) vs. Millard North (19-6), 3:15 PM; Bellevue West (20-5) vs. Papillon LaVista (18-8) 6:00 PM; Creighton Prep (20-6) vs. Papillon-LaVista South (17-6), 7:45 PM.
CLASS B: Skutt Catholic looks for fourth straight B crown
There will be well-deserved eyes on Omaha Skutt Catholic as it goes for a historic fourth straight Class B title this week at the boys state basketball tournament. Already just the second team ever to win three in a row, the Skyhawks can tie Wahoo’s Class B record of four titles in a row from 1988-1991.
Coach Kyle Jurgens’ team brings with it a 24-2 record to Lincoln and a 19-game winning streak, having not lost since December 23. That list of wins includes five over tournament teams including second-seeded Norris. The Skyhawks will face upset-minded Lincoln Pius X in the opening round after the Thunderbolts defeated Wahoo in the district final round, 67-53, and have won five of their past six games despite their 10-16 record.
Ironically, to get that fourth crown the Skyhawks may have to go through Wahoo, which will face Elkhorn North in the other quarterfinal on the top side of the bracket. The 17-5 Wolves have lost just three times since an 0-2 start (Norris twice and Skutt) and will make their second straight appearance at state after losing to Scottsbluff in last year’s semifinals. The Warriors, who lost to Elkhorn North last year in the quarterfinals, make their 44th trip to Lincoln.
The bottom half of the bracket is loaded with familiar foes as three teams from the Eastern Midlands Conference will join Scottsbluff. But, the Bearcats are not unfamiliar as they have played each team on that side, losing to Norris in the Heartland Hoops Classic and topping Bennington 71-58 and Gretna East 71-53.
While the Bearcats will get a rematch with Gretna East in Thursday’s nightcap, Norris and Bennington will meet for a second time as well. The Titans topped the Badgers 84-55 on January 23 and will play at 6:00 on Thursday evening.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: George Ziebel (Omaha Skutt Catholic), 15.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks. Charlie Morrow (Lincoln Pius X), 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals. Sutton Piatkowski (Elkhorn North), 17.5 points, 6.4 rebounds. Cody Hesser (Wahoo), 17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals. Chris Garner, Jr. (Norris), 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds. Blaize Jung (Bennington), 15.2 points. 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists. Nate Kelley (Scottsbluff), 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.1 steals. Drayke Brown (Gretna East), 17.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (THURSDAY). At Pinnacle Bank Arena | Omaha Skutt Catholic (24-2) vs. Lincoln Pius X (10-16), 1:30 PM; Elkhorn North (17-5) vs. Wahoo (19-5), 3:15 PM; Norris (22-2) vs. Bennington (17-8) 6:00 PM; Scottsbluff (21-4) vs. Gretna East (18-6), 7:45 PM.
CLASS C-1: Unbeaten Ogallala reaching for first championship
Talented and hungry is a dangerous combination, and one that Ogallala brings to state in spades as Nebraska’s lone unbeaten team.
The Indians have been as impressive as any team in any class, scoring 78 points per game with an average winning margin of 33 points. Ogallala gave defending C-1 champion Ashland-Greenwood its lone loss at the Heartland Hoops Classic, and did so without one of its starters.
The Indians’ list of impressive wins is a long one: over Class B state qualifier Scottsbluff (by 12 points), D-1 qualifier North Platte St. Patrick’s (by 30), C-1 qualifiers Douglas County West (by 29) and Gothenburg (by 32), C-2 qualifier Valentine (by 31), and Cozad by 20 and 31 points that represented the Haymakers’ only losses until district finals.
There’s a chip on the Indians’ collective shoulder too, after coming to state last season with one loss and being upset in the first round by Doniphan-Trumbull after Ogallala star guard Sawyer Smith went down with an ankle injury the day before the tournament began. Ogallala was also unbeaten until a semifinal loss in 2023, when this year’s seniors were freshmen.
But it will be anything but a cakewalk for anyone in this bracket. The eight teams are a combined 173-35 (.831) with one-loss powerhouses Ashland-Greenwood and Auburn on the opposite side of the bracket from Ogallala.
The Indians open with Syracuse (18-8), which will try for its second straight upset of a western team after taking down 24-3 Cozad in the C1-3 district final on the Haymakers’ home floor. The Rockets have gotten hot at the right time, pushing Ashland-Greenwood in a 5-point subdistrict loss before taking down Cozad. It’s Syracuse’s first state appearance since 2018.
Douglas County West (21-6) and Grand Island Central Catholic (22-5) face off next. After a bump up to Class B last year, where they still qualified for state, the Thunderbirds are back in C-1 and making their third consecutive trip to Lincoln with just two losses to C-1 opponents. GICC started 16-2, and has allowed 50 or more points just six times in 27 games and only twice in the last two months.
The opposite side of the bracket sees defending champion Ashland-Greenwood (25-1) open against Lincoln Christian (18-8). The Bluejays have found the formula for winning in Lincoln, with three titles the previous four seasons and a 10-2 mark in state tournament games since 2022. Lincoln Christian, back at state for the first time since 2020, is battle tested, with seven of its eight losses coming against teams with 21 or more wins, five of them by single digits.
Finally, Auburn makes its return to state after a one-year hiatus. The Bulldogs (24-1), winners of 21 games in a row, face Gothenburg (20-6). Auburn missed state last season after appearing in the previous six C-1 state championship games under legendary coach Jim Weeks, but has been quietly dominant this year, with all but two wins coming by double digits. Gothenburg reached state by reversing a 55-50 subdistrict loss to Doniphan-Trumbull, beating the Cardinals 52-48 two days later. The Swedes are in Lincoln for the first time since 2017, and will try for their first state tournament win since 1962 on Thursday morning.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sawyer Smith (Ogallala), 21.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 3.7 steals, 63% shooting. Maxwell Parde (Syracuse), 12.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 56% shooting. Nolan Asher (Douglas County West), 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists. Connor Haney (Grand Island Central Catholic), 11.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals. Derek Tonjes (Ashland-Greenwood), 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 63% shooting. Jamison Thies (Lincoln Christian), 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists. Ryan Guenther (Auburn), 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals. Bryson Neels (Gothenburg), 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 steals.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (THURSDAY). At Bob Devaney Center | Ogallala (25-0) vs. Syracuse (18-8), 9:00 AM; Douglas County West (21-6) vs. Grand Island Central Catholic (22-5), 10:45 AM; Lincoln Christian (25-1) vs. Lincoln Christian (18-8), 1:30 PM; Auburn (24-1) vs. Gothenburg (20-6), 3:15 PM.
CLASS C-2: From hunting to hunted Archbishop Bergan eyes repeat
Last year, Archbishop Bergan surprised themselves and everyone else by winning the Class C-2 state championship as the eight-seed. Entering the tournament with a 16-9 record, the Knights stunned top-seeded Freeman 51-49 in the first round before then dispatching Summerland and Cross County on their way to fifth state championship.
With its whole starting line up back, Bergan moved to being the hunted this year. And they have handled it quite admirably, bringing a 25-1 record to the state tournament.
“We have just been really pleased with what the kids have done this year,” Bergan coach Ryan Mlnarik said. “Last year, I don’t know if we were the best team, but we were the best team at the right time. So, this year came with high expectations and a completely different role than what we had last year.”
Bergan won its first 18 games, which included a Centennial Conference tournament title 56-41 win over Class C-1 qualifier Grand Island Central Catholic. The Knights’ only loss came days later to Concordia, 54-44. In all, the Knights beat five state tournament qualifiers in the regular season. Four of the wins were against the Class C-1 field, and they own a 61-52 win over North Bend Central on January 17.
The Knights have been led by 6-7 post Gavin Baker. The senior and new Nebraska-Omaha commit has averages of 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. He can bring his game outside as well and is a 41 percent 3-point shooter on the season, to go with 72 percent at the free throw line.
“He’s just been an outstanding leader for us this year,” Mlnarik said. “He’s the anchor of our program. He can score in so many different ways, both inside and outside. But, I think the biggest thing for us is defensively, he is just an eraser back there. You can be aggressive or have some breakdowns defensively and you still have to get through him.”
The Knights will play Pender on Thursday at 1:30 at the Devaney Sports Center. The Pendragons, one of three East Husker teams that advanced to Lincoln, traveled to Mitchell for their district final, winning 59-43. They seek their first-ever win in Lincoln in their first appearance since 1992.
Also on the bottom side of the bracket is third-seeded Valentine, which averaged nearly 70 points per contest, and Freeman, last year’s top-seed Bergan upset to start their run. The Badgers have one of the top scorers in the field in 6-6 senior Isaac Cronin, who averages 22.4 points per contest. The Falcons are making their 14th appearance and won the 2023 title.
Top-seeded Yutan will face Exeter-Milligan/Friend to open the tournament. The Chieftains’ two losses both came to Class C-1 teams, including defending champion Ashland-Greenwood. The won the Nebraska Capital Conference tournament with a 54-52 win over C-1 qualifier Douglas County West. The Bobcats are making their second consecutive appearance after traveling to Alma and knocking off the 25-1 Cardinals 50-46 in the district finals.
A pair of battle-tested conference champions face off to play the Yutan-EMF winner as Norfolk Catholic will face North Bend Central. After starting the season 2-3, Norfolk Catholic has won 20 of 21 while winning the Mid-States Conference tournament in early February. North Bend, meanwhile, has rattled off 14 straight wins since its loss to Bergan, including a pair over Class D-1’s top seed Howells-Dodge.
Mlarnik knows that winning three games in the tournament will be a tall task.
“You have some great teams with experience in the field,” Mlarnik said. “And, I think it’s open to whoever is playing their best basketball right now. We have talked to our kids that because of what happened last year doesn’t mean it will again. We did not want to feel entitled to be back. We want to be the best team at the right time again.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ryan Macguire (Yutan), 11.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists. Grady Bresson (EMF), 21.1 points, 7.4 rebounds. Koda Baehr (North Bend Central), 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 steals. Gavin Schutt (Norfolk Catholic), 18.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists. Trey Mooney (Archbishop Bergan), 12.9 points, 5.1 assists. Zander Welsh (Pender), 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.9 steals. Isaac Cronin (Valentine), 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.2 steals. Easton Buss (Freeman), 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.0 steals.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (WEDNESDAY). At Bob Devaney Center | Yutan (22-2) vs. Exeter-Milligan/Friend (18-7), 9:00 AM; North Bend Central (23-5) vs. Norfolk Catholic (22-4), 10:45 AM; Bergan Catholic (25-1) vs. Pender (22-5), 1:30 PM; Valentine (23-3) vs. Freeman (19-5), 3:15 PM.
CLASS D-1: Howells-Dodge tries to add boys title to girls triumph
After watching their girls cut down the nets last week, Howells-Dodge’s boys will try to make it a double this week as the top seed in the D-1 bracket.
The Jaguars (23-3) have played the majority of their schedule, 15 games, against Class C-2 foes, with their only losses coming to 20-plus win state tournament qualifiers (Pender and North Bend Central twice) in that class. And H-D surely has redemption on its mind after losing in last season’s state title game, and in overtime in the 2021 D-1 championship.
The Jaguars open with Fullerton (21-5), which is at state for the second consecutive season. The Warriors, seeking their first state tournament win since 1962, have seen each of their five losses come against opponents who qualified for state in either C-2, D-1, or D-2.
The winner of that game will get either fourth-seeded Elm Creek or No. 5 seed North Platte St. Patrick’s. It’s the fourth consecutive state appearance for Elm Creek (21-5), which has lost just twice to D-1 competition this season. One of those defeats was a 77-50 loss to St Pat’s back on Dec. 23, the only blemish in a 13-1 start.
St Pat’s (16-10) may be the most battle-tested team in the field, with nine losses coming against C-1 or C-2 foes. The Irish were the last team to win D-1, in 2022, before Johnson-Brock ripped off three straight titles.
On the other half of the bracket, Lutheran High Northeast (22-4) will play its first state tournament game since 2017 when it faces off with Mead. The Eagles have a pair of losses to C-2 opponents, and a pair to Class D state qualifiers. Mead (17-8), while just 9-8 over its last 17 games, has played a bear of a schedule that includes five losses to C-1 or C-2 teams, and three more to D-1 state qualifiers. And, the Raiders got to state by winning a district final at Bertrand after a three-hour road trip.
The final game of the night is a matchup of familiar foes as East Butler (25-1) takes on McCool Junction (19-6). McCool Junction is the only team to beat East Butler, downing the Tigers 61-48 Jan. 30 in the Crossroads Conference final before East Butler got revenge with a 52-49 win just four days later. East Butler is at state for the first time since 2001, and just the third time in program history. McCool Junction finished third in D-1 last season, its first state appearance since 1987. The Mustangs edged Twin Loup 63-62 in overtime to win the D1-6 district final and get to state.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Chase Luther (Howells-Dodge), 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists. Kane Wetovick (Fullerton), 21.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals, 2.0 blocks. Quin Oberg (Elm Creek), 22.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.6 steals. Ben Heirigs (North Platte St. Patrick’s), 21.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists. D’artagnan Taylor (Lutheran High Northeast), 14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals. Derrick Seay (Mead), 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals. Grant Kozisek (East Butler), 14.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.3 steals. Carson McDonald (McCool Junction), 18.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.4 steals.
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (THURSDAY). At Pinnacle Bank Arena | Howells-Dodge (23-3) vs. Fullerton (21-5), 9:00 AM; Elm Creek (21-5) vs. North Platte St. Pat’s (16-10), 10:45 AM. At Bob Devaney Center | Lutheran High Northeast (22-4) vs. Mead (17-8) 6:00 PM; East Butler (25-1) vs. McCool Junction (19-6), 7:45 PM.
CLASS D-2: St. Mary’s, Wynot renew rivalry in opening round
While Elgin Public/Pope John has drawn the top-seed in the Class D-2 bracket, when the tournament opens on Wednesday most looking at the bracket will be drawn to the final game of the opening round between top-ranked St Mary’s and Wynot.
The two teams played in the Class D-2 state championship game last March where the Cardinals won 63-51. They met again in the Eight-Man 2 state football championship last November and put together an even more impressive game where Wynot won 71-60. You read that right.
So what might we expect at this year’s state championships? Certainly two teams that feel they could win the title once again.
Despite its 16-11 record, Wynot has been challenged like many of the teams in this field. The Blue Devils have an 11-3 record in Class D, but the three losses have come to tournament qualifiers Lutheran High Northeast (D-1), Guardian Angels Central Catholic, and their first round opponent. In that game, St. Mary’s outscored Wynot 20-7 in the fourth quarter for a 62-48 win with Gage Hedstrom scoring 17 points.
Two other small school powers await on the bottom half of the bracket for the winner as Archangels Catholic will face Falls City Sacred Heart in the other quarterfinal. Archangels (25-2) was third a season ago in its first year as a consolidated program. As Humphrey St. Francis, they were seven-time champions. Sacred Heart is back at state for the first time since 2023. The 11-time champions are unbeaten against Class D teams and have won eight in a row.
On the top of half of the bracket, EPPJ is the top seed at 23-3. All three of their losses have come to St. Mary’s and all of them have been since February 7th. The last came in the sub-district final.
They face surprise district champion Pleasanton, which comes to Lincoln with a 13-12 record. The Bulldogs won just one game in January, but are 6-2 since February 1st. They avenged two losses in sub-district play and in their district final they topped fourth-ranked Lawrence-Nelson 59-38 on the road.
Deshler — at state for the first time since 2008 — will take a 21-3 record into its game with battle-tested GACC. The Dragons’ three losses all came to non-state tournament qualifiers, and they have just one win over a team in Lincoln (McCool Junction in Class D-1). The Bluejays are a bit of the opposite. They played just seven games against Class D teams, winning all of them, and defeated second-seeded Archangels Catholic in the sub-district final.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jarek Eriksen (EPPJ), 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists. Brennan Lindner (Pleasanton), 22.0 points, 5.4 rebounds. Easton Nash (Deshler), 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals. Luke Guenther (GACC), 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds. Ethan Wieseler (Archangels Catholic) 10.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists. Cole Taft (Falls City Sacred Heart), 14.7 points, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals. Ben Barlow (St. Mary’s), 18.9 points, 3.7 assists. Devin Brummer (Wynot), 16.2 points, 1.9 steals)
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS (WEDNESDAY). At Pinnacle Bank Arena | Elgin Public/Pope John (23-3) vs. Pleasanton (13-12), 9:00 AM; Deshler (21-3) vs. Guardian Angels Central Catholic (15-11), 10:45 AM. At Bob Devaney Center | Archangels Catholic (24-2) vs. Falls City Sacred Heart (17-8) 6:00 PM; St. Mary’s (25-2) vs. Wynot (16-11), 7:45 PM.
Tony Chapman is a freelance writer based in Grand Island. He has written for multiple Nebraska daily and weekly newspapers. His weekly Harvest Sports Newsletter covers a wide variety of Nebraska prep sports.
Chris Basnett is a freelance writer based in Lincoln. He has covered prep and college sports for more than 20 years and most recently was the assistant sports editor at the Lincoln Journal Star. He currently provides content for the Harvest Sports Newsletter.
