Thursday at the boys state basketball tournament we got mostly what we expected, some of it in most painful ways. But they got got, and at state

Despite the best efforts of others, this happened a lot yesterday, Elm Creek's great Quin Oberg (1) getting to the rim, scoring points. 30 of them, in the most impressive performance of the day.

ON3 - Quin Oberg, Elm Creek 1

Huskerland Preps

Some Scary Thursday Games Set the Stage for Semifinal Friday the 13th

For the first 16 minutes of clock Westside looked a lot like me, my first 16 minutes of the day. Sluggish, unmotivated, sorta goin’ through the

Star junior London Dada (11) helped spark top-seeded Westside to one of several huge come-from-behind wins on Wednesday at the state basketball tournament. Huh, maybe Class A is really wide open after all...

ON3 - London Dada, Omaha Westside

Historic Comebacks Highlight Day One at Boys State Basketball

Class D-2  First Round: No. 1 Elgin/Pope John (23-3) over No. 8 Pleasanton (13-12), No. 5 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (15-11) over No. 4 Deshler

All-state junior Ben Barlow (1) and his St. Mary's return to defending their 2025 state championship, and three-seed or not, are the favorite to make it happen.

ON3 - Ben Barlow, St. Mary's 1

Huskerland Bob's State Boys Basketball Crystal Ball: Class D-2 Picks and More

Class D-1  First Round: No. 1 Howells-Dodge (23-3) over No. 8 Fullerton (21-5), No. 5 North Platte St. Pat’s (16-10) over No. 4 Elm Creek (21-5), No.

The D-1 state runner-up a year ago, all-state senior Nathan Tomcak (3) and his Howells-Dodge team plan to win one more game this week than last. And you know what I mean by that.

ON3 - Nathan Tomcak, Howells-Dodge

Huskerland Bob's State Boys State Basketball Tournament Crytal Ball: Class D-1 Picks and More

Class C-1  First Round: No. 1 Ogallala (25-0) over No. 8 Syracuse (18-8), No. 5 Grand Island Central Catholic (22-5) over Douglas County West (21-6),

ON3 - Cooper Westerhold, Ashland-Greenwood 11

Earlier this year defending C-1 state champion Ashland-Greenwood had their winning streak stopped by unbeaten Ogallala. Those teams are expected to meet in Saturday's final. Cooper Westerhold (11), you'll be  there.

Huskerland Bob's Boys State Basketball Tournament Crystal Ball: Class C-1 Picks and More

Class B  First Round: No. 1 Skutt Catholic (24-2) over No. 8 Lincoln Pius X (10-16), No. 4 Elkhorn North (17-5) over No. 5 Wahoo (19-5), No. 2 Norris

Senior center, and 2025 state tournament hero, George Ziebell will lead his Skutt Catholic team in pursuit of their fourth straight state title.

Screenshot

Huskerland Bob's Boys State Basketball Crystal Ball: Class B Picks and More

Class C-2  First Round: No. 1 Yutan (22-2) over No. 8 EMF (18-7), No. 4 North Bend Central (23-5) over No. 5 Norfolk Catholic (22-4), No. 2

While All-state senior Gavin Baker (42) and his Bergan team are defending state champs, and favored, there are plenty of options in a strong Class C-2 state tournament field.

ON3 - Gavin Baker, Arbishop Bergan

Huskerland Bob's State Boys Basketball Crystal Ball: Class C-2 Picks and More

Class A  First Round: No. 1 Omaha Westside (23-4) over No. 8 Lincoln High (16-8), No. 4 Lincoln Southwest (21-4) over No. 5 Millard North (19-6), No.

After last year's state runner-up finish there seems a pathway, as they say, for senior Emre Gedik (3) and his team to finish the job in Class A.

ON3 - Emre Gedik, Omaha Westside 3

Huskerland Bob's Boys State Basketball Crystal Ball: Class A Picks and More

1. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to high school and college? What sports did you play in school?I grew up in Clay County, Nebraska. I moved

Rivals

Meet the Coach: Jim McLaughlin, Freeman Boys Basketball (2022)

Class D-1  Champion: Howells-Dodge.  As the clock was ticking toward expiration, it crossed my mind…just imaging if Scott Polacek had been the PA guy

Huskerland Bob's GBB State Tournament Review: Classes D-1, D-2

Class C-1  Champion: Milford.  Among the most anticipated games of the week, in many corners the most, we got the game most wanted in the Class C-1

Huskerland Bob's GBB State Tournament Review: Classes C-1, C-2

@HuskerlandBob Sez: Wanted y'all to know I actually did take some photos at state. But I am experiencing another error with my computer server, so I

Huskerland Bob's GBB State Tournament Review: Classes A, B

Whether it’s making it to last year’s state final, quite a ride, gotta admit, or loading up his Dodge Charger with his buddies Pleasanton’s Tyce

Room to Grow: Tyce Westland, Pleasanton (2020)

2026 Girls Basketball State Finals, at Pinnacle Bank Arena  TimeClassIn This Corner...@HuskerlandBob Sez9 a.m.Class D-2No. 1 Dundy County-Stratton

Girls Basketball State Finals Filled With Great Story lines

Friday Semifinals, March 6  Pinnacle Bank Arena  Class C-1  9 a.m.: No. 1 Milford (26-1) v. No. 5 Gothenburg (70-63).  10:45 a.m.: No. 7 Fort Calhoun

Gothenburg's girls had plenty of chances to do this yesterday - celebrate a basket by their teammate, Halsey Thomalla (4), who had 32 points in the Swedes' 70-63 comeback win in C-1's first round at the Devaney Center.

ON3 - Halsey Thomalla, Gothenburg

A Quick Look at Today's Girls State Basketball Semifinals

The bank was open, so Julie Ridder made a deposit, and got a pretty great return on her investment. In other words, the girl was money.  This morning

One of Wednesday's biggest heroes at the girls state basketball tournament was GACC senior Julie Ridder (54). Her first career three-pointer sparked her team's 56-48 overtime win against defending C-2 state champion Oakland-Craig. Good for you, kid.

ON3 - Julie Ridder GACC 54 Rebound

Julie Ridder Stops at the Bank, Highlighting Wednesday's Opening Day

When you consider the quality of the competition, it’s an even bigger deal.  And oh, so fitting that it landed on Friday the 13th, since for many

As part of the big doin's down in Arkansas a couple weeks back, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire got to have his photo take with Broyles Award winner Jeff Bargen (right). What a lucky guy...

Lakeview's Jeff Bargen Honored With Prestigious Broyles Award

Class D-1  First Round: No. 1 Bloomfield (26-0) over No. 8 Arapahoe (21-5), No. 5 Sutton (20-7) over No. 4 Amherst (19-6), No. 2 Elm Creek (22-4)

ON3 - Karissa Stengel, Maywood Hayes Center 2025

Her team seeded third in Class D-1, Karissa Stengel (30) and Maywood/Hayes Center will be in pursuit of the program's first state tournament win.

Huskerland Bob's Crystal Ball: Class D-1, D-2 Girls State Basketball Picks and Stuff

Class C-1  First Round: No. 1 Milford (25-1) over No. 8 Central City (24-3), No. 4 Ogallala (21-4) over No. 5 Gothenburg (21-4), No. 2 Lincoln

I know you won't, but don't loose track of Bailey Gerths (50) and GACC in this C-2 bracket. They're good enough to win it.

ON3 - Bailey Gerths, GACC

Huskerland Bob's Crystal Ball: Class C-1, C-2 State Tournament Picks and Stuff

Class A  First Round: No. 1 Lincoln North Star (24-1) over No. 8 Millard North (15-9), No. 4 Millard West (20-4) over No. 5 Omaha Westside (22-5),

All-state senior Kylee Paben (42) has her Millard West team in position to win its third straight state title. Wouldn't bet against it.

ON3 - Kylee Paben, Millard West 42

Huskerland Bob's Crystal Ball: Class A, B Girls State Basketball Picks and Stuff

1. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to high school and college? What sports did you play in school?I am born and raised in Lincoln. I graduated

ON3 - Alex Bahe, Lincoln Southwest BBB Coach

For this week's Meet the Coach we go back to our 2021 feature on Alex Bahe, Lincoln Southwest's head boys basketball coach.

Meet the Coach: Alex Bahe, Lincoln Southwest Boys Basketball (2021)

Class D-1 Boys Basketball District Finals (Tonight)  D1-1, 6 p.m.: No. 16 BDS (9-14) at No. 1 Howells-Dodge ( 22-3). Good for BDS making a district

When they've all been healthy and in the lineup, Gage Hedstrom (5) and defending D-2 state champ St. Mary's has been awfully hard to beat. They are all healthy, and in the lineup, FYI.

ON3 - Gage Hedstrom, St. Marys

Previews and Picks for Class D-1, D-2 Boys Basketball District Finals

Class C-1 Boys Basketball District Finals (Tonight)  C1-3, 6 p.m.: No. 14 Syracuse (17-8, WC) at No. 3 Cozad (24-2). Syracuse makes the district as a

Ogallala's great Sawyer Smith (33) already has his undefeated team qualified for state, ready to close out a perfect season if things go to plan.

ON3 - Sawyer Smith, Ogallala 33 BETTER

Huskerland Preps Basketball

Previews and Picks For C-1, C-2 Boys Basketball Districts

Class A Boys Basketball District Finals (Tonight)  A-2, 7 p.m.: No. 2  tournament seed Lincoln East (15-9) at No. 1 Bellevue West (19-5).

ON3 - Uzziah Sanders, Lincoln Southwest 2

Senior sharpshooter Uzziah Sanders (2) will be a crucial factor in his Lincoln Southwest team's bid for back-to-back state tournament berths.

Previews and Picks for Class A, B Boys Basketball District Finals (and a lil' Baylor Scheierman)

You needed to look elsewhere you were hoping for surprises. There were none to be found in our Class A and B girls basketball district finals, which

Senior all-stater Ani Leu (15) has enjoyed another great season, and has her team holding down Class A's top seed entering this week's state tournament. That's not bad.

Huskerland Preps News