2014 Nebraska girls basketball state playoffs facts and figures

With the transfer of Jessica Shepard to Fremont, defending Class A Champion Lincoln Southeast's title defense took a major hit before the 2013-14 season even started. Not only did the Knights lose a talented senior class to graduation, but they lost their star power as well.

Lincoln Southeast (Lincoln) did finish the season 14-11 after bowing out to last year's big school runner-up Bellevue West 61-32 in the A-1 District final. That win combined with the championship game experience it gained a year ago make the Thunderbirds the favorite to win it all this weekend.

But don't count Fremont out. Not only did the Tigers add the Nebraska recruit Shepard, but former Bellevue East guard Rylie Cascio Jensen came aboard as well. Benson (Omaha) and Millard West (Omaha) also have championship material up and down the lineup. Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln), South Sioux City, Kearney and Bellevue East fill out the bracket.

Both defending Class B champion Northwest (Grand Island) and runner-up Norris (Firth) are back in Lincoln, but would meet in one of Friday's semifinals should they both get by first round competition. The Titans are trying to add a basketball championship to the volleyball title they won in November. Pius X (Lincoln) has the potential to win it all with the return of Maddie Simon and junior Kennedy Sander at the post. Gretna and Holdrege are potential champions as well. Also trying to take home the championship hardware are Sidney, Duchesne (Omaha) and York.

See the MaxPreps Nebraska girls basketball playoff brackets

In Class C-1, defending champion Pierce could potentially battle last year's runner-up Kearney Catholic (Kearney) in the semifinals should they both get by a couple of high quality clubs Chadron and Bishop Neumann (Wahoo) in opening round action respectively. But the odds on favorite has to be Minden, who hasn't lost in 25 contests this season, including a 53-46 win over the Stars in the C1-10 Sub district final. Fairbury and Platteview (Springfield) battle Thursday and Lincoln Lutheran (Lincoln) is in the field as well.

Pender will try its hand at winning it all in Class C-2 after taking the D-1 title a year ago. But defending C-2 champion Crofton is back as is its 2013 finals mate St. Cecilia (Hastings). Both figure to have a say in who takes home the championship hardware. Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) combine forces this season and move up to Class C-2 making that bracket tough to pick. Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point), a program loaded with state tournament tradition, looks to have championship potential as well. Dundy County-Stratton (Benkelman), Homer and Palmyra are in the house too.

With Pender moving up a class, last year's runner-up looks like a solid fit as the Class D-1 favorite. Friend, whose only loss was to St. Cecilia (Hastings), could easily make the finals against St. Mary's (O'Neill). St. Francis (Humphrey) rides a 17-game winning steak into the tournament and hopes to add three more wins to the total, as does Flyer first round foe Boyd County (Spencer). Sutherland, Arapahoe and St. Patrick's (North Platte) also have championship aspirations, as does Emerson-Hubbard (Emerson).

While Sacred Heart (Falls City) and Giltner are being penciled in as the Class D-2 finalists by some, three-time defending champion Wynot is waiting in the shadows with all kinds of championship experience. After falling to Lindsay Holy Family in the 2010 D-2 championship, the Blue Devils have been crowned champion in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The rest of the field consists of Wauneta-Palisade (Wauneta), Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft), Crawford, Stuart and Sterling.

State Tournament Qualifier's Longest Winning Streaks
Minden, 25
Crofton, 21
St. Francis (Humphrey), 17
Benson (Omaha), 16
Duchesne (Omaha), 12
St. Cecilia (Hastings), 12
Arapahoe, 12
Sutherland, 11
Bellevue West (Bellevue), 10
Friend, 10
Chadron, 7
Giltner, 7
Northwest (Grand Island), 6
Pius X (Lincoln), 6
Fairbury, 6

Leading Scorers at the State Tournament
Jessica Shepard, Fremont 30.3
Mckenzie Brown, Northwest (Grand Island) 22.7
Brandan Tighe, Homer 22.0
Kaylee Jensen, Humphrey-Holy Family 21.4
Haley Thiele, Bishop Neumann 20.52
Kianna Ibis, Benson (Omaha) 20.24
Maddie Simon, Pius X (Lincoln) 19.6
Brooke Kissinger, Minden 19.4
Dani Most, Giltner 19.3
Rachelle Tucker, Pierce 18.5
Paige Husa, Fairbury 18.2
Kaylea Watson, Arapahoe 18.2
Maggie Schulte, Wynot 18.2
Abby Drieling, Emerson-Hubbard 17.9
Hannah Riley, York 17.6.

Team Scoring Offense
Minden, 71.24
Crofton, 69.16
Homer, 65.46
Fremont, 64.32
Chadron, 63.71
Bellevue West (Bellevue), 63.54
St. Mary's (O'Neill), 63.48
Millard West (Omaha), 63.27
Bellevue East (Bellevue), 61.92
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln), 61.76
Friend, 61.65
Bishop Neumann (Wahoo), 60.88
Northwest (Grand Island), 60.79
Kearney Catholic (Kearney), 60.72
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point), 60.00

Team Scoring Defense
Crofton, 29.40
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey), 30.37
St. Patrick's (North Platte), 30.50
Sacred Heart (Falls City), 31.04
Pierce, 31.75
St. Francis (Humphrey), 32.40
Minden, 32.52
Kearney Catholic (Kearney), 32.56
Friend, 33.77
Palmyra, 33.92
Fairbury, 35.00
Dundy County-Stratton (Benkelman), 35.15
St. Mary's (O'Neill), 35.22
Northwest (Grand Island), 35.38
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point), 36.08

First Round Rematches (Result(s))
Class A
Bellevue West (Bellevue) - Bellevue East (Bellevue) (69-59)
Fremont - Millard West (Omaha) (67-53)
Class B
Gretna - Norris (Firth) (49-48, 60-48)
Holdrege - York (46-42)
Class C-2
Pender - Homer (49-20, 71-68, 61-63)
Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point) - Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (59-44)
Class D-1
St. Patrick's (North Platte) - Sutherland (34-30, 45-31, 28-43)


Picking the field

Class A
Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) (21-4) over South Sioux City (18-7)
Benson (Omaha) (23-2) over Kearney (19-6)
Bellevue West (Bellevue) (24-2) over Bellevue East (Bellevue) (17-8)
Fremont (22-3) over Millard West (Omaha) (23-3)

Benson (Omaha) (24-2) over Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) (22-4)
Bellevue West (Bellevue) (25-2) over Fremont (23-3)

Consolation Championship – Fremont (23-4) over Lincoln Northeast (Lincoln) (22-5)
Championship – Benson (Omaha) (25-2) over Bellevue West (Bellevue) (26-2)

Dark Horse: Millard West (Omaha)

Other players to watch: Kate Liveringhouse, Bellevue West; Samantha Waldron, Millard West; Peyton Hagen, Bellevue East; Skyler Snider, Kearney; Amaun Frazier, Bellevue East; Maddison Voss, South Sioux City; Augusta Thramer, South Sioux City; Tantashea Giger, Lincoln Northeast; Kelsey Stithem, Kearney; Rylie Cascio Jensen, Fremont; Madison Braun, Bellevue West; Chloe Akin-Otiko, Bellevue West.

Class B
Northwest (Grand Island) (22-2) over Sidney (17-7)
Gretna (19-5) over Norris (Firth) (16-5)
Pius X (Lincoln) (19-2) over Duchesne (Omaha) (18-6)
Holdrege (20-4) over York (18-6)

Northwest (Grand Island) (23-2) over Gretna (20-5)
Holdrege (21-4) over Pius X (Lincoln) (20-2)

Consolation Championship – Gretna (20-6) over Pius X (Lincoln) (20-3)
Championship – Northwest (Grand Island) (24-2) over Holdrege (22-4)

Dark Horse: Norris (Firth)

Other players to watch: Rachel Jelden, Holdrege; Mary Janovich, Gretna; Kasey Hohlen, Norris; Kate Schulte, Duchesne (Omaha); Sarah Mahr, Sidney; Katie Placke, Northwest (Grand Island); Ann Schulte, Duchesne (Omaha); Kylie Hohlen, Norris; Jamie Schuetz, Gretna; Jenna Gillespie, Holdrege; Kennedy Sander, Pius X (Lincoln).

Class C-1
Minden (25-0) over Lincoln Lutheran (Lincoln) (18-7)
Platteview (Springfield) (22-2) over Fairbury (23-2)
Chadron (20-4) over Pierce (20-4)
Kearney Catholic (Kearney) (24-1) over Bishop Neumann (Wahoo) (20-5)

Minden (26-0) over Platteview (Springfield) (23-2)
Kearney Catholic (Kearney) (25-1) over Chadron (21-4)

Consolation Championship – Chadron (21-5) over Platteview (Springfield) (23-3)
Championship – Minden) (27-0) over Kearney Catholic (Kearney) (26-1)

Dark Horse: Pierce

Other players to watch: Kenzie Kulm, Platteview; Ashlea Kerr, Chadron; Jamie Kissinger, Minden; Taylor Kissinger, Minden; Allie Prososki, Kearney Catholic; Bailea Kerr, Chadron; Peyton Hinn, Chadron; Jacy Bretschneider, Pierce; Tara Ziegelbein, Lincoln Lutheran.

Class C-2
St. Cecilia (Hastings) (21-3) over Dundy County-Stratton (Benkelman) (23-3)
Pender (26-2) over Homer (21-5)
Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (24-3) over Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point) (22-3)
Crofton (24-1) over Palmyra (17-8)

Pender (27-2) over St. Cecilia (Hastings) (22-3)
Crofton (25-1) over Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (25-3)

Consolation Championship – St. Cecilia (Hastings) (22-4) over Humphrey/Holy Family (Humphrey) (25-4)
Championship – Crofton (26-1) over Pender (28-2)

Dark Horse: Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point)

Other players to watch: Allison Arens, Crofton; Morgan Nikkila, St. Cecilia (Hastings); Paige Ballinger, Pender; Maggie Fillipi, Pender; Colby Duvel, Dundy County-Stratton; Clare Hamburger, St. Cecilia (Hastings); Klaire Phillips, Palmyra; Caitlin Peterson, Palmyra; Melanie Stratmann, Guardian Angels Central Catholic; Shandra Farmer, St. Cecilia (Hastings).

Class D-1
Sutherland (20-5) over St. Patrick's (North Platte) (20-4)
Friend (25-1) over Arapahoe (23-3)
St. Mary's (O'Neill) (21-2) over Emerson-Hubbard (Emerson) (15-8)
St. Francis (Humphrey) (23-2) over Boyd County (Spencer) (19-4)

Friend (26-1) over Sutherland (21-5)
St. Mary's (O'Neill) (22-2) over St. Francis (Humphrey) (24-2)

Consolation Championship – St. Francis (Humphrey) (24-3) over Sutherland (21-6)
Championship – St. Mary's (O'Neill) (23-2) over Friend (27-1)

Dark Horse: Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point)

Other players to watch: Brooke Bauer, St. Mary's (O'Neill); Taylor Menke, Friend; Brittany Lawrence, St. Pats (North Platte); Jalyne Schuster, Sutherland; Sam Staggs, Sutherland; Rochelle Wendland, Arapahoe; Payton Blanke, Emerson-Hubbard; Hannah Sobotka, Boyd County; Christa Brockhaus, St. Francis (Humphrey); Jacey Olmer, St. Francis (Humphrey).

Class D-2
Sacred Heart (Falls City) (25-2) over Wauneta-Palisade (Wauneta) (17-8)
Wynot (21-6) over Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft) (15-9)
Giltner (23-2) over Crawford (16-7)
Sterling (18-7) over Stuart (17-8)

Sacred Heart (Falls City) (26-2) over Wynot (22-6)
Giltner (24-2) over Sterling (19-7)

Consolation Championship – Wynot (22-7) over Sterling (19-8)
Championship – Sacred Heart (Falls City) (27-2) over Giltner (25-2)

Dark Horse: Bancroft-Rosalie (Bancroft)

Other players to watch: Abby Magdanz, Sacred Heart (Falls City); Maggie Goltz, Sacred Heart (Falls City); Tailor Lee, Wauneta-Palisade; Sydnee Harchelroad, Wauneta-Palisade; Danielle Wieseler, Wynot; Brianna Wegner, Bancroft-Rosalie; Allie Vogt, Bancroft-Rosalie; Kaitlin Rudloff, Crawford; Jaden Schafer, Stuart; Jordan Lempka, Sterling.