Basketball season coming to a close, boys state this week

Last week’s girls’ state basketball tournament went off without a hitch and now the boys will have their turn to showcase their skills.
In Class D2, Falls City Sacred Heart won its eighth state title since 1998. The Irish have also had five runner up and five third place finishes. FCSH beat Wynot 33-32 Saturday.
Cairo Centura won its first girls’ state basketball title ever, beating Hastings St. Cecilia 44-38 in Class D1.
The Class C2 state championship went to Pender, a 45-42 winner over conference rival Oakland-Craig.
Bridgeport’s hopes of a Class C1 state championship were dashed with a 44-47 overtime loss to Hastings Adams Central in the semifinals. Bridgeport won its third place game 69-58 over Malcolm and super freshman Halle Dolliver.  
North Bend Central, led by all stater Kaitlyn Emanuel, won its fourth straight title with a 45-28 victory over Adams Central.
Elkhorn North, in its third year of existence, won its third straight Class B title behind a stellar weekend from five-star recruit Britt Prince. The Wolves avenged their only loss of the season in the finals, beating Omaha Skutt 64-51.
Millard South won Class A 72-60 over Lincoln High.
This week’s boys’ tournament has plenty of faces familiar to southwest Nebraska.
Paxton, from the RPAC, is the eighth seed in Class D2 and plays top seeded Wynot Thursday.
Class D1 started Wednesday and is full of local teams.
SPVA’s North Platte St. Pat’s looks to defend last year’s state title. The No. 1 Irish played their first game against Mead. Maywood/Hayes Center, from the RPAC, is the second seed and faced Ansley-Litchfield. Dundy County Stratton, also from the RPAC, claimed the fifth seed and played Elm Creek.
NPSP, MHC and Elm Creek were three of four teams ranked in the wildcard top 10 that were all in the D1-10 subdistrict.
Class C2 features Gordon-Rushville, which received a forfeit from Chase County at the Sidney tournament, is the eighth seed.
Ogallala and Sidney are both in the Class C1 tournament field. Both teams beat CCS during the regular season. Class C1 kicked off Wednesday. Undefeated Ogallala is the second seed and played Central City. Sidney is the sixth seed and played returning state champion, Ashland-Greenwood, in the first round.
Scottsbluff will make the trip from the panhandle to Lincoln for the Class B tournament. The No. 3 Bearcats play York Thursday.
Saturday’s state championship games will be televised on Nebraska Public Media beginning with Class D1 at 8 a.m. MT.
Following the D1 game will be Class C1 at 10 a.m. MT, Class B and noon MT, Class C2 at 3:15 p.m. MT, Class A at 5:15 p.m. MT and Class D2 at 7:15 p.m. MT.
The quarterfinals and semifinals are streamed on the subscription-based nfhsnet work.com.