Players to watch
Akol Arop, Omaha Creighton Prep
6-6, Sr., 21.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg
Returning All-Nebraska player signed with Nebraska.
Donovan Williams, Lincoln North Star
6-5, Jr., 21.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg
Has committed to NU.
Jay Saunders, Omaha South
6-0, Jr., 15.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Top scorer for the Packers.
Shiloh Robinson, Kearney
6-8, Sr., 18.9 ppg, 11.6 rpg
Signed with Liberty.
Chucky Hepburn, Bellevue West
6-1, So., 17.8 ppg, 4.8 apg
Huskers offered him last spring.
Lök Wur, Papio South
6-9, Sr., 21.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg
Owns the Titans’ single-season scoring record.
Chase Thompson, Om. Westside
6-6, Sr., 20.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg
Shed the pounds and put on the points.
Jadin Booth, Omaha Westside
6-2, Jr., 18.9 ppg
Don’t put this 88-percent shooter at the line.
John Tonje, Omaha Central
6-5, Sr., 24.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg
UNO has offered the Eagles’ season scoring record-holder.
Latrell Wrightsell, Om. Central
6-1, Jr., 17.6 ppg
When he got healthy, so did the Eagles.
Charlie Easley, Lincoln Pius X
6-2, Sr., 22.8 ppg, 4.0 apg.
Has rewritten the Thunderbolts’ scoring records.
Tyson Gordon, Omaha Skutt
6-3, Sr., 14.9
The sparkplug for the SkyHawks.
Brady Danielson, York
6-4, Sr., 18.7 ppg
Two-sport all-stater came up big against Skutt last year.
Jack Dotzler, Omaha Roncalli
5-10, Jr., 16.3 ppg, 6.0 apg
Leads the Crimson Pride in most stats categories.
Mason Hiemstra, Alliance
5-11, Sr., 22.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 4.2 apg
Does it all for the Bulldogs.
Baylor Scheierman, Aurora
6-6, Sr., 20.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 5.9 apg
Signed with South Dakota State.
Haggan Hilgendorf, Adams Central
6-9, Jr., 16.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Is growing into a good college prospect.
Where
Pinnacle Bank Arena: Four Class A games and two Class B games Thursday. Parking available (fee charged) in downtown garages and lots and at the Haymarket Park festival lot.
Devaney Center: Two Class B games and four Class C-1 games Thursday. Parking available ($5) at Innovation Campus, two entrances off Salt Creek Roadway between 14th and 27th Streets.
Lincoln Northeast: Four Class C-2 games and two Class D-2 games Thursday. 63rd and Adams Streets. Free parking.
Lincoln East: Four Class D-1 games and two Class D-2 games Thursday. 70th and A Streets. Free parking.
Later rounds
Semifinals Friday: Classes A, B and C-1 at Pinnacle; Classes C-2, D-1 and D-2 at Devaney. Finals Saturday: All at Pinnacle. Third-place games Saturday: Lincoln Southeast for C-1, C-2, D-1 and D-2
Tickets, TV
Adults $7, students $5
News Channel Nebraska: All Thursday games at Devaney, all Friday games at Pinnacle.
NET: All Saturday finals.
Radio
Omaha-Lincoln area: KOTK/KBOM (1420/1490, 104.1, 94.5, Omaha): Omaha Creighton Prep, Omaha South, Bellevue West, Papillion-La Vista South, Omaha Westside, Omaha Central. KHUB/KFMT (1340/105.5, Fremont): Fremont Bergan, Wahoo, North Bend, Yutan. KFOR/KLMS (1240/103.3 and 1480/101.5, Lincoln): Lincoln Pius X, Lincoln North Star. KNTK (93.7, Firth): Lincoln Pius X, Lincoln North Star. KVSS (102.7, Omaha flagship): Omaha Roncalli.
Eastern: KAWL/KTMX (103.5/104.9, York): York, Milford, Sutton, Centennial, Exeter-Milligan. KBIE/KNCY (103.1/1600, Auburn/Nebraska City): Auburn, Falls City SH, Nebraska City Lourdes, Johnson-Brock. KEXL (97.5, Norfolk): Humphrey/LHF, Humphrey SF, Osmond. KKOT (93.5, Columbus): Fullerton, Humphrey/LHF, Humphrey SF. KKYA (93.1, Yankton, S.D.): Crofton, Wynot. KLIR (101.1, Columbus): Columbus LV. KNEN (94.7, Norfolk): Osmond. KQKX (106.7, Norfolk): BRLD, Howells-Dodge. KTCH/KCTY (104.9/1590, Emerson/Wayne): Ponca, Wakefield. KTIC (107.9, West Point): North Bend, Howells-Dodge, BRLD. KZEN (100.3, Central City): Riverside.
Central: KAMI (92.7, 100.1, 1580, Cozad): Elm Creek. KGFW (1340, Kearney): Kearney. KKPR (98.9, Kearney): Kearney, Elm Creek, Loomis. KLIQ (94.5, Hastings): Grand Island CC, Adams Central, Sutton, Blue Hill. KNLV (103.9, Ord): Fullerton, Riverside. KRGI (1430/105.5, Grand Island): Grand Island CC. KRGY (97.3, Aurora): Aurora. KRVN (880, Lexington): Loomis. KSYZ (107.7, Grand Island): Grand Island CC. KXPN/KICS (1460, Kearney/1550, Hastings): all Saturday finals.
Western: KCOW (1400, Alliance): Alliance. KHYY (106.9, Minatare): Scottsbluff. KIOD (105.3, McCook): Wauneta-Palisade. KMOR ( 93.3, Gering): Bridgeport. KNEB (94.1, Scottsbluff): Scottsbluff, Bridgeport. KOGA/KMCX (930, 106.5, Ogallala): Ogallala, Paxton. KQHK (103.9, McCook): Wauneta-Palisade. KSID (98.7, Sidney): Bridgeport. KXNP (103.5, North Platte): Paxton.
Tournament leaders
SCORING
24.8, John Tonje, Omaha Central (A)
22.8, Charlie Easley, Lincoln Pius X (B)
22.4, Mason Hiemstra, Alliance
22.2, Aaron Dow, Loomis (D-2)
21.2, Akol Arop, Creighton Prep
21.1, Donovan Williams, Lincoln North Star
21.1, Lök Wur, Papillion-La Vista South
20.9, Chase Thompson, Omaha Westside
20.7, Baylor Scheierman, Aurora
20.6, Cam Binder, Auburn (C-1)
20.6, Jackson Hirschfeld, Centennial (C-2)
20.4, Grant Frickenstein, Fremont Bergan (D-1)
20.4, Blake Brewster, Paxton (D-1)
20.2, Winston Cook, Wahoo
REBOUNDS
11.6, Shiloh Robinson, Kearney (A)
10.3, Blake Brewster, Paxton (D-1)
10.3, Aaron Dow, Loomis (D-2)
10.2, Akol Arop, Creighton Prep
10.0, Lök Wur, Papillion-La Vista South
9.8, Josh Allick, Lincoln North Star
9.8, Riley Lindberg, Fremont Bergan
9.8, Tyler Witt, Falls City Sacred Heart
9.5, Uzziah Freeman, Boys Town (C-1)
9.4, Baylor Scheierman, Aurora (B)
9.4, Drake DeMasters, Bridgeport (C-2)
By the numbers
A breakdown of the 109th Nebraska boys basketball state tournament:
.333
Winning percentage for Nebraska City Lourdes (D-1), which has an 8-16 record.
1
First-time qualifier, Hartington-Newcastle (D-1).
Team with no seniors, Auburn (C-1).
2
Unbeaten teams: Ogallala (C-1), Riverside (D-2).
Consecutive titles for Ponca (C-2).
3
Consecutive titles for Lourdes (D-1).
4
Schools seeking a football-basketball title sweep: Omaha Skutt and Aurora (B), Centennial (C-2), Johnson-Brock (D-2).
5
Consecutive state tournament appearances by Creighton Prep (A) and Riverside (D-2), the most of any qualifier.
6
Teams that won state titles in 2018: Omaha Creighton Prep (A), York (B), Wahoo (C-1), Ponca (C-2), Lourdes (D-1), Falls City Sacred Heart (D-2).
9
Championships for Sacred Heart (D-2) under Doug Goltz, the most by one coach.
11.6
Rebounding average for Shiloh Robinson of Kearney (A), the highest in the field.
13
Schools with teams in the girls and boys basketball tournaments, two more than last year.
State titles won by Creighton Prep (A), the most of any school in the field. Lincoln High has the most with 15.
19
Finals appearances for Omaha Central (A), most in the field.
22
Teams that also qualified in 2018. Class B has the most returning, with six.
24.8
Scoring average for John Tonje of Omaha Central (A), the highest in the field.
28.9
Average winning margin by Riverside (D-2), best in the field.
34.6
Points allowed per game by Paxton (D-2), best in the field.
35
Years between state tournament appearances for Blue Hill (D-2).
58
State tournament appearances by Creighton Prep (A), which ties Hastings for the most.
73.8
Scoring average for Ogallala (C-1), best in the field.
95,088
Paid attendance at the 2018 tournament.
