1979 was the year of dominating teams. Lincoln East entered the Class A Dance with a sparkling 16-1 record and 4 starters averaging in double figures. Their only loss was to Lincoln SE, and starting guard Rustin Seamon was out that game nursing an ankle sprain. ...

1978 must have been a year when all the excellent teams beat up on each other because only 4 undefeated teams ended up in that year's State Tournament and 3 of those were in Class D. Randolph entered the Big Dance in Class C with a 21-0 slate. Filley (24-0), Hildreth (20-0), and Potter (20-0) were perfect entering the tournament in "D"...

The first thing that comes to my mind about this 1977 season was how ungodly special Mike McGee from Omaha North was and we may not have fully realized what and who we were witnessing at the time. Just mind-boggling! And the University of Michigan basketball records I wrote about later in this article were still accurate in 2015...

This is the 7th in a series of Nebraska High School All-State basketball teams beginning with 1970. We will take this all the way to the eve of the 2026 Girls State Basketball Tournament (Tuesday, March 3rd). It is my hope that these blogs rekindle some fond memories for the many athletes and fans that support high school sports, and basketball in general. ...

Before we look at those 1975 All-State teams, here is how each class played out in 1975 State Basketball Tournament: *In Class D, Two of Shickley Coach Richard Ideus' game plans backfired a bit in the first half, but the Longhorns came storming out of the locker room in the 2nd half to bury the floundering Sterling Jets, 71-42. ...

Before we look at those 1974 All-State teams, here is how each class played out in 1974 State Basketball Tournament: *In Class D, Palmer waltzed their way through the tournament field to win a State Title and avenge a bitter 71-43 loss in the state title game 2 years ago to Adams and Kim Veerhusen. ...

On we go with our daily tribute to past Nebraska High School All-State Basketball Teams and their State Tournament year. Once again, these tributes will run all the way through February and up to the eve of the 2026 Boys State Tournament on Tuesday, March 10th. ...

Now, I present to you the 1972 All-State Basketball teams. But first, here is how each class played out in 1972: *In Class D, the Adams made the championship game look easy. The Hornets jumped on Palmer early and coasted to a 71-43 victory. Despite the blowout, the capacity 8,500 fans at the NU Coliseum stuck around to see if sharpshooting Kim Veerhusen could break Lincoln East star Kent Reckewey's tournament record of 118 points. ...

Continuing on with my march through Nebraska Prep Basketball history, I present to you the 1971 All-State Basketball teams. But first, here is how each class played out in 1971: The Nebraska High School Basketball All-State Project - Saluting 1971...

I have decided to re-live a little history every day leading up to the 2026 Boys State Basketball Tournament which begins on March 4th. We cannot forget the fabulous players that set the pace and paved the road for future (now current) Nebraska prep basketball players...

It’s Centennial Conference week and I thought it would be appropriate to turn back the pages a bit, so let’s compile a history of the Centennial Conference Basketball Tournament Finals played since 1996. The “New Era” is based on when the first teams west of the David City/Columbus areas joined the Conference. Those teams were Grand Island Central Catholic, Hastings St. Cecilia, Kearney Catholic and Omaha Concordia....

*A total of 87 Nebraska high school running backs reached the 1000 yard rushing plateau during the 2025 season and are highlighted by the 51st Version of the Bobby Mills 1000 Yard Club. *There were 48 seniors, 30 juniors and 9 sophomores who reached the magical mark, led by Wahoo’s sensational senior Kip Brigham, who led the state with 2,657 yards...

It’s that time again. This is the 15th season I have published All-State football teams for all classes except 6-Man, where their Coaches do the honors and they certainly know more than I do concerning that part of the game. Those who have seen my All-State teams in the past know there are nearly always more than eleven selections on the 11-Man teams and in excess of eight in the 8-Man classes...

*Gage Hedstrom, Ben Barlow, James Eby-O'Neill St. Mary's - Gage Hedstrom flat out exploded in St Marys 66-24 victory over Sandhills-Thedford. Hedstrom completed 12 of 13 passes for 104 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 21 times for 208 yards and FIVE more scores. Ben Barlow caught 6 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown while James Eby had 4 receptions for 70 yards and a score...

*Michael Knudsen, Bryce Lakers, Nathan Thiellen-Gretna High - Knudsen completed 19 of 32 passes for 356 yards and 4 TDs in Gretna High's 35-21 win over York. Bryce Lakers caught six passes for 108 yards and a TD, Joe Sullivan also caught six aerials for 86 yards and a touchdown while freshman Nate Thiellen led the Dragon’s defense with 10 tackles (8 solos) and also reeled in an 80 yard touchdown reception...

There is a high school football team right over my backyard fence that has basically taken forty three years to emerge from a school that, for the last quarter century, has been labeled a “basketball school” in many circles. No, the football program at Grand Island Central Catholic has never suffered through embarrassingly long losing streaks. ...

*Gage Hedstrom, Ben Barlow, Lane Bybee-O'Neill St. Mary's - Senior star Gage Hedstrom took the opening kickoff 76 yards to the house then proceeded to rush for 153 yards on 11 totes which included a 64 yard touchdown run. He also completed 2 of 6 passes for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns in St Mary's 46-6 win over Burwell. ...

*Michael Knudsen, Henry Hildebrand, Max Brewer, Nathan Thiellen-Gretna High - Trailing by 10 points with less than a minute remaining in the game, sophomore Max Brewer nails a 32 yard field goal, Gretna then recovers an onside kick, Michael Knudsen then throws a 40 yard Hail Mary TD pass to Henry Hildebrand, then the same two hook up for an improbable 2 point conversion to lift the Dragons to 46-45 victory over Norris...

*Kip Brigham, Harrison Krueger-Wahoo - Kip Brigham, arguably the best running back in the state, rushed for 213 yards on 11 carries and scoring runs covering 38, 4, 60, and 39 yards PLUS Punt Return TDs covering 60 and 70 yards in a 59-24 victory over Omaha Concordia. ...

*Hunter Luther-Howell's Dodge - Jaguar’s superb RB rushed for 128 yards on 11 carries with scoring runs covering 44, 2 and 12 yards in Jags 60-12 win over Hyannis. That gives Luther 1,325 yards rushing with 24 touchdowns for the year and puts him at an incredible 4,945 Career Rushing yards with 80 touchdowns right now...