The Nebraska High School All-State Basketball Project - Saluting 1999

I wanted to add a new feature this time around. It caught my attention that there were head coaches in this State Tournament I easily recognized, but at different schools than most fans remember them being associated with back in the day.

We’ll list each qualifier and their head coach in each class..

1999

*Class D-2:*

Tournament Qualifiers: Ansley (Mike Sorensen); Banner County (Jack Cochran); Chester-Hubbell-Byron (Brian Regelin); Dodge (Jim Daro); Lindsay Holy Family (Russ Schumacher); Loomis (Randy Gilson); Nebraska City Lourdes (Steve Throne); Wausa (Tim Streff).

Quarterfinals:

(21-1) Loomis 82, Dodge 65 (11-10)

(15-6) Chester-Hubbell-Byron 82, Lindsay Holy Family 59 (17-6)

(12-10) Wausa 51, Ansley 44 (19-3)

(13-8) Nebraska City Lourdes 77, Banner County 61 (19-3)

Semifinals:

(22-1) Loomis 56, Chester-Hubbell-Byron 49 (16-6)

(13-10) Wausa 41, Nebraska City Lourdes (14-8)

Finals:

(23-1) Loomis 70, Wausa 55 (14-10)

D-2 Champion: Loomis (24-1) - Head Coach: Randy Gilson, Asst: Shawn Florell

*The D-2 All-Tournament team: Eric Sweeney (6-0, Sr.) Loomis; Jared Booe (6-5, Jr) Loomis; Matt Freitag (6-6, Jr.) Chester-Hubbell-Byron; J.P. Morris (6-3, Sr.) Nebraska City Lourdes and Kyle Korth (6-5, Sr.) Wausa.

*The Class D-2 tournament scoring leader Eric Sweeney of state champion Loomis. Sweeney scored 25 points in the Wolves first round 82-55 win over Dodge, then settled in for games of 13 and 15 to reach his trifecta of 53 tournament points. Eric bested Wausa’s Justin Nelson by 10 points. The single game high in D-2 was the 29 point outburst by all-everything Clint Eikmeier of Dodge, who, as mentioned, ended up on the short end of the 82-55 score with Loomis in the opening round.

*In the Class D-2 final, it was "the third time's the charm" for the Loomis Wolves. Two years prior, Loomis advanced to the semifinals before losing, the year before (1998), the Wolves lost to Filley in the D-2 finals, but this year, there was simply no denying the seniors on Randy Gilson’s Loomis team.

Overachieving Wausa, who entered the Tournament with a 12-10 record, was the perfect foe for the speedy, sharpshooting Wolves. It took a couple of knockout punches for Loomis to take complete control of the D-2 title contest and cruise to a 70-55 win.

The initial punch came late in the second quarter with Loomis leading 25-21. Scott Schukar nailed a trey, then Ryan Lovitt stroked an NBA three, suddenly giving the Wolves a 31-21 lead. The fatal blow came during the first three minutes of the third quarter when Lovitt, still feeling his shooting stroke from downtown, nailed a pair of treys, giving Loomis an insurmountable 47-27 lead with 5 minutes, five seconds left.

The long distance baskets by Loomis countered the suffocating 2-3 zone defense by Wausa, who had clogged up the middle. The treys forced the Vikings to spread out their defense, thus enabling Loomis to rely less on the downtown hits and drive to the hoop.

Sweeney and Lovitt each scored 15 points in the win for the Wolves. Wausa physical specimen Kyle Korth led the Vikings with 21 points and a huge 19 rebounds.

*Class D-1:*

Tournament Qualifiers: Bancroft-Rosalie (Michael Sjuts); Chambers (Wayne Hesse); Falls City Sacred Heart (Doug Goltz); Humphrey St. Francis (Paul Brungardt); Medicine Valley (Mark Runyan); Paxton(Jody Rhodes); Red Cloud (Ji Eberle); Shelby (Terry Chadek).

Quarterfinals:

(22-2) Bancroft-Rosalie 78, Humphrey St. Francis 64 (17-5)

(20-2) Paxton 66, Chambers 53 (19-5)

(23-1) Falls City Sacred Heart 79, Medicine Valley 57 (16-5)

(19-2) Shelby 57, Red Cloud 55 (21-3)

Semifinals:

(21-2) Paxton 54, Bancroft-Rosalie 52 (23-2)

(24-1) Falls City Sacred Heart 71, Shelby 54 (20-2)

Finals:

(25-1) Falls City Sacred Heart 71, Paxton 51 (22-2)

D-1: (26-1) Falls City Sacred Heart : Head Coach: Doug Goltz, Asst: Matt Cumro, Mark Junker.

*The D-1 All-Tournament team; State champion Falls City Sacred Heart and runner-up Paxton each placed a pair on the 1999 Class D-1 All-Tournament team. The Irish landed 6-2 senior Todd Knobbe and Nate O’Grady, a 6-2 junior, while Paxton placed high scoring junior Tanner Anderson (6-1) and 6-3 sophomore Tom Krab on the dream squad. The 5th member was Derek Archer (6-1, Jr.) of Bancroft-Rosalie. For the second straight season, only one senior made the team.

*The D-1 Tournament scoring title was a race to the finish between Sacred Heart junior Nate O’Grady and his Paxton counterpart, Tanner Anderson. O’Grady outscored Anderson by three points (23-20) in the title game to win the D-1 tournament scoring race by…...you guessed it….three points, 72-69. O’Grady’s three games were; 16, 23 and 23 points, while Anderson had scoring outputs of 22, 17 and 20 points. Rob Gillespie of Shelby had the high game in D-1 with his 27 points in the Huskies opening round conquest of Red Cloud.

*The D-1 championship game between Falls City Sacred Heart and Paxton was a nail biter for three quarters. The game saw ten ties and 12 lead changes through the first three quarters, plus 41 seconds deep into the fourth quarter. Irish coach Doug Goltz did a few more things defensively against Paxton during the first three quarters other than their normal man-to-man "D". Sacred Heart toyed with a 2-3 for a bit, then a 1-3 chaser defense to neutralize Paxton’s big Tim Krab inside, then a triangle and two to stop both Krab and sharpshooter Tanner Anderson.

But Goltz eventually went back to that suffocating Irish man-to-man defense in the 4th quarter and the result------a 24-9 fourth quarter advantage after nursing a 48-47 lead at the end of three. Junior Nate O’Grady caught fire to end up with 24 points and 9 boards for Sacred Heart as the Irish pulled away for a 72-56 victory.

Doug Goltz and his Irish squad did not trail many times during the regular season, but when they overcame a deficit, they never relinquished that lead.

Paxton coach Jody Rhodes recognized the outstanding play of Adam Santo, Falls City Sacred Heart’s hardwood quarterback. Santo, who never posted gaudy scoring totals, did things that never show up in the box score. That can be recognized by simply looking at Santo’s All-State stats----8 ppg and 3 boards per outing.

Nate O’Grady’s 24 points led Sacred Heart in the title game, while Paxton was led by Tanner Anderson’s 20 points. Tim Krab added 16 for the Tigers in the loss.

*Class C-2:*

Tournament Qualifiers: Arapahoe (Bob Braithwait); Doniphan (Rick Rath); Freeman (Dennis Remmers); Grant (Larry Pritchett); Osmond (Randy Jochum); Randolph (Lyle Nannen); Ravenna (Paul Beranek); West Point Central Catholic (Duane Mendlik).

Quarterfinals:

(16-7) West Point Central Catholic 71, Randolph 62 (20-2)

(19-2) Grant 67, Arapahoe 40 (16-6)

(24-0) Freeman 72, Ravenna 54 (11-9)

(16-5) Doniphan 54, Osmond 48 (19-5)

Semifinals:

(17-7) West Point Central Catholic 67, Grant 58 (20-2)

(17-5) Doniphan 85, Freeman 70 (25-0)

Finals:

(18-7) West Point Central Catholic 59, Doniphan 48 (18-5)

C-2 Champion: West Point Central Catholic (19-7) (Repeat Champions) Head Coach: Duane Mendlik, Asst: Don Matt.

*The C-2 All-Tournament Team consisted of two players from West Point CC and a pair from runner-up Doniphan. Senior Dustin Weichman (6-2, Sr.) and junior repeater Chris Wagner (6-2) represented the state champion Bluejays, while surprising Doniphan placed 6-1 senior Kenny White and 6-4 junior, Joe Sochor.. Grant had 6-4 senior Chad Miller named to the squad.

*Class C-2 Tournament scoring was battle between Doniphan teammates, Kenny White and Joe Sochor. White’s 22 points in the championship game gave him the 59-57 edge over Sochor to grab the scoring title. The Cardinals senior scored only 6 points in Doniphan’s 54-48 first round triumph over pesky Wausa, then exploded for games of 31 and 22 against Freeman and West Point CC. Joe Sochor had games of 25, 19, 14 points to reach his three game mark of 57 for the C-2 carnival.

The Class C-2 Championship game saw West Point CC defend their 1998 Class C-2 championship with a 59-48 win over surprising Doniphan, which was quite an accomplishment considering the Bluejays returned only one starter from their 1998 Class C-2 championship squad.

West Point CC, who was predicted by many to not to finish above .500 for the season, won a pair of two and one point games in sub-district play, then toppled No.4 Randolph and No. 2 Grant before reaching the finals. An even bigger shock was Rick Rath’s Doniphan squad, who was unranked coming in, eliminating three straight opponents before upsetting No. 1 Freeman to gain the C-2 finals.

West Point CC junior Chris Wagner took charge in the second half, enabling the Bluejays to pull away from Doniphan midway through the 4th quarter enroute to the 59-48 win. Wagner scored 19 of his team leading 21 points in the second half. Dustin Wiechman, one of two senior starters for Central Catholic, also came up big with his 16 points and 12 huge rebounds in the championship game.

Doniphan senior Kevin White led all scorers with 22 points to go along with his 13 boards. Not bad for a 6-1 post player.

*Class C-1*:

Tournament Qualifiers: Broken Bow (Mike Buckles); Columbus Lakeview (Jake Shadley); Fairbury (Rick Bell): Kimball (Bill Wallace); Lincoln Christian (Scott Sheppard); Elkhorn Mount Michael (Jim "Killer" Kane); Norfolk Catholic (Kevin Asher); Southern Valley (Tom Leininger).

Quarterfinals:

(15-6) Fairbury 58, Norfolk Catholic 49 (21-3)

(16-6) Kimball 72, Southern Valley 69 (21-3)

(22-1) Elkhorn Mt. Michael 59, Columbus Lakeview 55 (16-7) *(Overtime)*

(21-4) Lincoln Christian 100, Broken Bow 53 (16-5)

Semifinals:

(16-6) Fairbury 56, Kimball 34 (17-6)

(22-4) Lincoln Christian 58, Elkhorn Mt. Michael 49 (23-1)

Finals:

(23-4) Lincoln Christian 52, Fairbury 50 (17-6)

C-1 Champion: Lincoln Christian (24-4). Head Coach: Scott Shepard, Asst: Wes Shepard, Sam Nelson, Jered Dworak.

***Lincoln Christian’s Scott Shepard became the third member of his family to coach that school to a state title. Shepard’s brother, Greg, led the Crusaders to the title in 1988 and his dad, Wes, in 1991.***

*The C-1 All-Tournament Team included a couple of players from Lincoln Christian that would shine at the next level of basketball. The Crusaders placed Tom Cockle (6-5, Sr.) and Andrew Drevo (6-9, Sr.) on the C-1 all-tourney squad. Kimball’s Adam Bohac (6-0, Jr.), Mt. Michael playmaker Kevin Clanton, a 5-10 senior, and Fairbury senior Zac Fredrickson (6-2, Sr.) rounded the quintet.

The C-1 tournament scoring crown went to Lincoln Christian senior Tom Cockle, who was a model of consistency during the Crusaders C-1 championship run. Cockle strung together games of 23, 18 and 21 to nab the C-1 scoring title with 62 points, five better than Fairbury’s Zac Fredrickson (25, 15, 17 points).

The C-1 championship game certainly did not have the look of a heart pounding ending when Lincoln Christian’s 6-9 Andrew Drevo scored inside to give the Crusaders a 39-25 lead with 3:17 left in the 3rd quarter. But Fairbury went on a 13-2 run to close out that 3rd quarter, pulling the Jeffs to within 41-38 when the quarter ended.

Fairbury knotted things at 41 when Zac Fredrickson nailed a three with 6:47 left in the game, but Christian never trailed again after Drevo made a sweet hook shot, putting the Crusaders up 44-42 with 4:55 left. End of story------nope.

Lincoln Christian’s Tom Cockle was big down the stretch, scoring five points in the low scoring championship game, but Fairbury was always close, thanks to the play of Corey Carmichael.

It all came down to the final play of the game, with the Crusaders owning a 52-50 lead and the possession with 1.7 seconds left in the contest. Instead of Andrew Drevo throwing a soft inbounds pass underneath the Jeffs basket, the 6-9 product heaved the basketball all the way to the other end of the court. Tom Cockle, the 6-5 All-Stater, had to turn on the jets just to run down the basketball and keep it from going out of bounds.

Had that ball sailed out of bounds, Fairbury has the ball under their own bucket with the same 1.7 seconds still on the clock. Well, Cockle, who was not known for his blazing sprinter speed, looked like an Olympic 100 meter man, running the Drevo pass to ice the Lincoln Christian 52-50 win.

*Class B:*

Tournament Qualifiers: Beatrice (Jim Weeks); Chadron (Jim English); Grand Island Northwest (Troy Glock); Hastings (Joe Sajevic); Omaha Gross (Mike Dempsey); Omaha Skutt (Troy Schulte); Schuyler (Jeff Droge); Seward (Jim Placke).

Quarterfinals:

(16-7) Schuyler 64, Grand Island Northwest 60 (17-4)

(20-2) Beatrice 65, Hastings 46 (4-17)

(17-3) Seward 56, Omaha Gross 49 (17-5)

(18-3) Chadron 80, Omaha Skutt 57 (11-13)

Semifinals:

(17-7) Schuyler 69, Beatrice 53 (21-2)

(19-3) Chadron 64, Omaha Skutt 57 (18-3)

Finals:

(20-3) Chadron 48, Schuyler 47 (18-7)

Class B Champion: Chadron(21-3). Head Coach: Jim English, Asst: Bubba Hladky, Justin Stephenson, Damon Artery.

*The Class B All-Tournament Team was made up of the Chadron duo of Michael Wahlstrom (6-, Sr.) and Zac Alcorn (6-4, Sr.), Schuyler’s Tyler Trofholz (6-3, Sr.), Karel Geiss (6-3, Sr.) and Derek Paben (6-7, Sr.) of Beatrice, who made this team three consecutive years.

*The Tournament scoring title went to Tyler Trofholz of Schuyler, who posted games of 29, 14 and 11 points to hit his three game total of 54. Five points back at 49 was Chadron’s Michael Wahlstrom, who scored 26, 16 and 5 points in three outings for the Class B champs. Derek Paben had the Class B tournament high of 30 points, scored in the Orangemen’s 69-53 semifinal loss to Schuyler. Wahlstrom, you may remember, was an easy choice for Class B All-State Quarterback when he led the Cardinals to the Class B State Championship game in the fall of ‘98.

*The Class B final was a heart pounding, nail-biting contest right down to the final tip-in at the wrong basket by a Chadron player. A cold shooting Chadron club had to resort to a bruising defensive game to stay in the game with the normally hot shooting Schuyler Warriors.

Schuyler rolled to a 20-9 lead in the second quarter, before the Cardinals cut it to 29-22 at the half. But it was the blue-collared Curt Katen, who took things into his own hands offensively by scoring all six Chadron baskets in the third quarter. Katen, playing with a broken nose, blackened right eye and stitches over his left eye, came up huge on defense the entire title game for the Cardinals, who had made it all the way to the Class B football finals before losing to Lincoln Pius X in the Fall.

Chadron finally gained their first lead 42 seconds deep into the final stanza when Katen stole the ball, took it the length of the court to lay it in, giving Chadron a 40-39 lead. But it all came down to the last possession with Chadron clinging to a 48-45 lead over Schuyler.

Schuyler worked their last possession down to the final seconds of the game before Warrior head coach Jeff Droge called a time out. Droge drew up the final play, planning to get the ball into the hands of Tyler Trofholz for the final three point attempt.

Trofholz gained his open three-point shot and launched it, only to come up short. The ball caromed high off the front of the rim, and in the battle for the rebound between Chadron’s Zac Alcorn and Schuyler’s Matt Guynan, Alcorn accidentally tipped the ball into Schuyler’s bucket, scoring the Warrior’s two-point basket, making the final score 48-47 in favor of Chadron.

Good thing the Cardinals owned a three point advantage before Alcorn’s inadvertent tip in . I’ll bet Zac Alcorn never thought he would end his hoops career scoring a basket for the other team, yet winning a state championship for his own squad.

***File this under Oops! Hastings coach Joe Sajevic thought that since his team had the worst record entering the Class B tournament, they would be designated as the "away" team. So naturally, Sajevic brought the Tigers orange away jerseys…..Wrong. 15 minutes before game time, Coach Sajevic and the NSAA were searching everywhere for white jerseys. Finally, it was decided that Hastings would wear Schuyler’s white tops. Only problem was Schuyler had just played.

No problem, the jerseys were quickly dried, and the Hastings Tigers were outfitted with white and green tops and their normal orange and black shorts. The jerseys proudly displayed the name "Schuyler" across the top. I recall the Hastings student chanting "Lets go Schuyler" a few times during Schuyler’s……..I mean Hastings 64-60 win over Grand Island Northwest.***

*Class A:*

Tournament Qualifiers: Bellevue West (Doug Woodard); Columbus (Bob Hopp); Fremont (Joel Parks); Grand Island (Dave Oman); Lincoln East (Ed McPherren); Lincoln Northeast (Chip Bahe); Millard West (Rick Hook); Omaha Burke (Gary Graner).

(15-6) Lincoln Northeast 68, Fremont 50 (14-6)

(19-3) Bellevue West 69, Omaha Burke 43 (13-8)

(13-9) Grand Island 67, Lincoln East 65 (19-2) *(Overtime)*

(14-6) Columbus 52, Millard West 50 (14-6)

Semifinals:

(20-3) Bellevue West 97, Lincoln Northeast 89 (16-6) **(2 Overtimes)**

(14-9) Grand Island 47, Columbus 34 (15-6)

Finals:

(15-9) Grand Island 73, Bellevue West 46 (21-3)

Class A Champion: Grand Island (16-9). Head Coach: Dave Oman, Asst: Steve Bartek, Rick Kissack.

*The Class A All-Tournament Team consisted of two players from Cinderella Class A champions Grand Island, a player who moved from Grand Island, and a pair from Lincoln. 6-6 Scott Jorgensen, who grew up a couple of houses from me, and sharpshooter Brian Dunagan were named to the Class A dream team. Former Grand Island player, Marty Levinson (6-3, Jr.) then at Bellevue West, Shawn Redhage (6-7, Sr.) of Lincoln East and Lincoln NE’s 6-5 senior Trevor Johnson completed the squad.

If you recall, Levinson’s brother Cody, was a two-time All-State player for the Islanders in 1997 and 1998 when Marty was on those Islander teams I vividly remember a despondent Marty Levinson almost immediately removing the runner-up medal from his neck after the Thunderbirds 73-46 loss the Islanders in the championship game. Marty and friends would, however, make amends a year later.

*Tournament scoring honors went to the Benson Bunnies fine post player Lee Cook, who tallied 76 points in a three game stretch (19, 30, 27). The 6-5 senior easily outdistanced Northeast senior John Bell, but Bell had a championship medal to hang on his wall and Cook was left wishing he had one. So goes the heartbreak of a finals loss at the State Tournament. Lee Cook was a extraordinary though.

*The All Class/All-Tournament Team consisted of Scott Jorgenson and Brian Dunagan of Grand Island, Trevor Johnson-Lincoln Northeast, Marty Levinson of Bellevue West, and Tom Cockle of Lincoln Christian.

*The Class A championship game was an unexpected blowout win for Dave Oman’s Cinderella Grand Island team. The Islanders ran an exhausted Bellevue West team off the floor in the second half, as they coasted to a 73-46 beatdown of the Thunderbirds. Coach Doug Woodard’s Bellevue West team was the unfortunate victim of a gut wrenching 97-89 double overtime win over defending Class A champions, Lincoln Northeast the night before in the semis.

By the time tip off came around for the Class final, the T-Birds had nothing left and no answer for the Islander’s smothering, menacing "D" when the second half rolled around. After leading only 25-21 over the Thunderbirds at the half, Grand Island came out on fire in the third frame, going on an 19-0 tear to put things out of reach (47-28) after three quarters.

The Islanders didn’t let up after that either, scoring 26 points in the final stanza, posting the 27 point margin of victory, the largest in Class A State Championship history, dating back to 1911.

***Grand Island became the first 8th seeded team in 20 years to win a Class A title and their final record of 16-9 was the worst in history to win a championship in Nebraska’s Big Boy class. Somehow, I just don’t think the 9 losses bothered Dave Oman and company a bit, for it was they who had the last laugh in ‘99. It was Oman’s second State Class A title, the first coming in 1987 at Norfolk when they bested Lincoln Northeast.

* * * * * * * * * *

*1999 Class D-2 All-State Team*

Shay Reilly-Greeley** - 6-4, Senior (20.2 ppg/12.2 rpg)

Derek Bailey-Ansley - 6-5, Senior (22.0 ppg/10.0 rpg)

Clint Eikmeier-Dodge - 6-1, Junior (22.4 ppg/.6.0 rpg)

Jared Booe-Loomis - 6-5, Junior (21.0 ppg/13.0 rpg)

Matt Freitag-Chester-Hubbell-Byron - 6-6, Junior (22.2 ppg/.10.1 rpg)

2nd Team:

Matt Mezger-Table Rock - 6-0, Junior (25.3 ppg/4.0 rpg)

Chad Zelasney-Silver Creek - 6-2, Senior (18.7 ppg/8.5 rpg)

Tim Gross-Shickley - 6-1, Junior (18.0 ppg/7.1 rpg)

Jared Temme-Petersburg - 6-4, Senior (20.0 ppg/12.0 rpg)

Kyle Korth-Wausa - 6-4, Senior (17.0 ppg/11.0 rpg)

*Class D-2 Honorable Mention All-State:

*Seniors: Trent Johnson, John VanZandt, Marty Jones-Ansley; Dave Smith-Arnold; Shane Cochran, Jim Revelle-Banner County; Ryan Norder-Bruning; Curt Williamson-Butte; Eric Tietjen-Chester-Hubbell-Byron; Kirk Helgoth-Clarks; Jon Fetrick-Lincoln College View Academy; Ryan Franzluebbers-Dodge; Robbie Peterson-Exeter; Derek Scheil-Fairmont; Mitch Hinrichs-Giltner; Jesse Arens-Keya Paha; Justin Menke-Lawrence; Daniel Wenzel-Lewiston; Chad Rood-Lindsay Holy Family; Caleb Strate-Litchfield; Justin Misegadis-Lodgepole; Eric Sweeney, Scott Schukar, Ryan Lovitt-Looms; Jon Vavra-Fong, Tim Ulrich-Milligan; Daniel Schneider-Loup County; Ryan Funke, J.P. Morris-Nebraska City Lourdes; Brian Schultz-Nelson: Brian Seier-Petersburg; Jeremy Berggren, Joe Smaus-Prague; Kevin Krause-Sandhills; Josh Schweitzer-Shickley; Alan Bonifas-Silver Lake; Jon Reiter-SEM; Matthew Hodges-Thedford; Brett Jurey-Twin Valley; Justin Nelson-Wausa; Bradley Robertson-Wheatland; Tyler Grossart-Wolbach.

Juniors: Jed Johnson-Beemer; Jacob Lentfer-Bruning; Jerry Liewer-Butte; Loren Lindgren-Clarks; Clint Eikmeier, Tyler Paulson-Dodge: Mike Schmitt-Elgin; Ryan Obermeier-Giltner; Nick Broz-Hayes Center; Casey Helmer-Lindsay Holy Family; Mike Meyer-Lutheran High NE; Ben King-Lynch; Matt Miller-Maxwell; Josh Crisman, Jamen Hall-McCool Junction; Jared Sorgenfrei-North Loup-Scotia; Tate Bauersachs-Sioux County; Russ Plager-Table Rock; Mark Brown-Wallace.

Sophomores: Jackson Krejci-Exeter; Matt Kucera-Litchfield; Jay Behrends-Lodgepole; Brett Schnitzler-Nebraska City Lourdes.

*1999 Class D-1 All-State Team:

Clint Swanson-Johnson-Brock*** - 6-2, Senior (14.7 ppg/6.6 rpg)

John Thompson-Red Cloud - 6-3, Senior (17.0 ppg/7.0 rpg)

Kyle Rohrig-Friend** - 6-1, Senior (17.1 ppg/6.1 rpg)

Tanner Anderson-Paxton - 6-1, Junior (14.0 ppg/.7.0 rpg)

Adam Santo-Falls City Sacred Heart - 5-11, Senior (8.4 ppg/3.3 rpg)

2nd Team:

Derek Archer-Bancroft-Rosalie - 6-3, Junior (15.4 ppg/6.7 rpg)

Brian Lemerond-Falls City Sacred Heart - 6-0, Senior (12.5 ppg/4.0 rpg)

Regan Else-Mead - 6-1, Senior (15.1 ppg/5.1 rpg)

Josh Wessel-Humphrey St. Francis - 6-2, Senior (19.3 ppg/6.3 rpg)

Roy Jacobson-Palmer - 5-11, Senior (20.8 ppg/12.2 rpg)

*Class D-1 All-State Honorable Mention:

*Seniors: Evan Eckhout-Amherst; Matt Wegner, Nate Gustin-Bancroft-Rosalie; Levi Omah-Callaway; Tom Jarosz-Cedar Rapids; Bob Stanton-Chambers; Jared Gall, Terry Tuff-Clarkson; Zach Limbach, Zach McCroden, Damien Kennedy, Michael Buecker-Crawford; Matt Hofts-Deshler; Ben Clouse-Elwood; Nate Dillon-Ewing; Todd Knobbe-Falls City Sacred Heart; Ben Paulsen-Friend; Karl Block, Josh Klute-Hampton; Channon Price-Harvard; Luke Moyer-Humboldt; Ryan Cattau-Humphrey; Todd Frauendorfer-Humphrey St. Francis; Clayton Seeba-Johnson-Brock; Troy Sidders, Dave Ahrens-Kenesaw; Mike Gillotti-Leigh; Bryan Brakhage, Jared Niederklein-Meridian; Josh Schreiber, Russ Francl-Nebraska Christian; Jacob Frey, Derek Weichel-Nebraska Lutheran; Darin Watson-Nemaha Valley; Derek Witt, J.K. Costello-Omaha Brownell-Talbot; Nate Grant, Richard Galvin-Omaha Nation; Anthony Moser-Elgin Pope John; Travis Spier-Pawnee City; Robbie Tridle-Paxton; John Unick, Dustin Dale-Pleasanton; Lee Wolfe, Eric Blase-Polk-Hordville; Joe Enevoldsen-Potter-Dix; Curtis Tomasevicz, Rob Gillespie-Shelby; Kris Thompson-Shelton; Mike Hazen-Sterling; Corey Petersen-Stromsburg.

Juniors: Josh Stahr-Amherst; Isaiah Sicheneder-Chambers; Matt Schoof-Deshler; Nate O’Grady, Josh Rhodd, Dan Simon-Falls City Sacred Heart; Jason Kohtz-Hampton; Jason Folkers-Hartington; Justin Yost-Harvard; Matthew Gall-Howells; Dustin Bents-Humboldt: Seth Adam-Hyannis; Lane Meyer-Johnson-Brock; Paul Thorson-Mead; Daniel Wooburn-Medicine Valley; Tim Beckman-Nebraska Lutheran; Joe Kreifels-Nemaha Valley; Courtland Grant-Omaha Nation; Nick Wissing-Palmer; Shane Hansmeier-Paxton; Adam LaBeau-Potter-Dix; Nathan Egge-Stuart; Kyle Konopasek-Verdigre; Marty Wheeler-Wauneta-Palisade.

Sophomore: Jeremy Prchal-Cedar Bluffs; Adam Schueth-Ewing, Scott Krause-Hyannis; Adam Ickes-Orchard; Darren West-Pawnee City; Tim Krab-Paxton; Brent Shubert-Southeast Consolidated; Jeff McBride-South Platte; Randy Bauer-Spalding/Spalding Academy; Brad Layher-Stapleton; Nate Polak-Weeping Water.

Freshmen: Kyle Campbell-Medicine Valley; Chad Kruse-St. Edward.

*1999 Class C-2 All-State Team*

David Cone-Burwell** - 6-4, Senior. (22.0 ppg/11.8 rpg)

Derek Lacy-Grant** - 6-5, Senior (13.0 ppg/8.0 rpg)

Dan Morrow-Louisville - 6-5, Senior (25.0 ppg/12.0 rpg)

Brandon Wiese-Freeman - 6-7, Senior (17.0 ppg/11.2 rpg)

Chris Wagner-West Point Central Catholic - 6-2, Junior (19.4 ppg/4.9 rpg)

2nd Team:

Joe Sochor-Doniphan - 6-4, Junior (17.5 ppg/6.5 rpg)

Shane Ideus -Freeman- 6-2, Senior (13.0 ppg/5.0 rpg)

Scott Connot-Spencer-Naper - 6-2, Senior (17.2 ppg/9.4 rpg)

Andy Ketelsen-Osmond - 6-3, Sophomore (20.1 ppg/9.7 rpg)

J.D. Roberts-Ponca - 6-6, Junior (13.8 ppg/9.1 rpg)

*Class C-2 All-State Honorable Mention:

Seniors: Tyler Carey-Alma; Nick Collins-Arapahoe; Morgan Retzlaff-Battle Creek; Todd Edwards, Josh True-Bloomfield; Jeff Hass, Todd Vergil-Bridgeport; Chris Fuyzek-Burwell; Brett Newcomb, Ryan Ommert-Cambridge; Jeremy Wilmes-Creighton; Anthony Schnuelle-Diller-Odell; Kenny White-Doniphan; Nate Radenslaben-East Butler; Chad Malone-Elm Creek; Chad Peterson-Elmwood-Murdock; Brandon Gutzmann-Emerson-Hubbard; Preston Meints, Greg Veerhusen-Freeman; Kevin Small, Chad Miller-Grant; Pat Korth-Hastings St. Cecilia; Nate Lank-Hemingford; Wyatt Erwin-Laurel-Concord; Paul Badura-Loup City; Adam Anderson-Lyons-Decatur NE; Nick Minzel-Malcolm; Adam Gadeken-Neligh-Oakdale; Josh Knott-Newman Grove; Mike Boell-Palmyra; Brad Dowling, Jim Backer-Randolph; Alex Haag-Republican Valley; Dennis Dolezal-Rushville; Lloyd Johnson-Sandy Creek; Cody Boettcher-Spencer-Naper; Tyler Hampton, Jason Lavaley-Sutherland; J.D. Waddell-Sutton; B.J. Hansen-Wakefield: Howard Heneger-Weeping Water; Dustin Weichman-West Point CC; Tony Navatril-Wood River; Luke Woster-Yutan

Juniors: Tim Snyder-Axtell; Eric Volk, Dan Masters-Battle Creek; Jeremy Closter-Creighton; Jeremy Bishoff-Geneva; Justin Williams-Grant; Josh McCloud-Newman Grove; Matt Jochum-Osmond; Alex Poulasky-Ponca; Mitch Strathman-Randolph; Charles Hickman-Rock County; Andrew Beck-Scribner-Snyder; Bruce Hohman-Weeping Water; Matt Ridder-West Point Central Catholic.

Sophomores: Anthony Fisher-Arapahoe; Brad Toepfer-Blue Hill; Clint Duis, Alex Renshaw-Diller-Odell; Kyle Struebing-East Butler; Kirk Eriksen-Oakland-Craig; Elijah Starzl-Pender.

Freshmen: Derric Werner-Elkhorn Valley;

*1999 Class C-1 All-State Team*

Tom Cockle-Lincoln Christian** - 6-5, Senior (24.0 ppg/5.2 rpg)

Clete Samson-Valley*** - 6-3, Senior (25.7 ppg/7.2 rpg)

Kevin Clanton-Elkhorn Mt. Michael - 5-10, Senior (14.0 ppg/2.0 rpg)

Andrew Drevo-Lincoln Christian - 6-9, Senior (15.7 ppg/10.0 rpg)

Zac Fredrickson-Fairbury - 6-2, Senior (17.3 ppg/7.3 rpg)

2nd Team:

Jason Buckles-Broken Bow - 6-0, Senior (20.8 ppg/9.5 rpg)

Alex Shada-Wahoo - 6-3, Junior (17.5 ppg/7.5 rpg)

Jeremy Wissing-Grand Island Central Catholic - 6-5, Junior (20.0 ppg/9.0 rpg)

Daryl Werner-Syracuse - 6-6, Senior (13.5 ppg/7.5 rpg)

Dusty Keiser-Norfolk Catholic - 6-4, Junior (22.9 ppg/3.9 rpg)

*Tom Cockle went on to play four years at Pacific University, where he posted career stats of 6.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 1.6 assists/game in 116 games. He closed out his career by scoring 10 points against Kansas in a 78-63 loss in a 2004 NCAA basketball tournament 2nd round game.

*Andrew Drevo followed his brother to Morningside College after graduating from Lincoln Christian and stayed for only a year, earning All-North Central Conference honors. Andrew then joined Nebraska as a walkon after hearing that Morningside was dropping to NAIA status after his freshman season there.

He had to sit out a season because of NCAA transfer rules and the rest is history.

Drevo appeared in 60 games for the Huskers, averaging 12.3 ppg in the rugged Big 12. He also pulled down 5.7 rpg during his successful career at UNL. Last I heard, Andrew Drevo was Southwest Nebraska Area Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

*Class C-1 All-State Honorable Mention:

Seniors: Nate Bumgardner-Adams Central; Amos Davis-Ainsworth; Travis Golden-Albion; B.J. Brown, Nate Sheets-Fremont Bergan, Guy Horn-Ashland-Greenwood; Dawson Dvorak-Atkinson West Holt; Brent Sass-Bennington; Chris Johnson, Darin Rapp-Broken Bow; Scott Johnson, Justin McBride-Centennial; B.J. Blase, Nate Armatys-Central City; Luke Kaiser, Dusty Hudson-Chase County; Brent Gehring-Columbus Lakeview; Matt Mroczek, Joe Trouba-Columbus Scotus; Richie Miller-Conestoga; Joey Cochran, Colin Daro-David City; John Martin-Falls City; Dale Nissen-Ft. Calhoun; Craig Kjerstad-Gordon; Chad Buller, Jeff Gloystein-Heartland; Nick Martin-Hershey; Eric Kalloff-Kearney Catholic; Eric Poulson-Lincoln Lutheran; Bryce Roth-Milford; Carl Spearman-Morrill; Paul Hughes-Norfolk Catholic; Mike Settles-North Bend; Jay Meyer-O’Neill; Casey Lammers-Ord; Dustin Watts-Pierce; Kevin Weber-Plainview; Jon Baehr, Art Hughes-Southern; Brent Upson-Southern Valley; Jon Meyer-St. Paul; Jacob Hansen-Superior; Tony Neels-Syracuse; Jake Hansen-Tekamah-Herman; Brett Esau-Tri-County; Ryan Dahl-Wayne; John Baumann-Wilber-Clatonia.

Juniors: Ben Biehl-Adams Central; Eric Havranek-Ainsworth; Kyle Carder-Albion; John Hilgenkamp-Arlington; Jared Rentschler-Atkinson West Holt; Jeremy Killham-Columbus Lakeview; Jason Ritterbush-Cozad; Aaron Kobza-David City Aquinas; Cory Carmichael, John Southwick-Fairbury; Todd Archer-Fremont Bergan; Jeremy Yilk-Gothenburg; Adam Bohac-Kimball; Jeff Adamson-Valentine; Chad Sievers-Valley; Josh Kasischke-Wahoo; Nathan Erb-Wilber-Clatonia.

Sophomores: Brent Prohaska-Wahoo Neumann; Scott Lovercheck-Ft. Calhoun; Neil Wortmann, Matt Hames-Hartington Cedar Catholic; Derrick Gomez-Lexington; Josh Lamberson-Wilber-Clatonia.

Freshmen: Calvin Kapels, Dusty Jura-Columbus Lakeview.

*Derek Paben played a season at Northern Iowa before transferring to Morningside for a year. He then transferred to South Dakota University where he enjoyed great success to finish out his career.

Last I heard, Derek was in Omaha, listed as the "Associate Creative Director/Art Director/Graphic Designer" for Surdell and Partners, a Omaha Marketing and Advertising Agency.

*1999 Class B All-State Team*

Derek Paben-Beatrice** - 6-7, Senior (23.2 ppg/8.0 rpg)

Chad Sheffield-Grand Island Northwest** - 6-2, Junior (16.0 ppg/5.3 rpg)

Michael Wahlstrom-Chadron - 6-4, Senior (16.5 ppg/6.5 rpg)

Tyler Trofholz-Schuyler - 6-2, Junior (16.6 ppg/4.3 rpg)

Karel Gless-Seward - 6-3, Senior (16.2 ppg/6.2 rpg)

2nd Team:

Ben Schafer-Omaha Skutt - 6-7, Junior (18.2 ppg/8.2 rpg)

Lonni Malone-Omaha Gross - 6-4, Senior (16.5 ppg/4.0 rpg)

Nick Koehn-Ogallala - 6-0, Senior (16.0 ppg/2.6 rpg)

Nick Heiser-Lincoln Pius X - 5-10, Junior (10.9 ppg/1.9 rpg)

Lucas Baumann-Beatrice - 6-0, Senior (11.5 ppg/3.3 rpg)

*Class B All-State Honorable Mention:

*Seniors: Justin Dietrich-Alliance; Ryan Hansen-Aurora, Jay Winter, Aaron Folkerts-Beatrice; Chris Rhoades-Blair; Curt Caten, Zac Alcorn-Chadron; Luke Pfannenstiel, Scott Brandl, Kurt Von Tesch-Elkhorn; Brent Ellison-Gering; Travis Brown, Brandon Maxon-Grand Island Northwest; Kevin O’Donnell-Hastings; Jon Mooberry, Blake Thorell-Lexington; Justin Pierce-Lincoln Pius X; Dan Kaminski-McCook; Brett LeGrand, Nate Hale-Nebraska City; Dustin Addison, Brett Behrends, Nick Jasa, Brian Hale, Nick Christensen-Omaha Gross; Josh Stratman, Clint Brown-Omaha Roncalli; Dru Johnk-Schuyler; John Marshall-Scottsbluff; Andy Malin-Seward; Chris Fischer, John Pippett-Sidney; Tim Gesell-South Sioux City; Chad Scheel-Waverly; Craig Pinneo, Cody Holoch-York.

*Juniors: Beau Nelson, Daryl Nelson-Crete; Cameron Craig-Ogallala; Brent Heller-Omaha Roncalli; James Boone-Platteview; Brian Jakubowski-Schuyler; Brett Lofing-Scottsbluff; Jason Jisa-Seward; Garth Glissman-Waverly.

*Sophomores: Tony Wilbrand-Alliance; Michael Kohls-Aurora; Jared Obering-Beatrice; Joe Toledo-Ralston.

Freshman: Cody Hoegh-Aurora.

*1999 Class A All-State Team:

Shawn Redhage-Lincoln East** - 6-7, Senior (21.0 ppg/9.4 rpg)

Tanner Engel-Kearney** - 6-6, Senior (23.0 ppg/9.0 rpg)

Tee Mason-Lincoln Northeast - 6-1, Senior (15.2 ppg/7.0 rpg)

Kyle Bakker-Millard West - 6-9, Junior (24.07ppg/9.0 rpg)

Chris Wittgren-Lincoln Southeast - 6-5, Senior (20.0 ppg/7.0 rpg)

2nd Team:

Jared Anderson-Omaha Bryan - 6-5, Senior (20.1 ppg/8.5 rpg)

Jeff Tesmer-Grand Island - 6-2, Senior (17.7 ppg/3.7 rpg)

Marty Levinson-Bellevue West - 6-3, Junior (16.2 ppg/4.2 rpg)

Ty Graham-Lincoln High - 5-8, Junior (18.2 ppg/2.5 rpg)

Omar Bynum-Omaha Northwest - 6-6, Senior (19.6 ppg/11.7 rpg)

Kevin Clanton-Elkhorn Mt. Michael - 5-10, Senior (14.0 ppg/2.0 rpg)

*Shawn Redhage went on to play four seasons at Arizona State then move to Australia where he played professionally until last March (2017) when he played in his 393rd NBL basketball career there. Shawn Redhage is considered one of the top players in the history of professional basketball in Australia, scoring 5,819 points and pulling down 2,153 rebounds.

Shawn Redhage, now an Australian citizen, is a Pro Basketball legend in that country. He also played in the 2008 Olympics.

Stop and think about all this for a moment. The Michael Jordan of pro basketball down under?

*Class "A" All-State Honorable Mention:

*Seniors: Jon Mauro-Bellevue West; T.J. Rickert, J.J. Obert-Columbus; Cody Gallatin, Derek Hack, Aaron Farber-Fremont; Scott Jorgensen, Todd Luther, Jeff Nabity-Grand Island; Nick Sutko-Kearney; Scott Wenz, Drew Hose-Lincoln East; Trevor Johnson-Lincoln NE; Luke Chesnut-Millard North; Ben Pearson-Millard South; Luke Olson, Steve Hoffman-Norfolk; Nick Branting, Ty Fleck-North Platte; Jason Boyd-Omaha Benson; Harold Monday, David Kurcz-Omaha Bryan; Andy Lund, Kevin Kobs-Omaha Burke; Greg Wood-Omaha North; Mike Sweet, Grayling Jones-Omaha Northwest; Nick Gardner-Omaha South.

*Juniors: Zach Fortune-Bellevue West; Adam Lamprecht-Fremont; Drew Anderson-Kearney; Aaron Froehlich-Lincoln East; Richie Ross, Jeremy Parks-Lincoln High; Vernon Jiles, Luke Hansen-Lincoln NE; Wyatt Schmidt-Lincoln SE; Dennis Bubin-Norfolk; Ben Jacobson-Omaha Central: Justin Albrecht-Omaha North; David Goeschel, Grant Hauptman-Omaha Westside.

*Sophomores: Drew Snyder-Columbus; Jimmy Motz-Lincoln NE; Arthur Boults-Omaha Benson.

*1999 Super-State 1st Team:

Shawn Redhage-Lincoln East** - 6-7, Senior (21.0 ppg/9.4 rpg)

Tanner Engel-Kearney** - 6-6, Senior (23.0 ppg/9.0 rpg)

Tee Mason-Lincoln Northeast - 6-1, Senior (15.2 ppg/7.0 rpg)

Kyle Bakker-Millard West - 6-9, Junior (24.07ppg/9.0 rpg)

Tom Cockle-Lincoln Christian** - 6-5, Senior (24.0 ppg/5.2 rpg)

*1999 Super-State 2nd Team:

Derek Paben-Beatrice** - 6-7, Senior (23.2 ppg/8.0 rpg)

Chad Sheffield-Grand Island Northwest** - 6-2, Junior (16.0 ppg/5.3 rpg)

Jared Anderson-Omaha Bryan - 6-5, Senior (20.1 ppg/8.5 rpg)

Chris Wittgren-Lincoln Southeast - 6-5, Senior (20.0 ppg/7.0 rpg)

Omar Bynum-Omaha Northwest - 6-6, Senior (19.6 ppg/11.7 rpg)

*1999 Super-State 3rd Team:

Jeff Tesmer-Grand Island - 6-2, Senior (17.7 ppg/3.7 rpg)

Marty Levinson-Bellevue West - 6-3, Junior (16.2 ppg/4.2 rpg)

Nick Svehla-Creighton Prep - 6-6, Senior (20.0 ppg/12.0 rpg)

Dan Morrow-Louisville - 6-5, Senior (25.0 ppg/12.0 rpg)

*****************************************

Players from 1999 who made the Career lists on the NSAA Records site:

*Most Points-Career:

Clete Samson-Valley - 1,783 (65th)

*Three Point Goals-Career:

Shane Ideus-Filley - 269 (8th)

Matt Wegner-Bancroft-Rosalie - 208 (28th)

Nate Lanik-Hemingford - 176

Matt Jochum-Osmond - 152

*Three Point Goals-Season:

Shane Ideus-Filley - 77 (Tied 23rd)

*Three Point Goals-Team-Season:

Omaha Roncalli - 176 (Tied 31st)

*Most Points Scored by Two Nebraska Teams:

213 - Bertrand 107, Cambridge 106 (4 Overtimes) (8th)