Class A State Tournament Preview
As we near the end of a parity-filled high school basketball season, the champion will finally be crowned at Pinnacle Bank Arena this Saturday. This years field is loaded with talent and it would be no surprise to anyone to…
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Continue ReadingAs we near the end of a parity-filled high school basketball season, the champion will finally be crowned at Pinnacle Bank Arena this Saturday. This years field is loaded with talent and it would be no surprise to anyone to see any of the 8 teams cutting down the nets this weekend. Here’s my insight on this weekend’s State Tournament:
#1 Bellevue West vs #8 Elkhorn
#4 Omaha Westside vs #5 Creighton Prep
#3 Omaha Central vs #6 Omaha South
#2 Millard North vs #7 Papillion-LaVista South
Pick to Win The Championship: Omaha Central
The team I believe that is going to be cutting down the nets on Saturday is the #3 seed Omaha Central Eagles. They have been playing extremely well as of late and are getting hot at just the right time as they haven’t lost a game since January. The senior backcourt duo of Latrell Wrightsell Jr Latrell Wrightsell Jr 6'1" | CG Omaha Central | 2020 State NE . and Max Polk Max Polk 6'0" | CG Omaha Central | 2020 State NE has been a huge reasoning of their success. They come to Lincoln this weekend trying to avenge their State Finals loss last year to Omaha South, who is their first round matchup this Thursday. This Central team loves to play fast and when they can turn defense into offense, they’re nearly unbeatable. In order to win this weekend, the Eagles will have to make shots from the perimeter but the way they have been playing, I can see them doing just that. With the help of Abraham Hoskins Abraham Hoskins 6'2" | CG Omaha Central | 2020 State NE , PJ Davis PJ Davis 6'2" | SG Omaha Central | 2022 State NE , and Jay Dawson, who can all make shots from outside, it takes a little pressure of the shoulders of Wrightsell Jr. and Polk. This would be Central’s first State Title since 2013.
Dark Horse Team: Creighton Prep
Creighton Prep is a team that I believe can take the state by storm this weekend. Yes, they are the 5 seed, but no one is really expecting them to win besides themselves. They have already beaten the top 3 seeds which improves their case for being able to bring the trophy back home. Led by senior Spencer Schomers Spencer Schomers 6'5" | SF Omaha Creighton Prep | 2020 State NE , this Creighton Prep team plays extremely well together which becomes crucial in the postseason. Schomers is coming off of a 31 point performance in the district championship versus Grand Island, and is supported by big man AJ Rollins AJ Rollins 6'5" | PF Omaha Creighton Prep | 2021 State NE and wing Brendan Buckley Brendan Buckley 6'3" | SG Creighton Prep | 2021 State NE . Prep is a very efficient defensive team, holding their opponent under 60 for majority of their games, and if they want a chance to take some hardware back to the “Birdcage”, they will have to keep up their defensive effort.
Low-Flying Players to Watch
Brendan Buckley Brendan Buckley 6'3" | SG Creighton Prep | 2021 State NE – Creighton Prep (11.1 ppg)
Daniel Brocaille Daniel Brocaille 6'4" | SF Papio South | 2022 State NE – Papillion-LaVista South (9.1 ppg)
Caden Schutte Caden Schutte 6'4" | SF Elkhorn | 2020 State NE – Elkhorn (?)
Skyler Wilson Skyler Wilson 6'0" | PG Omaha South | 2020 State NE – Omaha South (14.9 ppg)
Saint Thomas Saint Thomas 6'6" | CG Millard North | 2021 State NE – Millard North (15.8 ppg)
Jay Dawson – Omaha Central (6.2 ppg)