2024 Playoffs: Subdistrict Previews

Jeremy Brooks February 20, 2024 @ 05:15 PM

Tonight we have a handful of competitive contests across the state. In this article, we preview four of the most interesting matchups and how they might play this evening.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!   Beatrice (16-4) vs Norris (17-5) - Class B1: Subdistrict 1   Tonight the Norris Titans are going to go on the road and matchup with a familiar opponent in the Beatrice Orangemen. This game becomes interesting right away when you notice that both of these programs have faced off earlier in the season in a game where Norris was on the road and they secured a 5-point victory, 57-52. In their first contest, [player_tooltip player_id='360214' first='Grace' last='Kohler'] (8.5 PPG/5 RPG/1 APG) of the Titans recorded 32 points in this victory, ultimately making the difference in the end. While the Orangeman had more of a rounded attack as a team you could say. This second time around, it's going to come down to one question for Beatrice, can they stop Kohler? If they can, they should be able to keep momentum and move onto the next round once that final buzzer sounds. Even though Norris won in Round 1 of this matchup, I do like the Titan's chances this time around on their home court but we will see.   South Sioux City (14-9) vs Blair (11-11) -   The South Sioux City Cardinals have put together a season they should be proud of up to this point but they aren't going to be satisfied just yet. Tonight they invite in Blair High School, in a Post-season game that could be a good one. When speaking about Blair's side of things, they are young and still learning a lot. That they have gotten to this point is impressive. They are another team that has put together a well-respected season but they aren't done yet. These two teams haven't met this season which is another factor that makes this game a little bit more interesting. I think in the end SSC is going to be too much as a team. They have several prospects that produce every game and if that's the case tonight, while being at home, they are going to be a really tough team to beat. If Blair comes out firing on all cylinders and they muck up everything early on, then things become a little bit more even.   Omaha Westside (13-12) vs Kearney (13-9) -   Tonight Omaha Westside will host Kearney High School in a revenge game with their Playoff lives on the line. To begin this season, Westside went on the road and lost to Kearney in an intense contest by a final of 59-54 but these teams are much different now. When you look at any team from the start of their season to the end, there is usually a huge bump in the overall-team play that occurs. Everyone knows each other better, understands what each other can do, and they understand what the goal is that their team is trying to accomplish. When you account for that and the fact that the game will be at Westside, things tighten up a little bit. Both of these teams have their go-to individuals when it matters the most in a possession so it'll be interesting as to how each team, tries to stop the other. If there was a betting line to come out for this game, I wouldn't be surprised if it was even because that's how close this contest could really be in the end.   Bellevue (15-7) vs Elkhorn South (11-12) -   Elkhorn South has turned their program around as a whole throughout the past few months. Coming into this season, I spoke with their Head Coach and we talked about how he was trying to change the culture and trying to get everyone to buy into the positive side of everything. Well, from the looks of it, he has done that and more because this group plays some team basketball and they seem to really be having fun while doing so. Tonight they will be on the road to matchup against a very skilled and promising Bellevue Chieftains High School team. As of right now, the best player on the floor is going to belong to the Chieftains in the form Freshman Guard, [player_tooltip player_id='751925' first='T'Niyah' last='Wilson-Smith'] (20 PPG/7 RPG/3 APG) but that doesn't mean that the Storm should be counted out of it. They also have a young core, and an especially promising young talent in the form of Combo Guard, [player_tooltip player_id='753080' first='Mollie' last='Probasco'] (16 PPG/5 RPG/3 APG). These two programs haven't met up until this point in the year but this is sure to be an interesting game to watch.

Tonight we have a handful of competitive contests across the state. In this article, we preview four of the most interesting matchups and how they might play this evening.