Class B State Tournament Preview
GAME 1: #1 Crete (24-1) vs. #8 Norris (13-9) LOCATION: Pinnacle Bank Arena TIME: 9:00 AM KEY PLAYERS FOR CRETE: Morgan Maly Morgan Maly 6'1" | SF Crete | 2020 State NE (19.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg) has gotten the majority…
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Continue ReadingGAME 1: #1 Crete (24-1) vs. #8 Norris (13-9)
LOCATION: Pinnacle Bank Arena
TIME: 9:00 AM
KEY PLAYERS FOR CRETE: Morgan Maly Morgan Maly 6'1" | SF Crete | 2020 State NE (19.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg) has gotten the majority of the headlines for the Cardinals, and rightfully so. Her play has been outstanding all season, and her value was magnified when she rolled her ankle and had to sit out the majority of the Cardinal’s only loss this season to Beatrice. If the ankle is still sore, this could give other teams a glimmer of hope, but if Maly is healthy and getting support from junior sharpshooter Hannah Newton (9.9 ppg) and dominant defense in the paint from classmate Ellie Allen (71 blocks), Crete will be hard to beat.
KEY PLAYERS FOR NORRIS: The team that Crete perhaps did NOT want to play in the opening round is Norris, however. No one in Class B has played a tougher schedule, and they are peaking at the right time with the return of senior point guard Taryn Tracy Taryn Tracy 5'5" | PG Norris | 2020 State NE (5.5 ppg). Breanna Stai (13.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg), a Central Missouri State recruit, has played well the last two weeks for the Titans, and they will not be intimidated by the Cardinals, whom they have had two competitive games against each other this season.
GAME 2: #4 Grand Island Northwest (21-5) vs. #5 Sidney (19-6)
LOCATION: Pinnacle Bank Arena
TIME: 10:45 AM
KEY PLAYERS FOR GRAND ISLAND NORTHWEST: The Vikings return to the state tournament to defend their state title. Future Nebraska walk-on Whitney Brown Whitney Brown 5'6" | PG Grand Island NW | 2020 State NE (18 ppg, 3.5 apg) is one of the state’s best point guards, while her supporting cast that includes Briar Cliff commit Lauren Hauser Lauren Hauser 6' | C Northwest | 2020 State NE (10 ppg, 7 rpg) and junior Shanae Suttles Shanae Suttles 5'5" | SG Northwest | 2021 NE (8 ppg) have helped the Vikings hit their stride late. Northwest is 21-2 against the rest of the state, but 0-3 against Crete this season.
KEY PLAYERS FOR SIDNEY: Tyler Shaw has built one of the most consistent programs in the state in the panhandle, but the Raiders have yet to make it to the semi-finals in Shaw’s decade plus run. Senior Mattie Johnson (14.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is the Raiders best player, but Sidney has a lot of other options, including junior Karly Sylvester (9.4 ppg) and senior Nicole Birner (8.7 ppg). If Sidney can contain Brown, they have a chance to win Thursday morning.
GAME 3: #2 Beatrice (20-3) vs. #7 Platteview (16-8)
LOCATION: Devaney Sports Center
TIME: 7:00 PM
KEY PLAYERS FOR BEATRICE: A strong senior class has led the Lady O to the #2 seed, headed by Hastings College commit Carly Leners (14.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg), aggressive guard Addison Barnard (7.6 ppg) and sharpshooting Olivia Aden (9.3 ppg). Beatrice has been dominant on the defensive end, forcing teams to slow the game down and play at their tempo, but they will need consistent play from junior guard Mackenzie Hatcliff (11.4 ppg) to make a run at the state title.
KEY PLAYERS FOR PLATTEVIEW: One of the smaller schools in Class B, Platteview looks to avenge a nine point loss to Beatrice earlier this season. Like Beatrice, Platteview has a strong senior class, led by Hallie Johnson (10.9 ppg) and Jessica Wellman (9.3 ppg), and they are supported by junior Allison Kuhl (11.4 ppg). The Trojans want to get up and down the floor a little more than the Lady O, so this game could be a battle of who controls the tempo.
GAME 4: #3 Bennington (21-2) vs. #6 Scottsbluff (16-10)
LOCATION: Devaney Sports Center
TIME: 8:45 PM
KEY PLAYERS FOR BENNINGTON: Miley Prine Miley Prine 5'9" | SF Bennington | 2020 State NE (17.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) receives alot of the accolades for the Badgers, and rightfully so, but they are far from a one woman team. Prine’s classmate Grace Tetschnner (10.6 ppg) and outstanding sophomore point guard Abby Boyles (10.4 ppg) support Prine, while sharp-shooter Whitney Wullenwerber (5.9 ppg) is capable of scoring in bunches. If the Badgers can control first-time jitters, they can make a run to Saturday afternoon.
KEY PLAYERS FOR SCOTTSBLUFF: The Bobcats have had a very nice season, and they seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. Senior guard Yara Garcia (16.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is one of the best players in the state west of Grand Island, while classmate Aubry Krentz Aubry Krentz 5'6" | SG Scottsbluff | 2020 State NE (11 ppg) and freshman guard Payton Burda (7.8 ppg) support Garcia. Scottsbluff has had two convincing wins in their last two contests against Sidney and Omaha Gross, and this could be the highest scoring first round game in Class B, with both teams liking to push tempo.
CLASS B STATE TOURNAMENT PREDICTIONS: Crete over Norris, Grand Island Northwest over Sidney, Beatrice over Platteview, Bennington over Scottsbluff
SEMI-FINALS: I see Crete knocking off Northwest for the fourth time, but I think it will be much more competitive and will be a four quarter game. Beatrice and Bennington will be a game of tempo, and I think it will be close. If Bennington can get the game into the upper 40’s, they have a great chance to win. However, I think Beatrice is a little stronger than Bennington and will keep the game in the low 40’s, where they are comfortable.
FINALS: Crete has been dominant all season long, and has played the part of the best team very well. If Morgan Maly Morgan Maly 6'1" | SF Crete | 2020 State NE ‘s ankle stays healthy, I don’t see anyone that can match her physicality, athleticism and skill level. You tandem that with the coaching of John Larsen and the factor of wanting to avenge their only loss of the season to Beatrice makes me think the Cardinals cut down the nets Saturday afternoon at PBA.