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Coach Stan Mencke calls his Tekamah-Herman boys basketball team special.

The Tigers fit that description in several ways.

• Six players stand at least 6-foot-3. Four-year starter Anders Olson is the tallest at 6-7. Tyler Panko, a guard, and Jacob Bryant are 6-5.

• This year's team owns the only winning record in Mencke's 11 years as head coach. At 20-4, that win total doubles what had been the best mark — 10-12 last season.

• Tekamah-Herman will make its first appearance at the state tournament since 1988 when it plays Hastings St. Cecilia at 2 p.m. Thursday in Pershing Center.

Aside from all the accomplishments on the floor, Mencke considers his group special for another reason.

“They're good kids,'' he said. “They do well in school, they're involved in extra-curricular activities. I don't care if they start or come off the bench. This team has been an unselfish team.''

Tekamah-Herman does not face many teams that can match its size. But St. Cecilia can.

The top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Bluehawks (22-1), two-time defending C-1 state champions, are led by 6-10 Zach Sterup, 6-4 Paul Goedert, 6-2 Beau Schwenka, and 6-2 Dalton Sealey.

“We've got a tough assignment,'' Mencke said.

Said Olson: “In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. I've always wanted to play in a game with the No. 1 seed, but I wanted to be the No. 1 seed.''

Tekamah-Herman's seven seniors experienced success at the youth and junior high level before their freshman season in 2006-07. Olson started while Christian Andrew and Bryant came off the bench for a team that won just three games. The next season, six wins. Last season, 10.

“When we were freshmen, it was difficult, going from some success in junior high to a team that hadn't had a winning record in over a decade,'' said Olson, who ranks second on the team in scoring (15.8) and first in rebounding (11.0).

“Our confidence level really took off about halfway through last season. I've never seen this group as confident as we are now. We're clicking this year.”

Trevor Bryant, a 6-4 sophomore, averages a team-high 18.2 points, while brother Jacob leads the team in assists (4.5). Both are sons of Tekamah-Herman girls basketball coach Mike Bryant, who coached the boys in junior high.

Mencke has experienced the state tournament before at two other schools.

The 53-year-old, who has taught and coached since 1978, guided the Prague girls to state in 1984 and 1985. The Panthers finished second in 1985.

He took an undefeated Elgin boys team to state in 1991, losing to Hildreth in the semifinals.

He knew early on that this group of Tigers might have a chance to break Tekamah-Herman's state tournament drought.

“They've always been tall. They've always had expectations of them,'' Mencke said. “These kids just love to play basketball.''

The result this week has been local attention.

“Everywhere I go, it seems like somebody's there to congratulate or wish us good luck,'' Olson said. “It's been pretty fun to go out to eat. Its been pretty crazy.''

If Tekamah-Herman can defeated Hastings St. Cecilia, the Tigers would face No. 5-ranked Grand Island Central Catholic (21-4) or No. 4-ranked Norfolk Catholic (22-2) in the semifinals Friday at 10:45 a.m. at the Devaney Center. That game would come after the 9 a.m. semifinal, which opens play at the Devaney Center.

Contact the writer:

444-1201, sports@owh.com

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