Capsule previews of the 16 teams in Classes A and B participating in the boys state basketball tournament:
CLASS A
GRAND ISLAND ISLANDERS (9-13)
Coach: Jeff Hofeldt
W-H rank: Not ranked
Scoring averages: 46.5-53.1
Conference: Heartland
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Travis Scheuler, 6-0, Jr., 10.6, 1.4
Max Ayoub, 6-3, Jr., 9.5, 8.2
Ryker Fyfe, 6-3, So., 8.1, 3.9
Jordan Brooks, 6-5, Sr., 4.6, 3.3
Aaron Ogden, 5-8, Jr., 3.2, 2.0
Tournament history: First appearance since 2005 and 40th overall. State champion in 1947, 1948, 1999 and 2002 and runner-up twice.
LINCOLN HIGH LINKS (16-5)
Coach: Dan Noble
W-H rank: Sixth
Scoring averages: 58.2-50.5
Conference: Heartland
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Tobin Reinwald, 6-4, Sr., 15.7, 4.4
Dylan Flinn, 6-7, Sr., 12.4, 8.5
Tommy Johnson, 6-0, Sr., 9.7, 1.8
John Harris, 6-2, So., 8.2, 5.0
Vincent Smail, 6-2, Sr., 6.5, 4.2
Tournament history: Third consecutive appearance and 57th overall. State champion 15 times, most recently 2003, and runner-up five times.
LINCOLN SOUTHEAST KNIGHTS (19-3)
Coach: Jeff Smith
W-H rank: Second
Scoring averages: 61.4-48.1
Conference: Heartland
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Derrius Vick, 6-2, Jr., 13.5, 4.0
Eric Jackson, 6-3, Sr., 13.2, 5.8
Jaydee Jurgensen, 6-4, Sr., 11.3, 6.6
Derek Shouse, 6-1, Jr., 7.2, 2.2
Cody Charlton, 6-3, Jr., 4.6, 1.9
Tournament history: Repeat qualifier is making 18th appearance. Class A runner-up five times, most recently 2003.
MILLARD SOUTH PATRIOTS (12-11)
Coach: Steve Throne
W-H rank: Eighth
Scoring averages: 55.2-56.2
Conference: Metro
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Reagan Fowler, 6-3, Jr., 12.5, 6.7
Quentin Urban, 5-11, Jr., 11.0, 1.1
Kyler Erickson, 5-8, Jr., 6.4, 1.1
Blake Headley, 6-2, Jr., 5.9, 3.6
Nicholas Beck, 6-5, Sr., 5.1, 3.4
Tournament history: First appearance since 2002 and 19th overall. Seven state titles, most recently Class A in 1991. Runner-up in D in 1954 and A in 1995.
NORFOLK PANTHERS (20-2)
Coach: Ben Ries
W-H rank: First
Scoring averages: 68.5-53.6
Conference: Greater Nebraska
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Jalen Bradley, 5-10, So., 15.0, 1.5
Brady Lollman, 6-3, Sr., 14.7, 4.0
Nathan Marsh, 6-6, Sr., 14.6, 7.5
Jonah Bradley, 6-0, Sr., 9.6, 2.9
Garrett Johnson, 6-0, Jr., 7.1, 2.0
Tournament history: Repeat qualifier is making 44th appearance. Class A champion in 1987 and Class B runner-up in 1927.
OMAHA BRYAN BEARS (18-5)
Coach: Tim Cannon
W-H rank: Fifth
Scoring averages: 61.8-51.2
Conference: Metro
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Galen Gullie, 5-9, Jr., 14.8, 2.6
Ben Imig, 6-1, Sr., 12.6, 2.9
DK Augustine, 6-5, Jr., 12.0, 5.9
Reath Jiech, 6-5, Jr., 9.1, 6.7
Tarir Gatuoch, 6-3, Sr., 7.0, 3.4
Telly Mason, 5-10, Jr., 4.9, 2.0
Tournament history: Repeat qualifier is making seventh appearance.
OMAHA CENTRAL EAGLES (20-4)
Coach: Eric Behrens
W-H rank: Fourth
Scoring averages: 64.5-53.3
Conference: Metro
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Deverell Biggs, 6-1, Sr., 20.4, 5.1
Sean McGary, 6-1, Sr., 12.2, 3.1
Josh Hackett, 6-3, Sr., 8.5, 3.1
Dominique McKinsie, 6-3, Jr., 7.9, 6.9
Akoy Agau, 6-7, Fr., 6.6, 4.6
Tournament history: First appearance since 2008 and 38th overall. Six state titles, including 2006, 2007 and 2008. Runner-up nine times.
OMAHA CREIGHTON PREP JUNIOR JAYS (19-4)
Coach: Josh Luedtke
W-H rank: Third
Scoring averages: 68.3-53.3
Conference: Metro
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Cole Martin, 6-3, Sr., 14.8, 4.5
Caleb Steffensmeier, 6-2, Sr., 13.6, 2.8
Joe Trouba, 6-6, Sr., 9.9, 6.1
Nick Davis, 6-5, Sr., 8.3, 5.3
Aiden Hook, 6-1, Jr., 6.3, 1.5
Tournament history: Defending champ's sixth straight appearance and 52nd overall. Has 11 titles and been runner-up five times.
CLASS B
ADAMS CENTRAL PATRIOTS (20-3)
Coach: Tom Slechta
W-H rank: Eighth
Scoring averages: 63.5-50.1
Conference: LouPlatte
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Zach Hunt, 6-1, Sr., 15.7, 4.0
Brady Barrett, 6-1, So., 13.9, 3.3
Nathan Arlt, 5-9, Sr., 8.4, 3.4
Connor Lyons, 6-3, Sr., 8.3, 3.8
Calvin Ott, 6-2, Jr., 5.5, 3.4
Tournament history: First appearance since 2006 and fifth overall.
BEATRICE ORANGEMEN (17-5)
Coach: Jim Weeks
W-H rank: Sixth
Scoring averages: 55.6-44.6
Conference: River Cities
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Trevor Menke, 5-10, Sr., 15.4, 2.0
Tommie Bardsley, 6-2, Sr., 13.1, 4.9
Philip McClure, 6-3, Sr., 12.9, 4.8
Trey Bardsley, 5-7, So., 6.1, 1.1
Maxx Claassen, 5-10, Sr., 4.8, 1.3
Tournament history: Last year's runner-up is making fourth consecutive appearance and 36th overall. Seven state titles, most recently 2008 Class B. Runner-up three times.
CRETE CARDINALS (7-14)
Coach: Greg Hobza
W-H rank: Not ranked:
Scoring averages: 45.1-52.0
Conference: Central East
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Derek McGinnis, 6-3, So., 12.3, 2.6
Mitchell Marvin, 6-0, So., 8.9, 3.3
Ryne Reeves, 6-4, Jr., 7.4, 3.5
Grant Harms, 6-9, Jr., 7.3, 4.5
Luke Ruhlman, 6-5, Sr., 3.2, 2.9
Tournament history: First appearance since 2007 and 41st overall. Class A champion in 1932 and Class B champion in 1979 and 1975. Runner-up six times.
LINCOLN PIUS X THUNDERBOLTS (17-4)
Coach: Ray Forycki
W-H rank: Second
Scoring averages: 57.3-47.5
Conference: Independent
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Trevor Johnson, 6-5, Sr., 16.2, 6.5
Jack Burt, 6-1, Sr., 10.6, 2.3
Dustin Oberembt, 5-11, Sr., 6.9, 2.5
Stuart Sucha, 6-3, Sr., 6.5, 4.3
Joey Werning, 5-10, Jr., 5.3, 1.6
Tournament history: First appearance since 2008 and 28th overall. Six state titles, most recently 2004 Class B, and runner-up six times.
OMAHA SKUTT SKYHAWKS (19-6)
Coach: Jon Burt
W-H rank: Fourth
Scoring averages: 57.2-53.9
Conference: River Cities
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Charlie Wallrapp, 6-6, Sr., 14.6, 5.6
James Hajek, 6-9, Sr., 12.5, 9.7
Danny Phelps, 6-3, Sr., 7.7, 4.8
Myles Jablonski, 6-2, Sr., 7.1, 2.6
Jacob Smith, 6-2, Sr., 6.9, 3.9
Tournament history: Fifth consecutive appearance and eighth overall. Class B champion in 2006 and 2007.
RALSTON RAMS (17-8)
Coach: Bill Heard
W-H rank: Third
Scoring averages: 60.1-51.4
Conference: River Cities
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Tony Grant, 6-2, Sr., 15.8, 3.0
Dwight Smith, 6-3, Sr., 14.3, 6.6
Grant Kay, 6-0, Jr., 12.3, 2.7
Karon Crawford, 5-9, Sr., 7.6, 2.2
Eric Tucker, 6-10, Sr., 5.3, 5.6
Tournament history: Defending champion is making fifth consecutive appearance and 17th overall. Also won Class B in 1964 and was runner-up in 2003 and 2004.
SIDNEY RED RAIDERS (15-6)
Coach: Jay Ehler
W-H rank: Not ranked
Scoring averages: 55.3-45.8
Conference: Western
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Matt Rosenbaum, 6-7, Sr., 19.7, 11.4
Bret Bayne, 6-3, Sr., 10.5, 3.7
Collin Harvey, 6-1, Jr., 9.8, 2.4
Jeremy Tucker, 5-9, Jr., 7.4, 2.3
Lance Christian, 6-4, Sr., 3.9, 3.4
Tournament history: Repeat qualifier is making 38th appearance. Class B champion in 1945 and 1981 and state runner-up three times.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY CARDINALS (16-5)
Coach: Terry Comstock
W-H rank: First
Scoring averages: 68.3-58.3
Conference: River Cities
Player, Ht., Yr., Pts., Reb.
Mike Gesell, 6-1, So., 19.2, 7.5
Austin Groth, 6-1, So., 17.2, 3.6
Alex Groth, 5-11, Sr., 6.3, 1.6
Trey Closter, 6-4, Jr., 7.7, 3.5
Jose Bonilla, 6-11, Jr., 6.6, 4.4
Tournament history: First appearance since 2001 and ninth overall.
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