Terry Comstock knows how it has gone in recent years at South Sioux City.

It’s been the girls basketball teams, and not the boys, who have enjoyed most of the success.

But Comstock, in his fifth year as the Cardinals’ boys basketball coach, has helped change that image. South Sioux went 16-5 this season, earned its first state tournament trip since 2001 and has a chance to capture the school’s first boys basketball crown. The Cardinals are ranked No. 1 in Class B.

“It’s obviously a great feeling,’’ he said. “We’ve come close to getting there the past few years, but now we feel the monkey is off our back.”

That monkey might have seemed like a gorilla, especially when compared with the success enjoyed by the South Sioux girls teams. Every day at practice, Comstock and his players can look up at the gymnasium ceiling and see 11 state championship banners won by girls coach Kelly Flynn and his squads.

“The success of the girls has definitely been a motivating factor for us,’’ Comstock said. “There’s never been any jealousy, but just the determination to try and make that happen for the boys.’’

South Sioux got off to a strong start this season, winning seven of its first eight. The Cardinals then lost four of five games in midseason but won their last eight — including a 69-54 win over Omaha Skutt in the district final to earn their trip to state.

The state tourney hasn’t been especially kind to South Sioux, which has survived the first round only once in eight trips. The exception came way back in 1927, when the Cardinals defeated Belgrade 21-11 before losing to Loup City 15-13.

“Somebody brought that history up to me the other day,’’ Comstock said. “This is obviously not the team from the past, and I’ve told our guys the main thing is to look ahead and not behind.’’

The Cardinals are paced by 6-foot-1 sophomore guards Mike Gesell and Austin Groth. Gesell is averaging 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds and Groth is averaging 17.2 points and 3.6 rebounds.

“Those two really feed off each other,’’ Comstock said. “They’re very competitive in practice, and I think that has contributed to making them both better.’’

Other key players for the Cardinals are sophomore forward 6-1 Kaden Moore (8.8 points per game), 6-4 junior forward Trey Closter (7.7), 6-11 junior center Jose Bonilla (6.6) and 5-11 senior guard Alex Groth (6.3). South Sioux is averaging more than 68 points, the highest total in the Class B field.

That eight-team field is one that is somewhat familiar to Comstock. It features three other teams from the River Cities Conference — Skutt, Ralston and Beatrice.

“I think that says a lot about our conference right there,’’ the coach said. “And you can tell the overall quality of the eight teams when the defending state champion (Ralston) is seeded sixth and last year’s runner-up (Beatrice) is seeded fifth.’’

While he knows a lot about those other conference teams, Comstock’s knowledge is limited about first-round opponent Sidney. The Red Raiders are 15-6 and will be making their second straight trip to state and 38th overall.

“It scares me that we don’t know a whole lot about them,’’ he said. “You can only tell so much when you watch a team on film.’’

That opening game will be played at 9 a.m. Thursday, another cause for concern to a coach and team that haven’t been to state in a while. But that’s where Flynn, who also is the school’s athletic director, has lent a hand.

“Kelly has been great about telling us how the girls have prepared for the tournament,’’ Comstock said. “He even gave us a copy of their itinerary from one of the past years when their game times were exactly the same as what we’ve got this year. He’s been a huge help.’’

In a few days, the Cardinals will know if their hard work this season will lead to that first boys title. And a banner of their own to hang in the gym.

“To have both the girls and the boys represented like that would be great,’’ Comstock said. “But we know we’ve got more work to do before that can happen.’’

Contact the writer:

444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com

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