LINCOLN — Freeman worked hard to win a Class D-1 crown this year, and the Falcons were rewarded shortly after the game with the traditional state championship medals.

Too bad they had to give them back shortly after the ceremony.

A Nebraska School Activities Association official accidentally gave the Freeman players the Class C-1 medals, instead of Class D-1. The mistake was noticed by several players as they were entering the postgame interview area.

“Congratulations, guys,” one player yelled. “We're the Class C-1 champs!”

An NSAA official then realized the error and rounded up all of the wrong medals. The Falcons then got the right ones and proudly put them back around their necks.

Getting it done

Finishing as the state runner-up the previous year can serve as serious motivation, which is what Freeman forward Kyle Schlake said after the Falcons defeated Overton 52-38 for the Class D-1 crown.

“That was our motivation from day one,” Schlake said. “There was some pressure to get back here and try to win it, but I think that helped push us on.”

Schlake, a 6-foot-9 senior forward, did his part. The Northwest Missouri recruit scored 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the win.

Freeman, which secured its first state title, lost to Ravenna 57-51 in the Class C-2 title game last year.

Sign of the times

One notable sign in the Chadron student section: “Fear the Beard”.

That was an obvious reference to the Cardinals 6-11 center, Elliott Eliason. The whiskered Minnesota recruit scored a team-high 14 points and had seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough as Chadron lost to Hastings St. Cecilia 46-40.

The lone senior

One of the loudest ovations from the South Sioux City fans after the Cardinals' 60-56 overtime win over Omaha Skutt in the Class B final was reserved for Alex Groth, the only senior on the squad.

Groth, who averages 6.3 points, scored just four points Saturday. But he made three steals and tried to have a calming effect on his brother, Austin, who was struggling to sink free throws in the overtime.

Austin had missed four straight and was heading to the line again with 24.4 seconds left and the Cardinals nursing a two-point lead. Alex gave Austin a short pep talk before Austin sank one of two free throws that helped secure the victory.

“I just told him to be confident up there,” Alex said. “He's one of the best shooters on our team.”

Alex, who will play baseball at Morningside next season, said he knew how he was going to celebrate the school's first boys basketball title.

“I'm going to hang around with my teammates,” he said. “I'm going to miss these guys.”

Attendance

The 100th state tournament nearly got back to the 100,000 mark in attendance. With Saturday's total of 21,893, the three-day turnout was 99,480. The finals at Devaney drew 8,355 during the day and 9,858 at night, with the consolation games attracting 1,982 at Lincoln Northeast and 1,698 at Lincoln Southwest.

— Mike Patterson, Jeff Sheldon and Stu Pospisil

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