by Bobby Mills

We have arrived to the final two games of this 7th edition of the Heartland Hoops Classic and once again Nebraska basketball power Omaha Central will be paired with an out-state power. The Eagles will face a formidable Class 5A Colorado high school team in Denver East in the featured game of the day. But before we spotlight that dandy, how about a look at Game 7 which sends Kearney to the Events Center to meet Class A’s #5 rated Norfolk.

Kearney (8-12) vs. Norfolk (17-2) {7:30pm}

Around Christmas time I thought maybe Tino Martinez had made a blunder scheduling Kearney against Norfolk in the co-featured game of the day. You see, at that time the Bearcats were 1-10, with their only win coming against a Class B Lexington squad. But since that time the Bearcats have gone 8-2 with the lone losses coming in a 2 point loss to Creighton Prep at the Bird Cage and a single point setback to Lincoln North Star. Excluding an opening blowout loss to Bellevue West, the biggest spread in a loss for this Kearney team was 10 points, even during that dismal 1-10 start. Kearney even stayed within 9 of Norfolk in the GNAC tournament smack dab in the middle of that losing streak. (more…)

by Bobby Mills

Today we spotlight games 3 and 4 of this year’s Classic. Game 3 features Class B’s number 1 Elkhorn South going against Grand Island Senior High while Class B power Wahoo Neumann takes on Grand Island Northwest in game 4.

And now, on to the previews:

Elkhorn South (18-0) vs. Grand Island (4-14) {12:30 pm}

Coach Alex Bahe’s Elkhorn South Storm steps up a class to play Class A Grand Island in the 10:45 tilt at the Heartland Events Center.

Elkhorn South is rated numero uno in Class B and 6th in the Omaha World-Herald’s overall top 10. Only Omaha Benson, South, Westside, and Omaha Central are rated higher. The Storm is rolling over opponents by an average score of 71-46. This bunch gets after it when they hit the hardwood. The Storm had a few close games early on but have been punishing teams since the Wahoo Holiday Tournament in late December. Since that tournament the closest anyone has come to Elkhorn South is Norris (66-51). In the last 6 outings, the Storm has outscored their opposition by a margin of 73-38. (more…)