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    TODAY'S POLL

    Which sport are you most excited for?

    Which high school sport do you look most forward to following in the 2011-12 school year?


    Total Votes: 724
     
    44%
    Football
     
    16%
    Baseball
     
    16%
    Basketball
     
    23%
    Something else


    BOYS BASKETBALL

    State basketball finals matchups

    Class A

    NORFOLK (22-2) VS. OMAHA CENTRAL (22-4)

    7 p.m. at Devaney Center

    • What to watch: What can Deverell Biggs do for an encore? A dazzling 35-point game by the Central senior has the No. 4 Eagles in the finals for the fourth time in five seasons. His teammates, however, have to be more active and proficient in the offense against top-ranked Norfolk, in the title game for the first time since its 1987 championship season. How well will Central guard the Panthers’ 3-point shooters? They’re led by sophomore Jalen Bradley, and point guard Brady Lollman.

    • Stu’s pick: Unless Central gets double-digit scoring from 6-7 freshman Akoy Agau and guard Sean McGary to help Biggs, and unless Central wins the rebounding war, Norfolk is going to end its title drought with any kind of long-range shooting.

    Class B

    SOUTH SIOUX CITY (18-5) VS. OMAHA SKUTT (21-6)

    1:30 p.m. at Devaney Center

    • What to watch: It took top-ranked South Sioux three tries this season to get its first win against the No. 4 SkyHawks, winning 69-54 in the district final after losses of 59-49 and 57-56 at Skutt. In South Sioux’s win, Skutt scoring leader Charlie Wallrapp was hit in the head and didn’t play the second half. Skutt has a better inside game with Wallrapp and 6-9 center James Hajek; the Cardinals have the better floor game and shooters with the likes of Mike Gesell and Austin Groth.

    • Stu’s pick: Neither team is very deep, so tired legs might be a factor. That suggests South Sioux might need to knock down some shots early to gain an edge. Foul trouble for either Hajek or Cardinals center Jose Bonilla could be significant in the outcome. The belief is that South Sioux has more scoring options, so I’ll stay with the young Redbirds to put a title banner of their own next to the 11 won by the South Sioux girls.

    Class C-1

    CHADRON (24-2) VS. HASTINGS ST. CECILIA (24-1)

    11:30 a.m. at Devaney Center

    • What to watch: Some of the faces have changed in this rematch of the 2009 final that St. Cecilia won 61-58, starting with four new starters for the No. 2 Bluehawks to go with three-year starter Dalton Sealey. No. 1 Chadron has a couple of new ones, too, but mainstays Zach Bargen and Minnesota recruit Elliott Eliason are back for their final game. Best matchup is the 6-11 Eliason against agile 6-10 St. Cecilia junior Zach Sterup.

    • Stu’s pick: St. Cecilia showed some vulnerability in its semifinal with Norfolk Catholic, but Chadron may lack the guards to disrupt the Bluehawks’ offense. Look for the Bluehawks to complete a football-basketball title sweep and be the first to win the Class C crown three years in a row.

    Class C-2

    FREMONT BERGAN (22-3) VS. RAVENNA (24-3)

    9 p.m. at Devaney Center

    • What to watch: Three-point shooters abound, including Ravenna’s starting five. In the semifinals, the two winning teams had a combined total of 15 treys. What the No. 2 Bluejays lack is a strong inside presence, which No. 3 Bergan has in 6-5 senior Dereck White. Ravenna starts sophomores Trevor Cyboron and Connor Beranek.

    • Stu’s pick: Could be a high-scoring finish to the night, given offenses that averaged 63 and 64 points this season. Give the edge to the defending champion Bluejays.

    Class D-1

    FREEMAN (25-2) VS. OVERTON (21-3)

    9:30 a.m. at Devaney Center

    • What to watch: Kyle Schlake, at 6-8, is going to give Overton matchup problems. No Eagle is taller than 6-2. The Northwest Missouri recruit averages 18 points for the No. 2 Falcons, last year’s runners-up in C-2, but made only two field goals Friday against Emerson-Hubbard. No. 1 Overton’s scoring comes from Jared Shafer and Jake Olmstead, who average 33 points a game and got 31 against Humphrey St. Francis.

    • Stu’s pick: Must go with the Falcons’ experience in playing in a final. Dropping down a class and knowing how Championship Saturday operates, with the TV timeouts, etc., is invaluable.

    Class D-2

    EWING (25-1) VS. HAMPTON (23-1)

    5 p.m. at Devaney Center

    • What to watch: No. 1 Ewing’s Austin Kaczor, back in form with 25 points Friday, is the state’s leading scorer at 27 a game and is an All-Nebraska selection in football and basketball. The rest of the Tigers’ scoring is by committee. No. 6 Hampton’s top scorer, DJ Bamesberger, had 26 points in the semifinal OT win over Hayes Center.

    • Stu’s pick: There’s unfinished business for Ewing in Devaney, having lost to Sterling in OT last year. Kaczor makes the difference.

    —Stu Pospisil


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