LINCOLN — Deverell Biggs was the show for Omaha Central in Friday night's Class A semifinal win over Lincoln Southeast, going for 35 points on a night no teammate scored more than seven.
But Biggs shared the stage with some talented supporting actors in Saturday's final.
Seniors Sean McGary and Josh Hackett chipped in 16 and 10 points, respectively, and freshman center Akoy Agau made a name for himself with 18 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks in a 71-58 win over top-ranked Norfolk.
“We knew it was going to be a team that won a state championship,” McGary said.
There's no doubt that Biggs, who had 19 points and four assists, is the driving force for these Eagles. No player on Central's previous three championship teams had to carry a team the way Biggs has.
But he's not playing 1-on-5.
The production from his teammates was no surprise to Central coach Eric Behrens.
“If you would have seen us last night for the first time, then maybe yeah, you would think we're a one-man team,” Behrens said. “But everyone contributes.”
McGary slashed his way to the hoop on a number of occasions for easy buckets. Hackett did the little things it takes to win. Both hit big 3-pointers.
And Agau? He may have just landed himself on the radar of a Division I program whose building houses the state finals. NU coach Doc Sadler sat courtside, and he had to be impressed with what he saw of the 6-foot-7 force.
Agau dribbled in the open court, made moves around the bucket, drove the baseline with two bounces and dunked.
“Just wait,” Behrens said, adding that Agau hasn't even gotten a chance to show everything he can do. He can shoot 3-pointers, the coach said.
All of this causes headaches for coaches trying to devise defensive game plans.
“I thought they had the capability,” Norfolk coach Ben Ries said. “But we weren't going to be able to guard all five on the floor and focus on stopping Deverell the way we wanted to. A lot of their other athletes hurt us.”
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