June showers bring all-star games in Nebraska. And for two straight Saturdays, Hastings College is the place to be.
This week HC hosts the annual Shrine Soccer Classic with the best graduated high school seniors meeting up in a girls-boys doubleheader. The event seems to have found a nice home in Hastings, and the rain may actually stay away for this one.
On June 20 is the annual Sertoma Eight-Man All-Star Game where the top players from the smaller schools get their chance to shine. While the I…
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Added by Dale Miller on June 12, 2009 at 8:30pm —
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The Lou-Platte Conference girls basketball finals are set for Saturday, and it's a rare first-time match-up for the season when Class C-2 No. 1-rated Ravenna hosts Class B No. 6 Adams Central.
Both teams can shoot the ball, both teams play strong defense, and both teams get to meet up again next week. It should be a good series.
Another solid match-up on Saturday is Class A No. 9 Kearney at No. 10 Grand Island Senior High. The Bearcats won an earlier meeting in Kearney but the Islanders have bee…
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Added by Dale Miller on February 7, 2009 at 12:18am —
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The first of several area girls basketball conference tournament finals is set.
On Saturday, Twin River and Friend will face off for the final Central Eight Tournament title before the conference disbands. The Titans (10-3) are favored to beat the 7-7 Friend squad to add one final Central Eight trophy to its collection.
Also on Saturday, the Goldenrod Conference will crown its tournament champion in St. Paul. The semifinal pairings of Elba vs. North Loup-Scotia and Burwell vs. Spalding/Spalding…
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Added by Dale Miller on January 22, 2009 at 9:37pm —
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The Ravenna girls basketball team has lived up to expectations so far this season.
The preseason Class C-2 No. 1-rated Bluejays are 10-0. Their defense made life tough for opponent after opponent, giving up 27.3 points per game.
The scary things for opponents is that, after a slow start, the offense seems to be clicking now too. Ravenna averages 57.8 points per game and has scored 62, 69, 94, 52 and 64 points over its last five outings.
So what are the toughest challenges awaiting Ravenna? The b…
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Added by Dale Miller on January 8, 2009 at 11:20pm —
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Two weeks into the season, six undefeated teams remain in the area. Here's a look at the half-dozen who are off to a perfect start:
AURORA (5-0): The Huskies returned three starters and nine letterwinners off last year's 6-15 team and have already come close to equaling that win total. Aurora has a nice mix of inside and outside players. The schedule will be much tougher after the first of the year, but the Huskies are building momentum for that stretch.
BOONE CENTRAL (5-0): The Ca…
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Added by Dale Miller on December 16, 2008 at 11:06pm —
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Last season was a down one overall for girls basketball teams in central Nebraska.
Of the 44 teams in The Independent's coverage area, only two qualified for the state tournament -- Grand Island Central Catholic and North Loup-Scotia. Both were ousted in the first round.
Each of those teams was hit hard by graduation and faces question marks this year.
So with only three area teams in the Omaha World-Herald's preseason rankings -- Class C-2 No. 1 Ravenna, C-2 No. 8 Kenesaw and D-1 5 Giltner -- i…
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Added by Dale Miller on December 7, 2008 at 11:44pm —
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So how do you add to the excitement of being a part of your school's first football state championship team?
If you're Aurora's Andrew Rodriguez, you verbally commit to play for Nebraska three days after winning a Class B title at Memorial Stadium.
That's what "A-Rod," as Rodriguez is called by teammates, did on Tuesday.
He'd been offered a scholarship by NU after attending the season opener, but he wanted to wait until after the season to make his decision. It didn't take long for him to decide…
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Added by Dale Miller on November 25, 2008 at 8:51pm —
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The following takes place the evening of Saturday, Nov. 22, at Memorial Stadium:
5:49 p.m.: A handful of fans have already staked out their seats for the Class B state championship game. Seventy-five minutes remains on the clock before Aurora and Beatrice play to see which earns its first football state championship. Even with Aurora's upset of McCook, it seems that a majority of "expert" and message board picks go toward the Orangemen. But after seeing the way Aurora played last week --…
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Added by Dale Miller on November 22, 2008 at 5:30pm —
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McCook (11-0) at Aurora (10-1): Saturday, 4 p.m.
For McCook to win: Be McCook. There's a reason the Bison have had so much success this decade and are considered one of the top teams in the state regardless of class.
For Aurora to win: Have success moving the ball early. The Huskies have to have success mixing things up on offense, something they didn't do in a 42-7 loss to McCook on Sept. 12. It's hard to imagine Aurora allowing more than three TDs and having a chance to win, so the Huskies' de…
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Added by Dale Miller on November 13, 2008 at 7:20pm —
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Greeley-Wolbach (9-0) vs. St. Edward (8-2): Thursday, 7 p.m., UNK's Foster Field
For the Titans to win: Must get balanced offense led by quarterback Trent Nekoliczak and running back Damon Poss. Defensively must limit damage done by Ramone Brown while not letting Corey Prorok have a huge game due to focusing on Brown.
For the Beavers to win: Have to find better way to slow down Greeley-Wolbach's offense. Brown has to show his explosiveness and turnovers must be kept to a minimum.
Prediction: Gre…
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Added by Dale Miller on November 11, 2008 at 4:37pm —
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For the second time in four scheduled home games, Hastings St. Cecilia will play at Hastings College instead of Duncan Field due to wet conditions. The first time was the season finale -- a 47-7 win over Grand Island Central Catholic.
The stakes are higher today. The game happens to be a Class C-1 quarterfinal against defending state champion Pierce.
While the Bluehawks lose their true home field advantage, the move could still benefit them. While better field conditions will make it tougher to…
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Added by Dale Miller on November 10, 2008 at 2:00pm —
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Omaha Creighton Prep and Grand Island Senior High played the defensive battle of the postseason with the Junior Jays prevailing 7-0. That'll leave a sports writer plenty of extra time to take a peak at the area quarterfinal match-ups in the C and D classes. The local contenders have been pared down to three.
Class C-1
Pierce at Hastings St. Cecilia: Small, Bluehawks avenge last year's loss to Koehlmoos, Bluejays. HASTINGS ST. CECILIA 28, PIERCE 14.
Class C-2
Ravenna at Plainview: Q…
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Added by Dale Miller on November 7, 2008 at 10:11pm —
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Ten area teams rode off into the sunset during the first round of the playoffs last week. That leaves 13 that still have state championship dreams alive.
Two are guaranteed to advance onto the next round. Area teams meet up in Class C-1 (Broken Bow at Hastings St. Cecilia) and Class D-1 (Giltner at Burwell).
Now on to a preview of each playoff game involving area teams, all in 10 words or less. Classes C-1, C-2, D-1 and D-2 play on Wednesday, six-man semis are Thursday and classes A and B are Fr…
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Added by Dale Miller on November 2, 2008 at 9:30pm —
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For the football fan on the go, here's a preview of each of the area's first round playoff games in 10 words or less, plus a prediction.
Class A
Lincoln Southwest at Grand Island Senior High: Islanders won first meeting 28-14. Defense has to shine again. GRAND ISLAND 21, LINCOLN SOUTHWEST 17.
Class B
Lexington at Aurora: Aurora's Lobeda, Lex's Bernal running threats. Huskies are more dangerous. AURORA 28, LEXINGTON 14.
Class C-1
Wood River at Grand Island Central Catholic: W…
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Added by Dale Miller on October 28, 2008 at 8:48pm —
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Class D-1
First Round
Thursday, Oct. 30
Newman Grove (5-3) at Eustis-Farnam (7-1)
Axtell (5-3) at Medicine Valley (6-2)
Arapahoe (4-4) at Clearwater/Orchard (7-1)
Amherst (4-4) at Franklin (7-1)
Overton (5-3) at Burwell (8-0)
Palmer (5-3) at Giltner (7-1)
Garden County (5-3) at Elwood (6-2)
Silver Lake (6-2) at Maxwell (6-2)
Omaha Christian (5-3) at Howell (8-0)
Meridian (5-3) at Mead (5-3)
Emerson-Hubbard (5-3) at Hartington (7-1)
Deshler (4-4) at Shelby (7-1)
Exeter-Milligan (4-4) at Fr…
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Added by Dale Miller on October 25, 2008 at 11:00am —
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Class A
First Round
Friday, Oct. 31
Omaha Northwest (2-7) at Millard West (9-0)
Bellevue West (6-3) at Omaha Burke (7-2)
Omaha Westside (5-4) at Kearney (6-3)
Papillion-LaVista South (5-4) at Omaha North (8-1)
Papillion-LaVista (5-4) at Lincoln North Star (8-1)
Millard South (6-3) at Elkhorn (7-2)
Lincoln Southwest (6-3) at Grand Island (7-2)
Fremont (3-6) at Omaha Creighton Prep (9-0)
Class B
First Round
Friday, Oct. 31
Gretna (5-4) at Lincoln Pius X (7-2)
Omaha Gross (8-1) at Cr…
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Added by Dale Miller on October 25, 2008 at 9:30am —
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Due to wet field conditions, tonight's Grand Island Central Catholic-Hastings St. Cecilia game has been moved from Duncan Field to Hastings College.
With Duncan possibly hosting three or four playoff games over the next month if the Bluehawks keep winning and seedings hold up, its a good move. Plus, a game between undefeated teams with a district title on the line deserves to be played under the best conditions possible.
The better field has to favor the Bluehawks with their speed advantage. How…
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Added by Dale Miller on October 23, 2008 at 11:31am —
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After a fall full of amazing weather for football, things have to take a drastic turn for the worse just in time for the regular season finales. I'll be ready to slosh along the sidelines at Duncan Field on Thursday.
Here's the top area games for the week as we get ready for some playoff football.
Grand Island Central Catholic at Hastings St. Cecilia: After a two-year absence, these Tri-City teams meet up again, and it happens to be for a district championship. Both are 7-0 with the Bluehawks ha…
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Added by Dale Miller on October 21, 2008 at 9:35pm —
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The eye-catching games are a little lighter than usual in the area this week, but there are a few standouts with strong district implications.
Grand Island Senior High at Lincoln North Star: This is a good Friday afternoon Seacrest Field matinee. You'll get two 6-1 teams whose only losses came to Kearney who both have tough running games. And the winner earns the district championship. Some people still question the No. 3-rated Islanders due to their schedule. They don't have a win agains…
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Added by Dale Miller on October 16, 2008 at 4:10pm —
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A good mix of interesting games throughout the classes highlights the schedule this week as the weather starts feeling a little more like fall.
Adams Central at Hastings: The annual battle of Hastings moves up a couple of weeks and involves a new participant this year. With Adams Central moving up to Class B, the Patriots see Hastings High on the schedule instead of Hastings St. Cecilia. The Patriots (4-2) appear to be the favorite over the Tigers (1-5), but this first-time intra-city match-up c…
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Added by Dale Miller on October 8, 2008 at 12:05am —
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