2025 Championships Highlighted by Repeat Titles for Millard West, Lincoln Christian and Pender
By Tony Chapman – For the Nebraska School Activities Association
The 49th Nebraska School Activities Association girls basketball championships were highlighted by three teams who were able to earn repeat titles at Pinnacle Bank Arena during Saturday’s championship games.
Millard West (Class A) scored a 70-44 win over Omaha Westside to win their second straight title. Lincoln Christian capped a perfect 28-0 season with a 49-42 win over Milford in the Class C-1 game for their repeat. And, hot-shooting Pender in Class D-1, defeated Elm Creek 74-40 to win their third straight state title (C-2, 2023; D-1, 2024).
Other titles were earned for the first time in school history for Omaha Skutt Catholic and Oakland-Craig with Falls City Sacred Heart taking the Class D-2 nightcap for their ninth state title in school history.
All-Class State Tournament Bracket
CLASS A: Wildcats lockdown Westside, earn repeat
Millard West started their title defense at the beginning of the season with a renewed commitment to really guarding on that end of the floor.
The regular season played that out – the Wildcats gave up 50 points just four times all season. They doubled down at the state tournament giving up just 33, 28 and 44 points en route to their second straight state title.
On Saturday, Millard West jumped to a 30-7 lead midway through the second quarter and never gave Omaha Westside a chance to come back as they cruised to a 70-44 title game victory.
“It was fun,” Millard West coach Marc Kruger said. “We came out of the gate. Yesterday was kind of a struggle and the ball didn’t go in the basket and it didn’t go in the basket real well on Wednesday either. So getting off to that quick start just kind of relaxed everybody.”
It was a balanced Millard West attack with junior Kylee Paben scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Neleigh Gessert added 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocks while hitting 4-of-9 shots from behind the arc, with Jade Lewis adding 15 points and seven rebounds.
The lopsided score allowed Kruger to play the whole bench in the championship game, but to also send off the Gessert twins and his seniors to individual applause during the fourth quarter.
“I have been hoping to have that moment for them for a long time,” the coach said. “Everybody has dreams of winning a state championship and we did it last year. But, if we were ever in a position where things were in hand and we could give them a special moment we wanted to make it happen.”
“Today it all hit us,” Norah Gessert said. “It’s a good feeling (to go out with a championship).”
ROAD TO THE TITLE: def. Millard South 56-33; def. Lincoln North Star 34-28; def. Omaha Westside 70-44.
PERFECT FINISH: Lewis had to sit the first five Millard West games after transferring last summer from Yutan, where they won the 2024 Class C-2 title. “My first game, I was pretty darn nervous,” Lewis said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better senior year. I am so grateful to have been here and we ended it well.”
COACH SPEAK: On his team’s defensive effort. “It’s been a focus all season long,” Kruger said. “It’s been rare for us to give up 50 points. We are very versatile and athletic. If teams do this, then we can do that as teams adjust. Their basketball IQ is really high to be able to handle some of the stuff we do. Our assistant coach, Casey Hall, runs our defense and does a great job for us. I can’t take all the credit.”
Final Game Box Score | Class A Final Bracket
CLASS B: Finally!! Skutt has first Class B state title
For Omaha Skutt Catholic there was honor through the pain of going toe-to-toe with Elkhorn North during the previous three Class B state championship games while still coming up short. By Saturday night, all that pain had washed away.
The Skyhawks – finally – in their fifth appearance in the Class B state finals broke through with a 37-25 win over gutsy Gretna East team. It was a 13-5 first quarter that paved the way for the Skyhawks who were able to keep the Griffins at arms length most of the way.
“First and foremost I am so happy for the kids,” said Skutt coach Kip Colony. “Coming down here four straight years and getting to the finals and coming up short. They were driven this year more than I have ever seen before, locked in more than I have ever seen before. They were not going to let it slip away.”
All-stater Molly Ladwig scored on a mid-range jumper to open the game and the Griffins tied it on their opening possession on a Karli Williams layup. But, Kamryn Kasner’s free throw and a three-point shot from Libby Shotkoski about halfway through the first quarter made sure that Skutt was off and running.
Shotkoski, who scored 15 points on 5-for-8 3-point shooting, was a game-time decision after severely spraining her ankle in the fourth quarter of the Skyhawks semifinal win over Bennington. She was carried out of Pinnacle Bank Arena, piggyback style, on Friday night and immediately put her foot in a boot after the title game.
“It took a lot. It wasn’t the best feeling (playing injured),” Shotkoski said. “The second that buzzer hit, I knew it would be worth it. It’s the best feeling ever. If I didn’t have the support I had, there is no way I could have done it. Having my best friends by my side, our amazing coaching staff, the trainers and my parents. They were the real people who made me get through it.”
Kasner, who became Skutt’s single-season rebounding leader in the win, added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Ladwig scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
Gretna East, which ended the season 20-7 and defeated second-seed Lincoln Pius and third-seed Waverly en route to the final, got eight points and 12 rebounds from Williams.
ROAD TO THE TITLE: def. Norris 43-32; def. Bennington 58-45; def. Gretna East 37-25.
CONFIDENCE, NOT RELIEF: Ladwig said the work that the Skyhawks put in during the season gave them confidence coming into the tournament and the finals despite coming up short the three previous seasons. “I don’t know if I’d say relief,” Ladwig said. “Obviously, it sucked the last few years getting second, but as coach said I think this year we were locked in and we had that gut feeling we were going to win if we worked hard for it. We were confident.”
COACH SPEAK: “We talked about (getting off to a good start),” Colony said. “We thought that if we could build a lead early on that the pressure would be more on them because we have been in that situation before. And, we pressed the issue and put up shots we shouldn’t have taken. It was nice to build that lead.”
Final Game Box Score | Class B Final Bracket
CLASS C-1: A repeat, but this time perfection for Lincoln Christian
The rematch for the championship was almost as good as the first. The final result – a Lincoln Christian 49-42 win over Milford – gave the Crusaders the title repeat they wanted and capped a perfect 28-0 season.
It was a decisive third quarter that allowed Christian some breathing room after the two teams went to the halftime break tied at 25-all. The Crusaders scored 12 points on four 3-point goals and held Milford to 3-for-11 during the period to forge ahead 37-31.
The rest of the way, Milford could only get as close as four points, while making 6-of-12 free throws in the final period and just 8-for-21 for the game.
Senior Kena Ailes led the Crusaders with 17 points and 16 rebounds in the championship game but the Crusaders did most of their work on the defensive end. Maci Pittenger and Sam Dearking each scored 10 points. Klein lauded the work of leading scoring Mattea Kassebaum on Milford’s Taylor Oldfield, who had five 3-point baskets in LC’s previous 69-67 win over the Christmas break. She did not score in the championship game.
“In the first game, Taylor (Oldfield) and Izzy (Yeakley) both, I think, were 5-for-6 from 3-point,” Klein said. “We made a decision for this game to try and take away the 3-point shot. In doing that, I told the girls today that Roth might score 20 but we had to be okay with that. We wanted Yeakley and Oldfield to score five or less.”
The box score played it out as Ayla Roth had 18 points and Shayla Rautenberg, a 6-3 freshman, scored 14 points with 17 rebounds as well for the Eagles, who finished 25-2.
ROAD TO THE TITLE: def. North Bend Central 60-45; def. Gothenburg 64-51; def. Milford 49-42.
BATTLE AT THE BASKET: Ailes and Rautenberg waged quite the battle for control of the paint in the title game. They combined for 31 points and 33 rebounds. “It was a battle then and it was a battle today,” Ailes said. “She’ll be a great player over the next three years.”
COACH SPEAK: “It was just a heck of a game,” Klein said. “We knew Milford, from when we played them in December, that we were probably the two best teams in Class C-1. We thought we would see them down here, they are a great team. Everything you need – a point guard, shooters, two bigs.”
Final Game Box Score | | Class C1 Final Bracket
CLASS C-2: Loaded C-2 field has perennial powers
Oakland-Craig freshman Hilary Ray hit the biggest shot in school history on Saturday afternoon when her corner 3-point shot right in front of the Knights bench gave O-C a 50-46 lead with 22 seconds left.
It pushed the Knights, clinging to a 47-46 lead at the time, to their first state championship in school history, 51-46 over Elkhorn Valley.
“It was awesome,” Ray said. “I just heard Coach Guzinski tell me to shoot it, so I shot it. Even though I had missed a few in a row, this was what we practiced all season. I was wide open and it was a great pass.”
The pass, from senior Adi Rennerfeldt, capped a well-played fourth quarter that saw both teams make big plays. It also ended a frantic comeback for O-C, which trailed 28-13 late in the second quarter and 30-18 at the half.
They would then score the first seven points of the third quarter, before Elkhorn Valley’s Karlee Broberg connected on a pair of 3-point shots to give the Falcons a 36-31 lead heading to the final eight minutes.
“We switched to all half court defense in the second half,” Oakland-Craig coach Scott Guzinski said. “We just talked about getting stops and scores. We did a good job until they hit those two threes and then we had to get the momentum back. These kids did that.”
The Knights scored the first six points of the final period and took the lead at 37-36 on Bailey Pelan’s triple with 6:15 left and then it was back-and-forth. The Knights would take a 46-42 lead on Briar Ray’s driving bucket with 2:15 left before EV stormed back.
Sophomore Cameron Rutjens made a free throw and then scored off a nifty pass from Kyndal Werner. When she completed the 3-point play the game was tied at 46 with 1:56 left.
Rennerfeldt then gave O-C the lead for good when she made a foul shot after a steal with 1:16 left that set up Hilary Ray’s heroics.
“We were just trying to play for another possession,” Elkhorn Valley coach Brendan Dittmer said. “We didn’t want to foul, just trap everywhere and the girl got open in the corner and to her credit, knocked it down. A state championship shot.”
Rennerfeldt led the champs with 16 points and rebounds, while Briar Ray had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Sonya Guzinski also scored 11 for the winners. Broberg had 14 points for the Falcons, who ended the season 28-1, with JJ Black getting 12 points and 10 rebounds.
ROAD TO THE TITLE: def. Homer 68-43; def. Crofton 49-45; def. Elkhorn Valley 51-46.
SNEAKY: Oakland-Craig didn’t put a player on the court over 5-8 in the championship game. Yet, they used it to their advantage. They especially met their match in the semifinals against Crofton’s Jaisie Janssen (6-0) and in the finals against Black (6-2).
“Our word is sneaky and we’ve used that word for I don’t know how long,” coach Guzinski said. “We had to dive in and out and try to double. I think we held the girl from Crofton to 17 points and 20 rebounds. We don’t have any way to simulate that except with a broom.”
COACH SPEAK: “Joe Anderson was the head coach before I was and he is my best friend in the world. He started this whole thing and deserves a lot of credit for this,” coach Guzinski said. “These kids have worked so hard and they have dreamed of this. Our seniors in the last six years, they are a part of this, too.”
Final Game Box Score | Final Class C-2 Bracket
CLASS D-1: Hot-shooting Pendragons get third straight
When Pender shoots like Pender did in the first quarter of Saturday’s Class D-1 state championship, there is little you can do but sit back and watch in amazement.
In winning their third consecutive state championship – second in Class D-1 – top-seed Pender made their first eight shots from the field, including six triples and had eight assists. When they missed their first basket with 3:22 left in the first quarter, they were already up 22-7 en route to their 74-40 win over second-seed Elm Creek.
“These girls worked hard all season long to put on that performance,” Pender coach Jason Dolliver said. “So, when it starts happening you are like, ‘Yeah, this is what we worked for.’ The shots just kept dropping, it was so cool to see.
“These girls put in time like crazy and when you see something payoff that is just so special.”
Pender proved all tournament that they were head and shoulders above the class winning by 19, 13 and 34 points in three games in Lincoln. They made 29 3-point shots in the tournament on 37% shooting (79 attempts).
Junior Mady Dolliver set the all-class tournament record with 18 triples and had 25 points in the title game. Her final triple, which gave Pender a 71-33 lead with 5:13 left, also set the all-class season record at 111. She is now seventh on the all-time career list in Nebraska School Activities Association history.
Hadley Walsh had 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Pendragons and senior Maya Dolliver had 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Elm Creek, who ended 26-2, set a school record for wins in a season and played in just their second state final in school history. Halle Knapp had 12 points and Kendal Cavanee 11 for the Buffaloes.
ROAD TO THE TITLE: def. Howells-Dodge 64-45; def. Alma 53-40; def. Elm Creek 74-40.
EARLY RISERS: The Pendragons played their sixth consecutive game in Lincoln at 9:00 AM on Saturday morning, winning both D-1 titles as the top-seed. “We have played five games (at Pinnacle Bank Arena) now in the last three years,” Walsh said. We know the atmosphere, we know the environment. But, also another big thing we have played at 9:00 AM, every game the past two years. That was also a big factor that helped us.”
COACH SPEAK: “It’s a 100 percent pinch me moment,” coach Dolliver said of the start. “(Nebraska Public Television) asked me, ‘Did you see them making the first seven threes?’ And, I said, ‘Yeah in my dreams I did.’ I dreamed about this at night when I was sleeping, but when it’s happening you are like ‘are we really doing this, girls?’”
Final Game Box Score | Class D-1 Final Bracket
CLASS D-2: Defense shines for the Irish, as they win ninth title
The roles were quite different in the Class D-2 state championship game.
Falls City Sacred Heart, making their 29th state tournament appearance, won their ninth state championship – sixth in Class D-2 – over second-time qualifier Dorchester, which on Thursday won their first state tournament game in school history.
The Irish held the Longhorns to just 9-for-47 from the field and 3-for-25 from the 3-point line in pulling away from a 17-13 lead with Daycee Witt’s 3-point shot with 1:02 left in the first half and Avery Santo’s triple to open the second half. When Santo’s shot went down, Dorchester would only be within ten points once the rest of the way.
“The big thing for us was getting Jentry (Lechtenberg) back in the game,” Sacred Heart coach Luke Santo said. “In the first half, the pace of the game was just too slow. In the second half, Jentry was so good getting out in transition and creating for her teammates or herself. I was really proud of our defense and our rebounding was really good.”
Lechtenberg, who was saddled with two fouls early in the second quarter, sat out the rest of the half as the Irish survived. When she came back the Irish took full control. She scored eight points in a decisive third quarter and ended with 16 and FCSH outscored Dorchester 35-12 after the break.
“At halftime, I was frustrated in the locker room,” Lechtenberg said. “I just wanted to go back out and do my thing in the second half.”
Witt and Santo – the coach’s daughter – both had nine points on three triples. Santo set the D-2 mark for three-point goals in a tournament with 15 total. Hallie Jones had 12 points in the title game.
Dorchester, one of the great stories of the tournament, ended their season 25-3. Playing in front of the whole town for three days, the Longhorns brought some of the best crowds to Lincoln. Lily Lehr led the Longhorns in the final with 12 points.
ROAD TO THE TITLE: def. Anselmo-Merna 57-33; def. Archangels Catholic 47-38; def. Dorchester 52-25.
JUST NINE: The Irish suited up just nine players during the season. “Going into the season, that was all we had,” coach Santo said. “We kind of had to figure out who we were, we started playing about seven girls in December and January. Over the course of the year, we just had to develop. Our wins were just great team wins all through the tournament.”
COACH SPEAK: On Sacred Heart’s success, 19th year head coach Luke Santo offered no secrets. “You have to have good players. That is where it all starts. I have been fortunate to have good players, but they are good kids, too. They are easy to coach. I think a big key for us is our elementary program, I think we have one of the best ones in the state that we can keep developing kids.”
Final Class D-2 Box Score | Final Class D-2 Bracket
Tony Chapman is a freelance writer based in Grand Island. He has written for multiple Nebraska daily and weekly newspapers. His weekly Harvest Sports Newsletter covers a wide variety of Nebraska prep sports.