NEBRASKA CITY – Sophomore JT Haag had 10 points and sent the Mead boys basketball team to their third-straight state tournament appearance with a three-point shot at the buzzer to upset #1 Falls City Sacred Heart, 40-39, Tuesday night at Nebraska City High School.
The 6’0″ guard/forward also grabbed a rebound, dished out two assists, finished with two steals and a blocked shot in the Class D2-1 District Final. Teammate, senior Josh Quinn scored a game-high 19 points. He added three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot.
The Irish were led by sophomore Tyler Witt. The forward finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Junior Drew Bippes chipped in 10 points, two rebounds and three assists. Sacred Heart led through three quarters.
Unofficially, Mead has qualified as the #6-seed in next week’s Nebraska School Activities Association State Basketball Championships in Lincoln. The Raiders are projected to play #3 Mullen at 8:45 p.m. on Mar. 8 at Lincoln Northeast High School. If true, it would be a rematch of last year’s Class D2 championship game. A 29-28 victory by the Broncos. The Raiders have finished runner-up the past two seasons.
The Irish, ranked at the top of the latest NCN D2 rankings, will get into the tournament on a wildcard. They are projected to be the #1 seed and will play #8 Cody-Kilgore a week from Thursday at 9 a.m. at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Official brackets will be released Wednesday. Stay with News Channel Nebraska for the latest and follow Falls City Sacred Heart at the state tournament on Today’s Best Country, B103 (103.1 FM, b103.fm).
Follow Hunter on Twitter: @TheBurnRadio
State Tournament Coverage Plan *Projected Match-ups*
C1: #2 Winnebago vs. #7 Syracuse
When: 3:45 p.m. March 8
Where: Bob Devaney Sports Center
Radio: 103.1 FM, B103.fm
D1: #2 Paxton vs. #7 Lourdes Central Catholic
When: 9 a.m. March 8
Where: Lincoln Northeast High School
Radio: 1600 AM, 105.5 FM, ncn21.com
D1: #3 West Holt vs. #6 Johnson-Brock
When: 10:45 a.m. March 8
Where: Lincoln Northeast High School
Radio: 103.1 FM, B103.fm
D2: #1 Falls City Sacred Heart vs. #8 Cody-Kilgore
When: 9 a.m. March 8
Where: Lincoln Southeast High School
Radio: 103.1 FM, b103.fm