LINCOLN – Several area girls basketball teams are gearing up for their state basketball tournament as Big Red Country ‘KTCH’ 104.9 will follow the Ponca Indians.
Ponca qualified for their second straight state tournament, ninth overall with a record of 21-4. The Indians defeated Lourdes Central Catholic of Nebraska City (39-37) in the C2-5 District final. Ponca moved up one spot with GACC losing the C2-4 district.
Ponca will face #5 Grand Island Central Catholic (17-7) on Thursday, March 5 from Lincoln Star High School in the Class C2 opening round. The Crusaders defeated Bridgeport (54-32) in the C2-6 District. GICC is back at state for the eighth time and first since 2018.
Pregame coverage on Big Red Country ‘KTCH’ 104.9 and online at waynedailynews.com is set for 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
Opposite of the 4/5 match-up will be #1 Oakland-Craig (25-1) vs. #8 Clarkson/Leigh (20-5) who play at 2 p.m. Thursday. The other half of the bracket will feature #2 Crofton (23-3) vs. #7 BRLD (20-5) at 7 p.m. followed by #3 Hastings St. Cecilia (23-3) vs. #6 Superior (21-3) at 8:45 p.m.
Hastings St. Cecilia will look to repeat as state champs after being the top seed last year and defeating #2 Crofton (63-45). The top seed in 2020, Oakland-Craig was #4 last year and placed third with a 68-60 win over then #3 Fillmore Central.
The Ponca girls are 5-9 in state tourney games as the Indians placed runner-up in Class C2 in 1993 and fourth in 2017. Last year, Ponca lost in the first round to Oakland-Craig (59-47).
Other area teams in action on Thursday during the girls state basketball tourney:
Class C1 (Devaney): #6 West Point-Beemer (23-5) vs. #3 North Bend Central (24-2) at 3:45 p.m.
Class D1 (Lincoln SW): #8 Hartington Cedar Catholic (10-13) vs. #1 Weeping Water (25-1) at 9 a.m.
Class D1 (Lincoln SW): #6 Pender (17-11) vs. #3 Pleasanton (25-0) at 3:45 p.m.
Class D2 (Lincoln North Star): #4 Wynot (22-4) vs. #5 Lawrence-Nelson (25-1) at 10:45 a.m.