The first step in turning around a program: Believing, and new head coach Wade Coulter helped the Warriors do just that.

Lincoln Pius X is 22-0 and the defending state champion, but some intriguing styles could make a for fun Friday and Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Norris has the most depth and experience. But several other teams have some intriguing X factors that will make for some good basketball.

Who takes Class C-1 this year? Considering the depth of this year's field, your guess is as good as ours.

We're guaranteed a new champion in Class C-2 with 2019 and 2020 state champion Hastings St. Cecilia in Class C-1.

Pleasanton looks primed to repeat, but some battle-tested teams await.

Humphrey St. Francis has the best player and the motivation, but this class has multiple teams built for a state title run.

Dukes coach Matt Kern: “As we’ve done all year, we really leaned on our defense.”

The Titans have championship aspirations. And why not? They're 21-2 and ranked second. But, first, they had to grab Game 1.

It's not a secret: the Bolts like to play fast. The Mustangs took that away. So the defending champs turned to another one of their strengths.

Experienced Crete's bid to repeat as state champion gets started, one of the top games on the state tournament slate Wednesday.

The top-five teams were 108-1 against the rest of Class A this season. Do the math, and two of them had to play each other in the first round.

Lincoln Southwest and Omaha Central's back-and-forth affair was fun to watch for several reasons, one being a freshman showdown.

Cora Olsen, Mya Babbitt and Khloe Lemon are only sophomores. They aren't playing like it.

The quick hits and stats from Tuesday's girls state basketball tournament action at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

John Larsen: “It’s tough when you have to go out this way because we picked an absolute horrible time to play our worst game of the year."

The Bulldog coach wrote it on the whiteboard. The Warriors' coach talked about it after the game. Aggressiveness. But, something must give.

Being the two-time defending state champion, No. 4 Wynot is used to being in the state tournament. But after graduating six seniors a year ago…

Pleasanton beat the Knights in both the girls basketball and volleyball championships last season. This time, a high-stakes semifinal awaits.

A police escort ahead of the state tournament before a graduation ceremony. Not a bad start for the brand-new Wolves program.

The Wolverines led by four points at halftime, but a senior helped lead a decisive second half on both sides of the floor. 

We have a Cinderella team at the girls basketball tournament this year. They wear blue and hit a bunch of threes. And play with no fear.

Warrior coach Wade Coulter: “It’s amazing when you don’t care who gets the credit.”

The action moves to Pinnacle Bank Arena for Classes C-2, D-1 and D-2. Six games on tap. Here's intel each of them.

The circumstances around Hastings St. Cecilia’s run in this year’s girls state basketball tournament may look different from in years past, bu…

A battle of the duos coming up? Allison Weidner, Alissa Kosch score 59 for Flyers; Erison Vonderschmidt and Olivia Eickhoff net 30 for Irish.

Grace Cave scored a game-high 24 points, but a late assist and steal perhaps proved most important in her team's narrow win.

Coaches at small schools at the state basketball tournament have racked up big victory totals, but that's not what keeps them going.

Six semifinal games down. Six more to go. Pinnacle Bank Arena belongs to Classes A, B and C-1 on Friday.

When the Crofton girls basketball team missed the state tournament three seasons ago for the first time since 2004, if fueled the three senior…

The Crofton girls basketball team is without one of its biggest fans in Lincoln this week. But the Warriors are trying to keep him close to the action.

"Our offense for about two weeks there just didn’t show up," Ponca coach Bob Hayes said. "We couldn’t get the ball to go in the basket, and all of (a) sudden down here it shows up."

North Bend Central coach Aaron Sterup says he's "always worried" when his team plays a game early in the day. No coffee shot needed for the Tigers.

Many teams enter the season following a state title with targets on their backs. Not the Hawkettes, apparently. 

"We love each other so much so when we feel that confidence from one person, it just spreads like a wildfire to our whole team."

A look at Friday's consolation games at the girls state basketball tournament.

Britt Prince admits she was "really nervous" to open the tournament earlier this week. Safe to say she's got that under control now.

Alexis Markowski isn't doesn't see taller defenders often. So how do you practice for it? In Markowski’s case, you turn to your 6-foot-8 dad.

For the second time this school year, Norris has a team playing in a state final. But it goes deeper than that. That and more in our insider.

Taylor McCabe, who finished with 18 points: “I get a lot of recognition, and I don’t think my teammates get enough recognition.”

Want the nuts-and-bolts from the action? We've got you covered.

"I didn’t know how much time was left, so when Karley (Ridge) inbounded it, I just went no brakes, all gas."

In the first round it was Kaitlyn. In the semifinals, Sydney took over. When it mattered most, down 11 in the fourth, both stepped up in a grand way.

The Warriors took control with a 17-2 run in the second quarter, and their stingy defense held the Indians to 15 points in the final 24 minutes.

The Princes had dreamed of winning a state title together, but could it really happen so quickly? The answer is, yes.

How'd Weidner feel in the closing seconds? “Just tears of joy were starting to fill in my eyes and it’s just a relief.”

Future Husker Allison Weidner has 740 career dimes. This one won't count in the stats, but it was her best assist, writes Clark Grell.

Markowski finished with 27 points and 19 rebounds in her final game in a Pius X uniform. The Bolts are the first team to repeat in Class A since 2010.

Trailing 38-34 entering the final eight minutes, the Warriors ratcheted up the full-court pressure and held Ponca to just one field goal in the final quarter.

“Her passing is close to none and not a lot of players can make the passes Jill can."