LINCOLN – The semifinals of the state basketball tournament took place Friday in Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Class B semifinals featured the No. 1 Norris Titans and the No. 5 York Dukes, while the other side of the bracket saw No. 2 Elkhorn North and No. 3 Scottsbluff.
The Dukes and the Titans played an even game through the first three quarters. Norris led York 13-6 after the first quarter, but the Dukes came back to tie up the game at 19 heading into halftime.
York owned a close lead in the final seconds of the third quarter, but at the buzzer, Norris forward Brianna Stai nailed a three-point shot to give her team a 30-29 lead going into the final quarter.
From there, Norris was able to knocked down 9-of-11 free throws in route to a 43-36 win. Stai led the Titans with 16 points. York was led by junior Masa Schiereman who had 13. Scheierman also earned first-team All-State for her play during the week. Senior guard Maddie Portwine finished with 12 points in her final game in a Dukes uniform. Junior Destiney Shepard added 7, and junior Mattie Pohl finished with 5.
The Dukes end the 2020-21 season making it back to the state semifinals, and winning 21 games.
The Titans moved on to play Elkhorn North in the championship game on Saturday, and Elkhorn North got the win 46-33. In Class A, Lincoln Pius won the state championship beating Fremont 56-52. In Class C1, North Bend beat Hastings St. Cecilia 51-49. Crofton beat Ponca in Class C2 46-42, Weeping Water beat Pleasanton 40-39 in Class D1, and in Class D2 Humphrey St. Francis beat Falls City Sacred Heart 57-48.
KOOL Sports – Class B Semifinals – York vs. Norris https://t.co/xyvjuX9ZAX
— 104.9 Max Country (@1049maxcountry) March 8, 2021
