Thirty-two district finals hit the hardwood across Classes C1, C2, D1, and D2 on Friday — with Class A semifinal action adding to the load — and the results were anything but chalk. Thirty-eight postseason games. Thirteen upsets by the NebPreps Computer Ratings. In Class D2 alone, five of the eight state tournament berths went to the lower-rated team. Here’s your Feb. 27 recap.
Upset of the Day: Loomis Stuns No. 5 Mullen, 55-48
The day’s biggest stunner came in the D2-4 District Final, where Loomis (#25 in the NebPreps Computer Ratings) knocked off Mullen (#5, 15-5) 55-48. A 20-rank gap. Mullen had won 15 games this season and entered as one of Class D2’s state contenders. Loomis came in at 11-11 — a .500 record against a program with a winning track record — and outplayed them when it mattered. Loomis punches its ticket to state. Mullen’s season is over.
D2 Goes Sideways: Archangels Catholic Routs No. 2 Hay Springs
Loomis wasn’t even the most lopsided upset of the day in Class D2. Archangels Catholic (14-9, #19) didn’t just beat Hay Springs (#2, 15-4) — they dominated it, 58-32. That’s a 26-point margin against a team seeded second in the state. Hay Springs came in as one of the premier small-school programs in Nebraska. It never got going. Archangels Catholic is heading to state on the strength of one of the day’s most dominant performances.
When the D2 dust settled, five of eight district final winners were upsets by the computer ratings: Loomis, Archangels Catholic, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (#16 over Cambridge #12, 49-41), Wynot (#17 over McCool Junction #9, 39-36), and Silver Lake (#7 over Paxton #6, 52-43). Dundy County Stratton, Red Cloud, and Falls City Sacred Heart were the only chalk winners. The Class D2 state tournament bracket is going to be wide open.
Cross County Ends Central Valley’s 22-1 Season
The most heartbreaking result of the night came in the D1-6 District Final. Central Valley went into Friday with a 22-1 record — one of the best in the state in any class. Cross County (#13) had other plans. The Cougars held off Central Valley (#3) 47-44 in a three-point nail-biter that ended one of the state’s best seasons. Cross County advances to state. Central Valley’s run, as dominant as it was all year, is done.
C2 Shocker: Centura Sends 23-1 Alma Home
Alma came into the C2-6 District Final at 23-1, ranked No. 2 in Class C2, with a résumé that matched anyone’s in the field. Centura (#5, 21-3) beat them 48-42. It’s a six-point game that wasn’t particularly close down the stretch. Alma, who had won 23 of 24 games this season, goes home before state. Centura is in. It was one of the day’s most significant upsets given how complete Alma’s season had been.
Unbeaten Programs Survive — Barely and Not-So-Barely
Friday had real stakes for the state’s remaining unbeaten programs, and most of them came through.
Elkhorn Valley (23-0, #1 in C2) had the closest call. The Eagles survived Aquinas Catholic 63-60 in the C2-2 District Final — a three-point win against a #21-ranked team is a warning sign heading into state. Elkhorn Valley stays perfect, but they’ll need to be sharper.
Bloomfield (23-0, #1 in D1) looked the part, rolling Wauneta-Palisade 74-45. No drama, no questions. Bloomfield is heading to state and looks like a genuine contender in a wide-open D1 bracket.
Dundy County Stratton (22-1, #1 in D2) made the biggest statement of any top seed Friday. The Wildcats routed Potter-Dix 71-15 — a 56-point margin that announced their arrival emphatically. If D2 is chaos everywhere else in the bracket, DCS just said they intend to be the last one standing.
Class A Semis: Top Seeds Hold, North Star Survives
Six Class A district semifinal games wrapped up Friday, and the favorites came through — though Lincoln North Star had to work for it. The top-ranked team in Class A girls (22-1, #1) held off Millard South 47-42 in District A-1. Not a blowout, but enough. Omaha North (#2, 22-4) was more comfortable, rolling Bellevue West 69-50. Omaha Westside (#5, 20-5) handled Lincoln High 46-29. All three top seeds advance to Class A district finals next week.
By the Numbers
Games played: 38 | Classes: A (semis), C1, C2, D1, D2 (district finals) | Upsets: 13 (34% upset rate) | Avg margin: 14.5 points | Closest game: 1 point — Gothenburg 53, Scotus Central Catholic 52 (C1-5 District Final) | Biggest blowout: 56 points — Dundy County Stratton 71, Potter-Dix 15 | Undefeated programs still standing: Elkhorn Valley (23-0), Bloomfield (23-0)
What’s Next
State tournament brackets for Classes C1, C2, D1, and D2 are now set — all 32 district champions from Friday advance to Lincoln. Class A district finals are March 2-3, where the class’s top seeds make their first appearances. The state tournament opens March 11 at Pinnacle Bank Arena and Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln. With 13 upsets in a single day of district finals, the state field — especially in D1 and D2 — is more unpredictable than it’s looked all season.
