Seven Class B girls district finals wrapped up Saturday, and every winner is heading to state. It was a light slate by game count — but not by drama. An undefeated powerhouse kept rolling, a pair of nail-biters came down to single possessions, and the Class B state field is now fully set. Here’s your Feb. 28 recap.
Bennington Rolls to 24-0
The headline of the night is straightforward: Bennington (now 24-0, #1 in the NebPreps Computer Ratings) beat Crete 92-43 in the District B-2 Final — a 49-point margin that left no questions. Bennington has been one of the state’s most dominant programs all season, and Saturday was a continuation of that. The Badgers are state-bound and still unbeaten.
Beatrice and Scottsbluff Deliver the Drama
The rest of the district finals were not so clean. Beatrice (#8) edged Omaha Skutt Catholic (#9) 39-38 in District B-6 — one point. One possession. Both teams finish within a single rating rank of each other, and the game played out exactly that way. Beatrice advances to state. Scottsbluff (#7) knocked off Blair (#6) 51-47 in District B-7 in the day’s only upset by the NebPreps Computer Ratings — a one-rank gap, but a win that punches Scottsbluff’s state ticket. Sidney (#4) made it interesting against Gretna (#16), surviving 75-71 to advance.
Top Seeds Hold
Outside of the Scottsbluff-Blair result, the rest of the district finals went to the higher-rated team. Norris (#2) dispatched Waverly 40-25 in District B-1. Lincoln Pius X (#3) handled Elkhorn North 53-43 in B-3. Gretna East (#5) beat Northwest 69-56 in B-4. All three advance to state looking like legitimate contenders in a bracket that now includes Bennington at the top.
By the Numbers
Games played: 7 | Class: B (district finals) | Upsets: 1 | Avg margin: 13.7 points | Closest game: 1 point — Beatrice 39, Omaha Skutt Catholic 38 (District B-6) | Biggest blowout: 49 points — Bennington 92, Crete 43 (District B-2)
What’s Next
The Class B Girls state field is set. All seven district champions — Bennington, Norris, Lincoln Pius X, Gretna East, Sidney, Beatrice, and Scottsbluff — advance to the state tournament, joined by one wildcard (the best non-champion district finalist by wildcard point average). State opens March 11 at Pinnacle Bank Arena and Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln. Bennington (24-0) enters as the team to beat.
