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    Heartland PrepBasketball Scoop
    Class A Boys
    State Tournament

    2026 Class A Boys State Basketball Preview

    By Dean Backes
    March 9, 2026
    8 min read
    Class A Boys State Basketball Preview

    The Nebraska boys take their turn at center court when it comes to putting on the show that decides which basketball programs take home the championship hardware. While many of the same programs are back in the hunt, there are no guarantees when it comes to March Madness.

    Winners of 12 straight basketball games, top-seed Omaha Westside carries Class A's longest winning streak into its 1:30 pm battle with Brady Nick and Lincoln High at Pinnacle Bank Arena Wednesday.

    Then, Lincoln Southwest, who is led by Uzziah and Makkiah Sanders, takes to the court against state tournament mainstay Millard North to round out the opening day's second session. Papillion-LaVista hopes to flip the score on Bellevue West, who upended the Monarchs 68-62 during regular season action, when they bump heads at PBA at 6 pm.

    Led by Max Jungers, Omaha Creighton Prep tips off against defending Class A state champion Papillion-LaVista South. The Levi Webb led Titans reloaded in 2025-26.

    Picking the Class A Field

    Quarterfinals

    No. 2 Omaha Westside (23-4) over No. 12 Lincoln High (16-8)
    No. 5 Lincoln Southwest (21-4) over No. 3 Millard North (19-6)
    No. 1 Bellevue West (20-5) over Papillion-LaVista (18-8)
    No. 4 Omaha Creighton Prep (20-6) over No. 6 Papillion-LaVista South (17-6)

    Semifinals

    No. 5 Lincoln Southwest (22-4) over No. 2 Omaha Westside (24-4)
    No. 1 Bellevue West (21-5) over No. 4 Omaha Creighton Prep (21-6)

    Championship

    No. 1 Bellevue West (22-5) over No. 5 Lincoln Southwest (23-4)

    Dark Horse

    Papillion-LaVista South

    Class A Winning Streaks

    Omaha Westside – 12 Straight Wins (Won 13 of last 15 Games)
    Papillion-LaVista – 10 Straight Wins (Won 12 of last 14 Games)
    Bellevue West – 7 Straight Wins (Won 13 of last 15 Games)
    Papillion-LaVista South – 5 Straight Wins (Won 12 of last 14 Games)
    Lincoln High – 3 Straight Wins (Won 6 of last 10 Games)
    Lincoln Southwest – 2 Straight Wins (Won 12 of last 15 Games)
    Millard North – 2 Straight Wins (Won 12 of last 15 Games)
    Omaha Creighton Prep – 1 Straight Loss (Won 11 of last 13 Games)

    Scoring Leaders

    Uzziah Sanders
    Lincoln Southwest
    23.6
    Levi Webb
    Papillion-LaVista South
    19.4
    Makkiah Sanders
    Lincoln Southwest
    19
    Brady Nick
    Lincoln High
    18.9
    Emre Gedik
    Omaha Westside
    16.4
    London Dada
    Omaha Westside
    16.1
    Sam Boudreau
    Papillion-LaVista
    16
    Jaxyn Cruse
    Lincoln High
    15.5
    Connor Falkinburg
    Papillion-LaVista South
    15.2
    Bryce Johnson, Jr.
    Bellevue West
    15
    Russell Rucks
    Lincoln High
    14
    Max Jungers
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    12.8
    Dakari Wilson
    Lincoln Southwest
    12.4
    Donnie Barfield, Jr.
    Omaha Westside
    12.2
    Coriahnn Gallatin
    Millard North
    11.5
    Brayden Mauro
    Bellevue West
    11.3
    Trelly Akins
    Millard North
    11.1
    Cedric Williams
    Papillion-LaVista
    11
    Keaton Melcher
    Bellevue West
    11
    Cooper Knight
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    10.4
    Demarcus McCarty
    Papillion-LaVista
    10.2

    Rebound Leaders

    Will Preston
    Omaha Westside
    8.3
    London Dada
    Omaha Westside
    7.3
    Major Mosser
    Millard North
    6.9
    Jack Chambers
    Millard North
    6.8
    Emre Gedik
    Omaha Westside
    6.5
    Kobi Kerr
    Lincoln Southwest
    6.4
    Kenyen Slobodny
    Papillion-LaVista South
    6.3
    Trelly Akins
    Millard North
    6.2
    Buay Jock
    Lincoln High
    5.9
    Bryce Vigness
    Papillion-LaVista
    5.8
    Max Jungers
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    5.7
    Demarcus McCarty
    Papillion-LaVista
    5.6

    Assist Leaders

    Torran Carter-Brown
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    5.8
    Bryce Johnson, Jr.
    Bellevue West
    5.2
    Coriahnn Gallatin
    Millard North
    4.4
    Levi Webb
    Papillion-LaVista South
    4
    Brayden Mauro
    Bellevue West
    3.8
    Makkiah Sanders
    Lincoln Southwest
    3.6
    Brady Alderson
    Papillion-LaVista South
    3.4
    Major Mosser
    Millard North
    3.3
    Uzziah Sanders
    Lincoln Southwest
    3.2
    Dakari Wilson
    Lincoln Southwest
    3
    Max Jungers
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    3
    Preston Avalon
    Papillion-LaVista
    2.8
    Brady Nick
    Lincoln High
    2.8

    Steal Leaders

    Makkiah Sanders
    Lincoln Southwest
    2.8
    Uzziah Sanders
    Lincoln Southwest
    2.6
    Bryce Johnson, Jr.
    Bellevue West
    2.3
    Cooper Knight
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    1.6
    Emre Gedik
    Omaha Westside
    1.6
    Levi Webb
    Papillion-LaVista South
    1.6
    Jaxyn Cruse
    Lincoln High
    1.5
    Cedric Williams
    Papillion-LaVista
    1.5
    Kingston Cruse
    Lincoln High
    1.5
    Brady Nick
    Lincoln High
    1.5
    Brayden Mauro
    Bellevue West
    1.4
    Preston Avalon
    Papillion-LaVista
    1.4
    Torran Carter-Brown
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    1.4

    Blocked Shot Leaders

    Buay Jock
    Lincoln High
    1.9
    Will Preston
    Omaha Westside
    1.6
    Max Jungers
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    1.2
    Trelly Akins
    Millard North
    1.2
    Ivan Bamaze
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    1.1
    London Dada
    Omaha Westside
    0.8
    Connor Falkinburg
    Papillion-LaVista South
    0.8
    Emre Gedik
    Omaha Westside
    0.7
    Sam Bohnet
    Omaha Creighton Prep
    0.7
    Uzziah Sanders
    Lincoln Southwest
    0.6
    Brady Nick
    Lincoln High
    0.6
    Major Mosser
    Millard North
    0.6

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