It has become tradition for Millard North and Bellevue West to compete for the Nebraska Class A state basketball championship at Pinnacle Bank Arena in March. Fans and prognosticators might even admit to printing off their bracket and penciling the Thunderbirds and Mustangs into the championship game before filling out the rest of their bracket.
Since 2020, Bellevue West and Millard North have faced each other in the Class A state championship game every year. The Thunderbirds won in 2020 and again in 2023 and 2024. The Mustangs went back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. This season, however, the seedings don't match up and the powerhouse clubs will face each other in the quarterfinals.
Millard North senior Derek Rollins was a freshman when the Mustangs took home the title in 2022. Before leaving Millard North, the 6-foot-5 forward wants to experience that winning feeling again.
"The only thing I really want to do is win out the season and win the state championship. I feel that's the goal. We've been short the last two years, so it's the last chance for me to get it done. That's most important to me."
During their 4-3 start to the season, the Mustangs dropped a 71-61 decision at Bellevue West and lost to MaxPreps Class A No. 1 Papillion-LaVista South 64-61. Millard North fell to Papillion-LaVista South for a second time in February.