2026 Class C1 Girls State Basketball Preview
It's ladies up first in Nebraska 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.
Three rematches kick off the Class C1 field Thursday. Defending Class C1 runner-up and top-seed Milford opens with Central City after knocking the Bison off 44-43 last month while Ogallala faces off with Gothenburg in a rubber match between the two power houses. The Swedes edged Ogallala 61-58 before falling to the Indians 66-31 in subdistrict action.
Malcolm, who is making its first appearance at the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament, squares off with Holdrege once again Thursday after besting the Dusters 45-36 in the C1-9 Subdistrict Final.
Defending Class C1 state champion Lincoln Christian, meanwhile, is set to face Fort Calhoun in the only Class C1 quarterfinal that is not a rematch.