MUDECAS Basketball

This past week, I photographed the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament held in Beatrice. The A Division games are held at the City Auditorium -- which is one of my favorites. And while the venue may not have the fancy, updated features common in many facilities, this building (and this tournament) has some great history and atmosphere.

It's the brick walls. The big curtains. The old-school seats. The wall mats are hung by rope. The locker rooms are on the stage.

It can get crowded. It can get hot. It can be loud. 

But it's a lot of fun basketball with some great people. Be sure to check out the Beatrice Daily Sun for more of photo coverage. This is my recap of the week including some shoots you won't see in the paper. The tournament ended with the Boys A Division Championship coming down to a last-second heave to win the game. It was a tremendous way to end the week. Until next year!

Parkview Christian's Henry Tanksley (1) finishes at the rim with a first-half dunk as the Freeman Falcons face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 13, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

Lewiston's Karen Keyes (left) and Johnson-Brock's Jessica Bohling (right) fight for a first-half rebound as the Lewiston Lady Tigers face the Johnson-Brock Lady Eagles in the B Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 12, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Lewiston's Cari Howell (left) protects the ball as Johnson-Brock's Kendra Alberts (right) goes for a steal during the second half as the Lewiston Lady Tigers face the Johnson-Brock Lady Eagles in the B Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 12, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Pawnee City's Annie Cline, Grace Parks, Miranda Branek, Jenna Habegger and Shelby Hundley enjoy a second half lead as the Pawnee City Lady Indians defeat the Parkview Christian Lady Patriots, 52-10, in the B Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 12, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Freeman's Isaac Frerichs (left) and Parkview Christian's Isaac Branding (right) hit the floor chasing a loose ball during the first half as the Freeman Falcons face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 13, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Freeman defender Calan Sedlacek (23) shuts down an open passing lane during the second half as the Freeman Falcons face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 13, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Freeman junior Holden Scott (33) tries to block the shot of Parkview Christian's Henry Tanksley (1) during the second half as the Freeman Falcons face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 13, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Freeman's Isaac Frerichs (middle) drives to the basket as Parkview Christian's Teth Chieng (bottom) defends during the second half as the Freeman Falcons face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 13, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Meridian senior Tyler Nolte (left) pulls in a pass as Diller-Odell's Brady McMurray (right) defends during the first half as the Meridian Mustangs face the Diller-Odell Griffins in the Boys B Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 13, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Sterling's Elly Lempka (left) gets tied up with Freeman's Cassidy Mason (right) during the second half as the Freeman Lady Falcons defeat the Sterling Lady Jets, 44-29, in the Girls A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Freeman's Riley Dorn (middle) pulls down a rebound in the middle of the Jets defense during the fourth quarter as the Freeman Lady Falcons defeat the Sterling Lady Jets, 44-29, in the Girls A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Johnson County Central's Mitch Faris (second from left) steals the ball from Freeman's Isaac Frerichs (bottom middle) during the first half as the Freeman Falcons defeat the Johnson County Central Thunderbirds, 37-36, in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Freeman's Holden Scott (33) scores on a second-half layup as the Freeman Falcons defeat the Johnson County Central Thunderbirds, 37-36, in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

Southern's Erin Hagood (right) and Johnson-Brock's Kendra Alberts (left) chase a loose ball during the first half as the Southern Lady Raiders defeat the Johnson-Brock Lady Eagles, 39-19, in the Girls B Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Southern's Abbee Buss (left) and Johnson-Brock's Kenda Alberts (right) fight for a second-half rebound as the Southern Lady Raiders defeat the Johnson-Brock Lady Eagles, 39-19, in the Girls B Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Lady Raiders Sammie Andrews, Madison Zvolanek and Abbee Buss celebrate the Southern Lady Raiders victory over the Johnson-Brock Lady Eagles, 39-19, in the Girls B Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Southern's Ellie Edmond (left) and Erin Hagood (right) embrace as the Lady Raiders celebrate their victory over the Johnson-Brock Lady Eagles, 39-19, in the Girls B Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Sterling's Taylor Cockerill (bottom) creates a turnover as Exeter-Milligan's Kelsey Bigelow (left) also chases for the ball during the first half as the Sterling Lady Jets defeat the Exeter-Milligan Lady Timberwolves, 48-46, in the Girls A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Sterling's Becky Williams (50) can only get fingertips on a first-half rebound by Exeter-Milligan's Marissa Howard (2) as the Sterling Lady Jets defeat the Exeter-Milligan Lady Timberwolves, 48-46, in the Girls A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 15, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

Lourdes Central's Noah Vasa (right) blocks the shot of Johnson County Central's Nate Liberty (left) during the second half as the Johnson County Central Thunderbirds defeat the Lourdes Central Catholic Knights, 50-45, in the Boys A Division of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 17, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb. Palmyra's Marquis Buchanan (top) celebrates with teammate Brian Brueggeman (bottom) after defeating the Pawnee City Indians, 60-47, in the Boys B Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 17, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

A packed Beatrice City Auditorium crowd watches early first quarter action between the Bruning-Davenport-Shickley Eagles and the Freeman Falcons in the Boys A Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 17, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

Freeman's Holden Scott, Brett Oltman and Isaac Frerichs surround B-D-S's Grant Norder (middle) during the first half as the Bruning-Davenport-Shickley Eagles defeat the Freeman Falcons, 41-40, in the Boys A Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 17, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

 

Freeman's Brett Oltman (second from left) draws an offensive foul call against B-D-S's Riley Tegtmeier (far right) during the second half as the Bruning-Davenport-Shickley Eagles defeat the Freeman Falcons, 41-40, in the Boys A Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 17, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

 

Bruning-Davenport-Shickley's Riley Tegtmeier (right) hits the game-winning shot as the clock expires to defeat the Freeman Falcons, 41-40, in the Boys A Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 17, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.

 

 

 

 

The Eagles celebrate their buzzer-beater victory over the Freeman Falcons, 41-40, in the Boys A Division Championship of the 2015 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament on Jan. 17, 2015, in Beatrice, Neb.