State Basketball 2022
Words.
There is going to be a lot of words here. I haven't posted on this blog for more than a year and there are a ton of photos I could have shared. So I am going to try to start with the 2022 NSAA Girls & Boys State Basketball Tournament.
This is less of a well-woven story and more of a stream of consciousness, so please stick with me.
First off, I want to thank the people who help directly support me during state basketball. At a normal tournament, I can end up working with three different groups: the Beatrice Daily Sun newspaper, Callam Spots Photo and Striv/nebpreps. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do this. And of course, I want to thank my normal day-to-day job with being flexible with my schedule during weeks like these.
I guess the best way to recap the week is to look at each day.
Monday, March 7th
Day one of state was focused on live streaming. We took a van full of JCC Striv Crew students up to Lincoln Northeast. The games we covered:
- Sterling defeated Anselmo-Merna, 50-33 (Girls D2)
- Norfolk Catholic defeated Hartington Cedar Catholic, 54-41 (Boys C2)
- Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family defeated Howells-Dodge, 55-52 OT (Boys C2)
JCC Striv helping out with today’s broadcasts (all on the NFHS Network). Thank you @Striv_Education / @strivsports for this great opportunity & all of the support throughout the year!
— Marcus Scheer (@marcus_scheer) March 7, 2022
Fun way to end the winter sports season! #GoJCC #strivschools #strivsports #nebpreps pic.twitter.com/52NRgtyWmf
Our crew collaborated with current & former Striv students to cover these games. And the late two games (Amherst def Freeman & GICC def Doniphan-Trumbull) featured two more Striv crews from Freeman and Grand Island Central Catholic.
The morning was a little chaotic with it being a Monday morning and a surprising amount of snow from Sunday night. We actually had to turn around after a few miles north of Tecumseh to change school vans due to the windshield wipers performing so poorly. Once we got our feet set, we finished the evening by running not only the main center camera and our wireless camera we brought, we actually added a second wireless camera with the gear from GICC. Add a classic overtime game between HLHF and H-D, and it was a great day.
And the JCC Striv Crew celebrated like we always love to do — by eating HuHot.
I'd say Day One could be summarized with all of the pros & cons of state basketball being played in high school gyms. Yes, it can be inconvenient for media & fans, but it was packed & loud. Should be some good memories for years to come.
Then in overtime, Humphrey/LHF hits at the free throw line. Leaving Howells-Dodge again with the ball with a chance to tie or win.
— Marcus Scheer (@marcus_scheer) March 8, 2022
And HLHF came up with another impressive defensive hold. This time with a clutch steal at the basket. #nebpreps
5/ pic.twitter.com/c4TqJ48ifB
Tuesday, March 8th
Day Two featured some photo work at Lincoln Southwest. I took photos for Striv of the last two games of the day featuring D2 Boys:
- Falls City Sacred Heart defeated Mullen, 56-30
- Parkview Christian defeated Hyannis, 64-54
Spent the evening covering the two late games at Lincoln Southwest. #nebpreps pic.twitter.com/cGv1n4onxr
— Marcus Scheer (@marcus_scheer) March 9, 2022
The games probably won't feel too remarkable for me from this day. But I did get to see the very end of the game before which featured Shelton defeating Niobrara/Verdigre, 52-47, in front of a huge crowd. Shelton is just one of the great stories from the tournament with both their girls & boys teams not only qualifying for state, but ended up playing on the same day (LJS story). Shelton would end up falling short of the title versus Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, which had both their girls and boys teams winning the championship.
Overall, it was another good day where I got to see a whole different set of media members, LPS/NSAA event staff, and teams. At LSW, that means working in a wrestling room where power outlets (and water) are at a premium.
Wednesday, March 9th
My third day of state only featured one game, but it was a great way to spend a day. Shooting for the Daily Sun is one of my favorites. The types of photos I get to submit and the scope of work might be my favorite of the week. And of course, the matchup I got was pretty amazing:
- Falls City Sacred Heart defeated Sterling, 48-38 (D2 Girls)
Sacred Heart defeats Sterling. But it was close.
— Marcus Scheer (@marcus_scheer) March 10, 2022
[That's all I got!]#nebpreps @spsjetpride @FCSacredHeart pic.twitter.com/QjJ5ykIrGd
This matchup had heavily favored Sacred Heart. Most recently, the Irish had defeated Sterling in the subdistrict final. But it was another crack at their southeastern rival and Pioneer/MUDECAS conference foe. While I hadn't seen much of either team this year, both of these squads have a ton of familiar faces. I don't need to list all of them here, but it was a matchup I was looking forward to.
Additional Notes:
While I love the hospitality at Northeast & Southwest (great people), being at Devaney is a whole different story. Here, the NSAA director on site was Dan Masters. And he provided a ton of energy & smiles. If you've ever been to the BDSC, you know the media room is tiny and you'll be bumping elbows/chairs.
Turned out, the NSAA had opened up an additional room across the hall that none of us had noticed. But it was another fun evening being jammed into that room again. Being low on popcorn bowls (cups), stories about some of the high school sites, and just in general trying to keep on top of the crazy tournament schedule... just a small, fun memory.
Thursday, March 10th
This was when the tournament could have really started to get tricky. While most schools had planned on being closed due to state basketball and spring break, the remaining schools closed due to the impending snow storm. In the end, we didn't get too much snow, but the size of our crew was cut in half.
Still, we made it to the Bob Devaney Sports Center to cover the Girls C2 semifinals:
- Hastings St. Cecilia defeated Crofton, 39-36
- Bridgeport defeated Oakland-Craig, 69-55
Maybe it was because we only had four JCC Students there. And maybe it was because we ended up collaborating with Striv students from Archbishop Bergan, Mullen, and more. Maybe it was the games themselves. But it was an amazing day.
We are back at Devaney. Love the collaboration of #strivschools
— Marcus Scheer (@marcus_scheer) March 10, 2022
Now running 4 cameras. Student driven. #nebpreps @Striv_Education pic.twitter.com/yZhxmBv3pS
We brought some of our own equipment and had four cameras running. Two up top and two floor cameras (one at each hoop). And it was all operated & directed by students. I was able to listen in to the production crew chatter because we had the 8-person wireless intercom and it was amazing to hear one of our JCC Striv Crew members not only direct four operators to do the camera switching... but three of those operators were students we were meeting for the first time. It was impressive and I am proud that we were able to share that moment with two other Striv sponsors who got to listen it for portions of our broadcasts.
WOAH. Tie ball game at 50-50 (and then again at 53-53). Less than five minutes left. Get to NFHS now for the end of Bridgeport vs Oakland-Craig. #nebpreps pic.twitter.com/rwt1mdfkHj
— Marcus Scheer (@marcus_scheer) March 10, 2022
It was also bittersweet because it was possibly the last basketball broadcast for our two senior JCC Striv members. But being able to share the day with two of our freshmen and all of the other Striv students there was pretty fulfilling for me.
May have been @P_hillyOnair & Kaita’s last basketball broadcast.
— Marcus Scheer (@marcus_scheer) March 11, 2022
Both have been an incredible core of the JCC Striv Crew. #GoJCC #nebpreps #strivschools @Striv_Education
1/2 pic.twitter.com/wzBhuAWwjZ
Friday, March 11th
First of two championship days. And for me, finally at Pinnacle Bank Arena!
It was a quick turnaround for me. While I could feel the week's weight already Tuesday evening, the effects really started hitting me on Thursday night. I was back at PBA to do the 9a/11a/1p games on Friday.
- D1 Boys: North Platte St. Patrick's defeated Loomis, 65-57
- C1 Girls: North Bend Central defeated Lincoln Lutheran, 35-31
- B Boys: Omaha Roncalli Catholic defeated Omaha Skutt Catholic, 52-37
Finally at PBA, I got to see a ton of familiar faces that I enjoy seeing every year at state basketball.
As far as shooting goes, the games went by almost in an instant. I was able to get into a good groove back at PBA shooting championship games. But to be honest, during that first game at 9 AM on Friday I had to keep reminding myself that this game was for the title, even though it wasn't Saturday.
Each game, I felt like I had a connection to at least one team. And if you briefly set aside the sports hot takes about a shot clock, public vs private schools, and tournament schedule/sites... Then take a moment to connect to the people of these teams and some of that seems less important.
Saturday, March 12th
Championship Saturday. Day two of cutting down the nets. I arrived at PBA early because I knew I had to soak in as many moments of state basketball before they were gone for another 50+ weeks.
While I wanted to pick up the camera, I knew I had to protect my mental & physical stamina/health, so I just watched with some of my Striv friends. Witnessed history with Ashland-Greenwood's buzzer beater ending Auburn's three-year reign. Then it was back-to-back for Britt Prince and Elkhorn North over Skutt Catholic.
I value every minute I get to watch the great basketball in Nebraska. And it is also fun to spend it with the great media members of Nebraska. Some of those special moments come in the quiet minutes between games/sessions. Whether that is watching a friend's kid made a basket in front of an almost empty PBA or getting to meet new friends that are not only hardworking and excellent at what they do, but a pleasure to be around.
Then it was time for me to pick up the camera again and finish this crazy week of state basketball.
- C2 Girls: Hastings St. Cecilia defeated Bridgeport, 40-38
- A Boys: Millard North defeated Bellevue West, 67-57
- D2 Boys: Parkview Christian defeated St. Mary's, 64-48
The final words:
A ton of people to thank, so I won't even try to list them all. If you are interested in purchasing any photos, my images from Friday & Saturday are available on the Callam website.
I do want to give a shout to ALL of the media members, NSAA/event staff & coaches. Some I know I can call friends. Many more that I'd like to be able to call friends.
There are a few special moments that I know will be lasting memories of the tournament. Not all of them were captured on photo or video.
This one moment though... was caught on camera.
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THE SHOT!
— Ellie French (@elliefrenchTV) March 13, 2022
Also the camera is just fine @KETV 😅 pic.twitter.com/w1Bo6HTENo
Until next year.
- Marcus