2023 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament

It has been quite awhile on the blog, but I'm happy to do a recap on the 94th Annual MUDECAS Basketball Tournament. Running games at both the Beatrice Middle School and Beatrice City Auditorium, I have been lucky enough to take pictures and help livestream games for the last decade or so. 

This year, I ended up missing Monday & Tuesday's games sick, but I was able to make it to the Thursday semifinals for photos. Then on Friday & Saturday, I did the usual double-duty of helping livestream the 3rd Place & Championship Games while still taking photos. 

You can check out my photo coverage in the Beatrice Daily Sun. 

On to the recap, here are some of my favorite images of the 2023 MUDECAS Tournament. 

This tournament is one of my favorite weeks of the year. It is fun to see all of the familiar faces – the administrators, officials, coaches, and media members. This assortment of photos is a little representation of it.  

Some highlights:

• Pepper spray incident at the Auditorium on Monday (wasn't there for that)
• Luke bringing his own desk from a classroom to the gym. Media spaces can be a tad limited.
• All female officiating crews on Friday's girls championship games - a MUDECAS first. 
• Freeman boys losing their first game of the season. 
• Tri County boys with a great tournament run (defeating Johnson-Brock, Freeman, and Parkview Christian)
• The Boys A Championship game with a great crowd (a few great crowds including the always great semifinals on Thursday)
• Falls City Sacred Heart girls repeating as Girls A Champions (winning their 13th in school history on Friday the 13th)

Exeter-MilliganÕs Jasmine Turrubiates (right) celebrates a basket by teammate Olivea Swanson (left) during the first quarter as the Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Exeter-MilliganÕs Jozie Kanode (right) dribbles in front of Meridian defender Kaylee Pribyl (left) as the Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. MeridianÕs Kaylee Pribyl (center) defends Exeter-MilliganÕs Jozie Kanode (right) as the Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. MeridianÕs Jaslyn Ward drives in for a layup during the second quarter as the Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Exeter-Milligan head coach Jackson Krejci talks during a first-half timeout as the Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Exeter-Milligan coaches Sara Pella and Jackson Krejci take a moment outside of the locker room at halftime as the Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Meridian head coach Robert Schropfer speaks to his team during the third quarter as the Exeter-Milligan Timberwolves face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. PalmyraÕs Kinsley Havranek signals with a student manager during the starting lineups as the Lewiston Tigers face the Palmyra Panthers in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. PalmyraÕs Kinsley Havranek celebrates a basket and a foul call during the first quarter as the Lewiston Tigers face the Palmyra Panthers in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. LewistonÕs Carleigh Wyers (left) attempts to control loose ball in front of PalmyraÕs Rylie Walter (right) as the Lewiston Tigers face the Palmyra Panthers in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. LewistonÕs Meagan Sanders and Katelyn Sanders force a turnover during the first half as the Lewiston Tigers face the Palmyra Panthers in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. LewistonÕs Katelyn Sanders dribbles during the first half as the Lewiston Tigers face the Palmyra Panthers in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems (right) dribbles in front of FreemanÕs Taylan Vetrovsky (left) as the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. FreemanÕs Carter Ruse drives in for a layup in front of Tri CountyÕs Chris Janssen as the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. FreemanÕs Carter Ruse and Hayden Jennings fight for a rebound during the second quarter as the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. FreemanÕs Carter Ruse shoots a three pointer during the second quarter as the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems scores on a layup during the third quarter as the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs bench reacts to a three pointer during the third quarter as the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Caden Bales (left) protects the ball from FreemanÕs Hudson Vetrovsky (right) as the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems celebrates with teammates after the Tri County Trojans defeat the Freeman Falcons, 43-35, in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Semifinals on Thursday, January 12, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. MeridianÕs Jaslyn Ward and LewistonÕs Emma deKoning reach for the opening tipoff as Lewiston Tigers face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. MeridianÕs Jaylee Sobotka looks for an open teammate as LewistonÕs Carleigh Weyers defends as Lewiston Tigers face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. LewistonÕs Emma deKoning puts pressure on MeridianÕs McKenzie Hofstetter as Lewiston Tigers face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. MeridianÕs Jaslyn Ward scores on a layup during the second half as Lewiston Tigers face the Meridian Mustangs in the MUDECAS Girls B Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Sacred Heart head coach Luke Santo reacts to a play during the first half as Johnson-Brock Eagles face the Sacred Heart Irish in the MUDECAS Girls A Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Sacred HeartÕs Jentry Lechtenberg partially blocks a shot attempt by Johnson-BrockÕs Taryn Ottemann during the first quarter as Johnson-Brock Eagles face the Sacred Heart Irish in the MUDECAS Girls A Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Sacred HeartÕs Olivia Eickhoff dribbles near half court during the second quarter as Johnson-Brock Eagles face the Sacred Heart Irish in the MUDECAS Girls A Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. The Johnson-Brock bench celebrates a three pointer during the second half as Johnson-Brock Eagles face the Sacred Heart Irish in the MUDECAS Girls A Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Sacred HeartÕs Olivia Eickhoff comes up with the loose ball during the second half as Johnson-Brock Eagles face the Sacred Heart Irish in the MUDECAS Girls A Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. The Irish celebrate after defeating the Johnson-Brock Eagles in the MUDECAS Girls A Division Championship on Friday, January 13, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. BDSÕ Easton Weber reacts to a foul call during the first quarter as the Pawnee City Indians face the BDS Eagles in the MUDECAS Boys B Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Pawnee CityÕs Anthony Kling drives in for a layup attempt during the first half as the Pawnee City Indians face the BDS Eagles in the MUDECAS Boys B Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Pawnee CityÕs Brysen Horst looks for room to dribble in front of defender Carson Loos as the Pawnee City Indians face the BDS Eagles in the MUDECAS Boys B Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Pawnee CityÕs Anthony Kling drives along the baseline during the second half as the Pawnee City Indians face the BDS Eagles in the MUDECAS Boys B Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Pawnee CityÕs Anthony Kling blocks a shot by BDSÕ Eli Weber during the second half as the Pawnee City Indians face the BDS Eagles in the MUDECAS Boys B Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems scores early in the first quarter as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri County fans react to a basket during the first quarter as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems and Cameron Reynolds fight for a loose ball surrounding Parkview ChristianÕs Viktar Kachalouski as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems dribbles away from a Parkview Christian defender during the first quarter as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Parkview ChristianÕs Maurice Reide drives in for a layup during the first quarter as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Caden Bales catches a long pass for an open layup during the first quarter as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems and Cameron Reynolds put pressure on Parkview ChristianÕs Terance Pittman as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Parkview ChristianÕs Viktar Kachalouski scores over Tri CountyÕs Drew Siems as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Cameron Reynolds defends Parkview ChristianÕs Viktar Kachalouski during the first half as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri County fans react after a Caden Bales open layup late in the fourth quarter as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri CountyÕs Carter Siems and Braiden Strouf react to BalesÕ layup late in the fourth quarter as the Tri County Trojans face the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska. Tri County head coach Jeremy Siems hugs Caden Bales after the Tri County Trojans defeat the Parkview Christian Patriots in the MUDECAS Boys A Division Championship on Saturday, January 14, 2023, in Beatrice, Nebraska.