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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Girls Basketball

‘She went to every single game’: Why Payton Dolliver chose Omaha

Wherever Payton Dolliver and her AAU team traveled this summer, Omaha coach Jamie Carey followed. That commitment helped convince the rising Malcolm junior to become a Maverick.

Malcolm standout commits to Omaha, could reunite with sister

Malcolm standout Payton Dolliver is staying in state — and could eventually share Omaha’s backcourt with her older sister.

Nebraska's next girls basketball stars shine at adidas national finals

Nebraska's next wave of girls basketball talent made plenty of noise on the national stage.

Stella Williams delivers clutch fourth-quarter shots in NCA Senior Showcase

Omaha Westview graduate Stella Williams hit two clutch fourth-quarter 3-pointers to help the Reds hold off a Blues comeback for a victory in the Nebraska Coaches Association Senior Showcase.

How North Star helped power Lincoln's championship surge in 2025-26

Lincoln schools combined for 12 state championships during the 2025-26 school year—the most in at least a decade. 

Prep Notes: 10 years he's been a head coach in Lincoln. Here's why he's stepping down.

Kurt Earl’s farewell season, Legion baseball tournaments and Nebraska’s summer showcase games headline this week’s prep sports news.

Girls athlete of the year: Shayla Rautenberg proves elite athletes don't have to specialize

She's already committed to Nebraska volleyball, so why is Shayla Rautenberg still playing basketball? The answer explains why she is girls athlete of the year.

Previous Journal Star Girls Athlete of the Year winners

From Nancy Kindig to Britt Prince and beyond, here's a look at the past winners for Journal Star girls athlete of the year.

Girls athlete of the year: Other notable candidates from 2025-26

Shayla Rautenberg is the 2026 Journal Star girls athlete of the year. Here's a look at some other notable performances from 2025-26.

Nebraska's biggest high school girls basketball transfers of the summer

Several of Nebraska's biggest prep basketball names are changing schools this summer.

Girls coach of the year: How patience helped Tommy Johnson build North Star into title team.

The first season brought running clocks and 40-point losses. Four years later, Tommy Johnson guided North Star to the first girls basketball state championship in school history.

Boys coach of the year: The long road to a championship for Alex Bahe, Southwest

Alex Bahe could feel the pressure mounting at Southwest to deliver a state tournament team. In March, the Silver Hawks cut down the nets.

Lincoln schools fill coaching openings as Jones returns, Northwest prepares for Class A

Lincoln Lutheran hired longtime coach Monte Jones as its next girls basketball coach as several city programs filled key openings.

Unbeaten Blair needs overtime to end Gretna East's quest for girls soccer three-peat

Gretna East didn’t surrender its Class B throne without a tussle, but unbeaten Blair surged in overtime to end the Griffins' quest for a three-peat.

Nebraska’s best girls basketball stars reflect on title runs, heartbreak and what comes next

From Ani Leu’s championship run at North Star to the next wave of stars just getting started, meet the Journal Star’s Super-State girls basketball first team.

Get to know the Super-State first-team girls basketball picks

They were clutch, consistent and impossible to ignore. Meet the five players who made up this year’s Super-State first team in girls basketball.

Meet the Lincoln Journal Star’s all-city picks for winter sports

From state champs to standout scorers, meet the athletes who made the Lincoln Journal Star’s all-city winter sports teams.

Lincoln Southwest’s Uzziah Sanders named Gatorade player of the year

Less than a week after winning a historic state championship, Uzziah Sanders has made another landmark achievement.

Live Scoreboard: Nebraska boys state basketball tournament

Stay up-to-the-minute with the boys state basketball tournament in Lincoln.

Lincoln North Star, Omaha North savor rare public-school Class A final

Lincoln North Star and Omaha North represented more than themselves Saturday, bringing Lincoln and Omaha public schools together in a rare Class A championship moment.

Final 2025-26 season rankings for Nebraska high school girls basketball

Check out Mike Patterson's final rankings for the 2025-26 Nebraska high school girls basketball season post state tournament.

Amie Just's 6 favorite moments from the Nebraska girls state basketball tournament

There were plenty of storylines from this past week's girls state basketball tournament. Here are some of Amie Just's favorites.

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Lincoln football power rankings: East’s shock win, playoff qualifiers shake things up

Just: Bergen Reilly's brilliance vs. USC makes national player of the year case

Lincoln East baseball champions honored at MLB World Series

Shopping

What Really Happens When You Call for Emergency HVAC Help at 2 AM

Affiliate content. Learn what to do if you need an emergency HVAC repair. 

Buying or Selling a Midwest Home? What the HVAC System Is Really Worth at Closing

Affiliate content.  Learn why it is important to check the HVAC system when buying or selling home. 

Your utility bill is telling you something: what rising costs reveal about your HVAC system

Affiliate content. Learn what to do about rising energy costs from your HVAC system. 

What Your Home's Age Reveals About the HVAC Problems Coming Your Way

Affiliate content. Learn the most common HVAC problems based on the age of your home.

Tourney Insider: Milford's plan for Dollivers, Bennington's perfection, North Star's future

Milford's defensive plan for the Dolliver sisters worked well enough, Bennington joined an exclusive club and North Star played two freshmen in the final.

Howells-Dodge takes D-1 title in match that came down to the final shot

Howells-Dodge won its first state title in nine years Saturday night, shutting out previously undefeated Bloomfield for the first 5:45 of a 45-42 win.

Girls state basketball: Check out the Journal Star's all-tournament teams

Check out our all-tournament teams after four action-packed days of state basketball.

From heartbreak to history: Lincoln North Star climbs Class A mountain, wins state title

After three years of state tournament exits, Lincoln North Star sent its senior core out with the first championship in school history.

Class B: Reiner powers Bennington to first state championship

Macie Reiner scored 23 points and went 5-for-5 from 3-point range as Bennington defeated Gretna East 49-38 to win the program’s first Class B state championship.

High scoring Pendragons capture fourth consecutive Class C-2 title over Elkhorn Valley

Mady Dolliver and Hadley Walsh combined for 49 points Saturday night as Pender won its fourth consecutive title.

Lincoln North Star beats Omaha North to win Class A girls basketball title

For the time ever, Lincoln North Star is the Class A champion. The Gators rode a combined 34 points from Ani Leu and Kendall Anderson to beat Omaha North.

Class C-1: Milford shoots its way to first-ever state title, defeats Malcolm 66-52

Milford and Malcolm were on track to meet for the C-1 title all season, and when they did, Milford lit it up from 3-point range to win.

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