By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Badgers boys basketball team saw its postseason run come to an end Thursday night, falling 63–55 to Norris in the opening round of the Nebraska State Tournament at Pinnacle Bank Arena on March 12.
Despite the loss, the Badgers showed significant progress against a Norris team that had defeated them by a wide margin earlier in the season. After losing 84–55 in their first matchup, Bennington battled back this time, keeping the game competitive and playing until the final buzzer.
Head coach Luke Olson said the team’s development throughout the season stood out the most. “The growth,” Olson said. “I thought they came a long way. How they’re playing now compared to how they were playing back in November; it’s been fun to watch.”
Olson said the team’s improvement went beyond the scoreboard. “They’ve become a really connected group,” he said. “I think they’ve learned some really good stuff just in terms of how important the little things and the details are. And they’re doing a really good job of that right now. And I think they’ve proven that they’ve earned their shot down here and they can play with the best teams in the state.”
Norris built an early lead, but the Badgers responded with a strong push in the second half. Olson said defensive adjustments and improved rebounding helped spark the comeback effort.
“I thought we weren’t really good in transition in the first half and they’re good, you know, they obviously can really push it at you,” Olson said. “But I thought our transition defense needed to shore up, but we rebounded better in the second half and just made a couple shots… we stuck with it.”
Bennington cut the deficit from 13 points down to five during the rally. “I thought Blaize played really well, and Kale,” Olson said. “We need guys down here to make plays. And I thought our guys stepped up at certain times and made some really important plays.”
Still, the Badgers were unable to complete the comeback against the No. 2 seed. “We were a couple plays short tonight, but I’m proud of them,” Olson said. “They gave a great effort.”
Junior Jonas Neuverth said the team’s ability to stay connected throughout the season was a defining factor in their run. “I think, just staying together,” Neuverth said. “You know, we do a lot of team bonding stuff, a lot of connections, and this run was tough… You know, we’ve come back twice now. First one [against Roncalli], we got it. And second one, we couldn’t get this one, but nothing’s ever too far.”
He also pointed to the team’s growth since the beginning of the season. “I think our fight and determination, also how far we’ve grown,” Neuverth said. “We’ve grown a lot from where we were last November.”
Junior Landon McCarville said the team’s improved chemistry made a difference compared to their earlier matchup with Norris. “I feel like we stayed together pretty well compared to the first time we played them and kind of gave out in the second half,” McCarville said. “We stayed together really well the whole game and played really well together.”
He added that the team’s progress throughout the year was evident. “This team, in general, where we started four or five months ago in the fall- just a dramatic difference,” McCarville said. “This team is such a better team. It’s really fun to play with these guys.”
Junior Jax Gifford said the seniors helped shape the culture of the team. “For sure, the seniors,” Gifford said he would miss most about this team. “I mean, Brady in particular is one of my best friends, just really showed me the ropes. And then Myles is one of the best leaders I’ve ever seen in my life, so I’ll remember those boys forever.”
Looking ahead, Gifford said he is eager to return to the court with his teammates next season. “I’m just looking forward to getting back on the court with the guys,” he said. “Every single person in there is one of my best friends, so it’s gonna be fun.”
Olson said experiences like the state tournament can help motivate players heading into the offseason. “Every time you come down here and end your season here, you hope it fuels them for the off season because it takes a lot of effort, a lot of time to get here,” Olson said. “So you just hope they walk away wanting to get back and they’ll let that fuel in the off season.”
The Badgers also had strong support from their hometown fans throughout the tournament run. “Our community really enjoys sports,” Olson said. “I think they do it the right way and our kids appreciate it and they play hard for the community.”
While the season ended one win short of advancing, Olson said the team proved they belonged on the state stage. “I’m really proud of them,” Olson said. “I thought they played really well today.”
With a young core returning, the Badgers hope the experience gained during this year’s postseason run will serve as motivation as they look ahead to next season.
