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NORFOLK — The 42nd Annual Northeast Nebraska All-Star Basketball Game was played May 30 at the Cox Activities Center on the campus of Northeast Community College.
Forty outstanding athletes from across northeast and north-central Nebraska played in the girls’ and boys’ contests.
Several athletes and one coach from this corner of the state participated.
LCC’s Gibson Roberts represented the Orange and Black.
Cedar Catholic seniors, Jaymison Cattau and Nolan Becker represented the Trojans and classmate, Katelyn Arens represented the Lady Trojans.
Wynot’s Andrew Haberman represented the Blue Devils In addition, Wynot head boys’ basketball coach, Lee Heimes made his fourth trip to Norfolk as a coach as he coached after last season and back in 2013 and 2014.
“Its really fun to be around that kind of talent,” said Heimes. “It’s amazing how many great players there are in the area.”
Heimes led the Blue Devils to a Class D2 runner-up showing at last year’s state tournament after placing third in 2024 and second in 2023.
His teams have made it to Lincoln 13 times over his 25-year career, all at Wynot, and have made the trip south for the past five years in a row while accumulating a career record of 402-209.
“It’s nice to get invited to do these things but really it’s all about the kids,” said Heimes. “If we didn’t have good kids doing all the work, I doubt if I would be invited to do these things.
“It’s really a fun environment in these types of games,” the coach said. “The kids are kind of relaxed and are eager to show o their skills in a way they aren’t really apt to do during the season.”
The Dark Team out shot the Light Team and won the boys’ game 110-83 after opening up a 64-46 advantage at the half.
Battle Creek’s Jaxon Kilmurry won Dark Team MVP honors, collecting 18 points on the night.
Wayne’s Colson Nelsen was the Light Team MVP after posting a 16-point evening.
Cattau indicated it wasn’t so much about winning or losing, but more about playing with and against people you have known your entire career.
No o$cial stats were available for the boys’ game except for the two MVP’s but Cattau recalled making somewhere around 12 points.
42nd NEN ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAMES Boys Game
Dark Team 29 35 28 18 - 110 Light Team 25 21 21 16 - 84 DARK TEAM: Kellyn Ollendick (Elkhorn Valley); Jaxon Kilmurry (Battle Creek); Taylor Nilson (Creighton); Owne Kirtenback (Summerland); Michael Koenig (Summerland); Alex Roth (Pender); Gibson Roberts (Laurel-Concord-Coleridge); Damien Jones (Norfolk High). Coaches: Brett Kaczor (Summerland); Ryon Nilson (Creighton).
