What's it like to play in the State Tournament? "With Devaney and the distractions, the hype and the nerves, it's hard to keep focused. But if you don't, your season is over." -- Nick Bahe quoted by the Lincoln Journal/Star

Tyron Canby directed the Links to their first State Championship since 1959. Canby scored 29 points for the tournament, 13 of them in the opening round victory over Omaha Central. His 3-point basket with :23 remaining vs. Omaha Westside put Lincoln High in position for their dramatic last-second victory, 45 - 44. Canby scored 8 points and dished out 7 assists in the Championship game as the Links downed cross-town rival Lincoln Southeast 43 - 38. Canby was named to the Class A All-tournament Team and to the All Class All- Tournament Team.

Jake Brestel led all Class A scorers in the 2003 State Tournament, scoring 47 points on the way to the Links’ State Championship (Brestel was #7 scorer in all classes). His highest point total came against Omaha Central in the opening round as Lincoln High won a dramatic overtime victory, 68 - 61. Brestel’s 12 points helped Lincoln High to a 45-44 win over Omaha Westside in the semi-finals and in the Championship game, he pulled down 7 rebounds along with his 7 points as the Links claimed the win, 43 - 38 over Lincoln Southeast. Brestel was named to the Class A All-tournament Team and to the All Class All- Tournament Team.

Nick Bahe contributed 39 points to Lincoln Southeast’s runner-up finish in the 2003 State Tournament. Bahe opened with a 14 point performance agains Millard West, a 65 - 34 victory. Against Omaha Benson, Bahe had 19 points, including a 12 / 12 effort from the freethrow line that gave the Knights a 65 - 62 win and a second straight birth in the state final game. Against the Links in the final, Bahe score 6 points as Southeast came up a little short, losing to Lincoln High, 43 - 38. Bahe was named to the Class A All-tournament Team.

Xavier Oman helped Beatrice set a Class A scoring record in the first round, contributing 6 / 6 fieldgoals and a total of 18 points, to the 99 - 49 win over Chadron. In the semi-final matchup with Ralston, Oman scored 20 points, but the Orangemen were eliminated 41 - 38. Oman was named to the Class B All-Tournament Team.

Michael Stoyanev was the leading scorer, all classes, putting up 77 points. He led off with an 18 point performance, scoring over half of Norris’s points in a 34 - 28 win over Schuyler. In the semi-final, Stoyanev scored 35 against Omaha Skutt, a 62 - 55 win that put Norris in the championship game for the second straight year. The Titans claimed their repeat championship as Stoyanev scored 24 points in a 49 - 42 win over Ralston. Stoyanev was named to the Class B All-tournament Team and to the All Class All-Tournament Team.

Kyle Prochaska led Wahoo Neumann to their second consecutive State Championship, totaling 53 points for the tournament. Prochaska was held to 11 points in the Cavaliers’ first round victory over Grand Island Central Catholic, 59 - 50. He scored 20 against Wayne in a 67 - 57 win in the semi-final and had his best performance of the tournament, 22 points in the 68 - 52 win over Chase County in the Championship game. Prochaska was named to the Class C1 All-Tournament Team.

Michael Snyder played for Millard West in the opening round loss to Lincoln Southeast, 65 - 34, but was held scoreless.

Mose Howard III’s Omaha Burke team was beaten in the District Touranment by Omaha Central.

Brent Cole’s Aurora team lost to Schuyler, 56 - 49 in the District Tournament.

Shane Sweeney scored 4 points in Grand Island’s opening loss to Omaha Westside, 44 - 36.

Zach Yelkin helped the Norris Titans to a repeat championship in Class B, scoring 32 points for the tournament. Yelkin scored 8 in the opening round victory over Schuyler, 34 - 28, added 15 in the 62 - 55 win over Omaha Skutt and scored 9 pts. in the Championship win over Ralston.

Sean Blocher scored 14 points in West Point’s opening round loss to Schuyler, 47 - 41.

Scott Wissing scored 20 points in Grand Island Central Catholic’s 59 - 50 loss to Wahoo Neumann in the opening round.

Thomas Pargett scored 10 points in Syracuse’s opening round 47 - 41 win over West Point. He had a team high 19 points in the Rocket’s 50 - 37 loss to Chase County in the semi-finals. Pargett was named to the Class C1 All-Tournament Team.

Levin Hamilton helped Southeast reach the Class A State Championship game for the second consecutive year. Hamilton scored 6 points in the Knights’ first round win over Millard West, 65 - 39. He contributed 4 points in the 65 - 62 victory over Omaha Benson in the semi-final and scored his tournament best, 8 points in the finals, a 43 - 38 loss to Lincoln High.

Nick Morell’s Ogallala team lost in the District Tournament to eventual District Champion, Chadron, 59 - 43.

Michael Etzelmiller’s Hastings team lost to McCook, 63 - 50, in the District Championship.

James Kohls’ Aurora team lost to Schuyler, 56 - 49 in the District Tournament.

Ben Buhr’s Lincoln East team lost Omaha Central, 78 - 59, in the District Championship.