It’s not the same but nothing is in 2020. The Metro Holiday Tournament tipped off in earnest Tuesday. Unlike years past at Ralston Arena, UNO and Civic Auditorium boys and girls played on the same day with game times scattered throughout the day higher seeds hosting. 

There was plenty of action and only one upset according to the pre-tournament seeding. 

Here are standouts performances from Tuesday’s action. 

Boys

Millard North scored 30 points in each of the first two quarters and cruised to a 91-41 win over No. 17 seeded Omaha Burke. Senior forward Saint Thomas led the Mustangs with 27 points on 9 of 14 shooting and five assists in 18 minutes. Hunter Sallis chipped in 25 points on 10 of 12 shooting in 19 minutes. Junior forward Jasen Green had eight points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots in 18 minutes. 

UNO signee Frankie Fidler led No. 2 seed Bellevue West with 31 points including 5/9 from distance in the T-birds 97-47 win over No. 15 seed Omaha Benson. Junior post William Kyle was 9 of 10 from the field scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Wisconsin signee Chucky Hepburn was just shy of a triple-double scoring seven points, dishing out 10 assists, grabbing seven rebounds and six steals with just one turnover. 

Morningside signee Justin Sitti led No. 3 seed Creighton Prep with 18 points as the Jr. Jays won their opening round game 86-55 over Omaha North. Junior Mason Strong scored 20 for the Vikings while shooting 6 of 9 from the field. 

Omaha Central junior forward PJ Davis led the Eagles in scoring with 19 in the No. 4 seed’s 68-59 win over Elkhorn South. 

Graham Cassoutt continued his torrid start to the season. The 6-foot-7 uncommitted forward led Papillion-La Vista South in scoring (17) and rebounding (7) while shooting 6/8 from the field including 4 of 6 from distance in the No. 5 seed Titans 72-44 win over Omaha South. The Packers were led by intriguing freshman guard Rickey Loftin. The 5-10 guard scored 8 points, grabbed four rebounds and led the team with three assists. 

Omaha Westside forward Tate Odvody led the sixth seeded Warriors to a 85-44 win over Omaha Bryan. The 6-4 sophomore hauled in a team high seven rebounds and scored 26 points while shooting 11 of 14 from the field including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. 

Senior forward Evan Meyersick led No. 7 seed Millard West to a gritty win over rival Millard South. The 6-5 senior scored all of his game high 13 points in the second half and led the Wildcats with six rebounds. Midland commit Jack Cooper led Millard South with seven rebounds and 11 points. 

Papillon-La Vista shot 63% from the field and were led by forward Kyle Ingwerson’s 25 points. The 6-6 junior was 8 of 11 from the field including 6 of 8 from behind the arc. Junior guard Joey Hylok had 11 points and six assist while junior Aiden Graham had 15 points and four rebounds. 

Girls

Sophomore Mya Babbitt scored 14 of the No. 1 seed Patriots 28 first quarter points. Babbitt led Millard South with 17 points in their 79-15 first round win over Omaha South. 

No. 2 seed Omaha Central won 63-58 over Omaha Northwest. Aaniya Webb led the Eagles with 17 points. 

Junior Grace Huntwork led Gretna with 14 points as the No. 3 seed Dragons defeated Millard West 46-28. 

Omaha Westside pulled off the only upset according to the seeding on Monday. The No. 13 seed Warriors traveled to No. 4 Papillion – La Vista South and won 51-48. Lucy Schonau, a 6-4 sophomore led the Warriors with 22 points in the win. 

Omaha Burke senior Hailey Ingram was 9 of 13 from the field and 6 of 7 from the 3-point line in the Bulldogs 52-47 win over Elkhorn South. Ingram, a Peru State commit, led the Bulldogs with 24 points. Xavier signee Aanaya Harris had 18 while going 5 of 8 from the free throw line for Burke. 

Ary Harrison was 8 of 15 from the field and led Omaha Marian with 24 points and nine rebounds in the No. 8 seed’s 66-51 win over No. 9 seed Bellevue West. Junior guard Taryn Wharton, a Northern Iowa commit, led Bellevue West with 21 points. Junior Grace Schaefer had nine rebounds for the T-Birds. 

No. 6 seed Millard North used balanced scoring to win 46-35 over Bellevue East. Sophomore Kayla Preston scored six of her 11 points in the third quarter. Preston was also second on the team in rebounds with five. The Mustangs were led by sophomore guard Mya Sohl with 12 points. Sophomore Mya Skoff led the Chieftains with 13. 

Junior guard Nataya Lockett led the Bunnies with 14 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in the No. 7 seed Bunnies 51-40 win over Papillion-La Vista. Senior Kiera Estima was also in double-figures with 12 and freshman post Je’Sani Green had 10 points and seven rebounds.