Six semifinal games on Thursday and six more Friday will set the stage for Championship Saturday at the 2021 girls basketball state tournament.
Here are five standouts from the first six semifinals.
1, 2: The first game of the day might have been the best. Humphrey St. Francis and Mullen’s stars shined and bright. Nebraska signee Allison Weidner had a game-high 31-points, almost six points above her season average of 25.8. Weidner had a co-star in senior forward Alissa Kosch. Kosch had a career high 28 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field.
Weidner didn’t just score, she led the team with nine rebounds and six steals. The 31-points came on 10-of-21 from the field including 2-of-2 from behind the 3-point line.

The Flyers’ Alissa Kosch celebrates near the end of HSF’s win over Mullen (nebpreps photo / Marcus Scheer)
3: Mullen senior Samantha Moore wasn’t too shabby herself. Moore, a UNK signee, had 19 of her team-high 28 in the second half and did just about everything in her power to lead the Broncos back from a seven point halftime deficit.
4: Weeping Water’s Grace Cave led the Indians to their first ever state final with a game high 24 points in their 51-50 overtime win over Hartington Cedar Catholic.
5: Ponca sophomore’s Ashlyn Kingsbury (pictured above) and Samantha Ehlers came into the tournament leading the team in scoring with right at 12 points a piece. On Thursday night, the 5-foot-11 guard led the Indians with 23 points including four 3-pointers.