2026 Nebraska Girls Basketball State Championships: Preview, Broadcast Schedule, Results

Three schools from all different parts of Southeast Nebraska are ready to begin their quests for a state title as they take the floor at the 2026 Nebraska Girls Basketball State Championships, starting this Thursday in Lincoln.

Two of the six brackets' top-seeded teams hail from this part of the state - Norris (Class B) and Milford (C1) - and both should be considered serious title contenders. Meanwhile, Beatrice is riding high after a thrilling overtime win in their district final to get back to Lincoln themselves.

There hasn't been a girls basketball state tournament this decade that hasn't included Norris. The Titans have been one of the very best teams in Class B all season, only losing twice to Bennington and to Class A Omaha Marian, and Norris' two wins over Plattsmouth and Waverly in their home district final last week vaulted them past Bennington and into the top seed. The Titans have been state runners-up four times, including most recently in 2021, and will begin their quest for their first ever girls basketball state championship on Thursday afternoon against #8-seed Blair.

Elsewhere in Class B, Beatrice is back in the field after missing out last season. The Lady Orange played only five players in their district final against Skutt - a game that needed overtime to decide - but pulled through to get back to the final eight. Beatrice is also a four-time state runner-up, with the last one coming in 2020, and this season's #6-seed will begin their 2026 state tournament against #3-seed Lincoln Pius X on Thursday night.

And in Class C1, Milford returns to the tournament after coming up just short in the final a year ago. The Eagles were one of the best teams in their class last year, and are absolutely one of the very best teams in the class this year, with their only loss coming to Class B Norris way back in December. This is just Milford's fourth appearance in the state tournament in program history, and they're doing it now in back to back years. Lincoln Christian was the only team to defeat Milford last season - a potential revenge game looms in the state championship this week. Milford begins the tournament against #8-seed Central City in a rematch from the subdistrict rounds.

Every game that Milford and Norris play in this week will be aired on Ol' Red (99.5 FM on radio and online) while every game that Beatrice plays in this week will be aired on KWBE (1450 AM and online). This page will be updated with final scores and broadcast plans at the conclusion of every day.

2026 Nebraska Girls Basketball State Championships Broadcast Schedule