Howells-Dodge began and ended the season as the No. 1 Class D team in the Daily News coverage area, and sisters Ellie and Grace Baumert were the main reasons why.

For the third straight year, Oakland-Craig outside hitter Bailey Helzer is a member of the Norfolk Daily News’ Class C Elite Eight. And along with that distinction, the 5-foot-11-inch Knight senior also has been selected as the honorary captain for Class C1 and C2 players in the Daily News c…

Before the season started, Norfolk Catholic football coach Jeff Bellar said it would take depth and camaraderie to make a deep run into November.

WAYNE — The Wayne State men and women's basketball teams played a doubleheader in Rice Auditorium here Friday night in front of what ended up to be more than 1,200 people against two different teams.

Getting the lead wasn’t easy while the Midland University junior varsity was making 9 of 16 3-point shots in the first half.

Back in August, it wouldn’t have surprised many people if you told them that Pierce would be back in the Class C1 title game come November.

WAYNE — The Wayne State women's basketball team wasted little time in taking care of Chadron State College here at Rice Auditorium on Thursday night as the Wildcat women ran away with an 87-50 win against the Eagles.

For 20 years, the Howells Bobcats and the Dodge Pirates were two of the best programs in Northeast Nebraska, winning a combined 15 state titles in classes D1 and D2 as separate schools from 1994 to 2011.

Here we are, folks. In less than a week, three area teams will play for a state championship. Back in Lincoln, no less. This whole season has shown us one thing, and it’s that you never know what to expect, which I think will remain true in these games. As always, take it all in.

WAYNE — Wayne State came home for the first game of its 2021-22 men's basketball season and won its first game after a couple of tough losses on the road.

The Northeast Community College men’s basketball team had its best outing of the season Tuesday night, edging the Concordia University junior varsity 78-75.

Pursuing a dream — especially that of a professional athlete — involves work, sacrifice, dedication and more work.

WAYNE — In what was truly a "great day to be a Wildcat," the Wayne State College volleyball team closed out its home version of this season with a sweep over the University of Minnesota-Duluth 26-24, 25-17 and 25-17.

HOWELLS — In the storied football history of Howells and Dodge, with annual playoff appearances and state titles, it's difficult to imagine that the two football-crazy towns along Highway 91 have not been to a state championship game since getting together back in 2012.

PIERCE — The Bluejays of Pierce High punched their ticket to the Class C1 state championship for the third straight year on Friday night and avenged their most recent loss with a 21-0 win over the Battle Creek Braves in the semifinals of the Nebraska state football playoffs.