Westside’s boys basketball season fell just short of a chance at a state title on Friday. The Warriors lost in overtime against Millard North 50-48 in the semi-finals. The game came down to the last 10 seconds, as the Mustangs stole the ball as the Warriors were driving up the court. Westside finished with a record of 21-5.
“We’re proud of the accomplishment,” head coach Jim Simons said.
Although Westside lost, this is the first time in program history where the Warriors appeared in the state tournament three years in a row. Westside ended up ranked No.3 in the final Omaha World-Herald top ten.
“Our ultimate goal was to win the state championship and we fell just a bit short of that on Friday night,” Simons said. “But I hope our guys appreciate, and that people don’t take for granted, the accomplishment to be in the state semifinals two years in a row. I think three out of the last five years we’ve been in the semi-finals. There’s a lot of good teams, a lot of good players, and a lot of good coaches. They’re trying to win too. To end in the semifinals in back to back years really speaks to the accomplishments and talent level that the last couple groups have had for us.”
Westside’s last two seasons ended with the state semi-finals. This accomplishment has been unmatched by the Warriors in past seasons. The players on this team end as some of the most accomplished in Westside history.
“Certainly wish we won on Friday night,” Simons said. “But as a couple of days go past and you look back on the season, you’re certainly proud of the accomplishments and what the guys were able to do.”
One of the reasons Westside has been successful in the past seasons is due to the 2024 senior class. The seniors end their high school career as the winningest class in history, and the Warriors are hoping that their work ethic has been imprinted on the other players on this team.
“They’ve been mainstays for the last two, three, and even four years,” Simons said. “C.J, Caleb and Kevin were four year varsity guys. We looked at the numbers, those guys edged out our 2022 seniors by one win to be the winningest class in Westside history. So we lose that level of experience. All seven of the guys contributed in their own, very meaningful and unique ways. So you’re not just going to replace those guys. They’re very talented players, great people, and have really represented the school and program in a first class manner.’
For coach Simons, the class leaves a legacy. Westside’s run of competitiveness has gone for seven years, with players like Jadin Booth and Chandler Meeks. Although this class is leaving, and with it, some of Westside’s key players in Kevin Stubblefield, C.J.Mitchell, Rickey Loftin and Caleb Benning, Simons is confident that their legacy will continue to grow on the remaining players on the roster, and the upcoming Warriors on the junior varsity team.
Kevin Stubblefield ends the season on a high note, as he made the state all-tournament team. Stubblefield impressed Simons over four years as a varsity player, not only on the court, but off the court. Stubblefield’s work ethic continued to grow for all four years on the team. As a player and as a student, he continued to impress his teammates and coaches.
“Kevin has been a talented player since he got here,” Simons said. ”He was on varsity as a freshman, he’s in the rotation as a sophomore. And as a junior, 2nd team all state, and All-Metro. The on court performance was really good. He averaged over 17 points a game, he was incredibly efficient offensively.”
The Warriors will look to next season to continue their run of success. They end the season in the state semifinals with a District title.
