Westside and Millard North have met seven times between 2020 and now. In battles that have featured stars such as Wake Forest’s Hunter Salias and USC’s Saint Thomas, the Mustangs have won five out of those seven matchups. The last time the two teams met was in the state semi-finals last year where a last second turnover by Westside allowed Millard North to squeak out a 50-48 win in overtime. Both teams are top ten in the state again this year and have reloaded rosters ready to wage war once again.
Westside comes into the game with a record of 16-2 and ranked number three in class A. They’ve had many tough games against top ten opponents such as rival Creighton Prep, Papillon South and Millard South. Millard North is the last team with a winning record that Westside will play for the rest of the season and if they get over this hump they can cruise to a top spot in districts.
Millard North comes into the matchup at 12-4 and number six in class A, but compared to the Warriors the Mustangs will have to battle to keep a top ten spot. Millard North has the number one strength of schedule in Nebraksa and even though it has been slightly easier up to this point in the season, the rest of the way they have to face off against both Omaha Westview and Papillion La Vista South, the two top teams in the state, along with a top team from Utah.
The Warriors are led by a platoon of players with three players averaging double digits points per game led by junior forward Emre Gedik who is averaging 15 points per game. Freshman Lee Robinson is averaging 12 points per game and a team leading four assists per game and two steals. Lastly, Junior Donnie Barfield has been a consistent piece for the Warriors having ten points per game and four rebounds a game. Along with the three big scorers the Warriors are big on the boards with more than half of the roster being 6 ‘4 or taller. They average 33 rebounds a game, led in that category by Tyson Odvody who is 11th in class A with eight rebounds a game. Westside is also coming in on a four game winning streak with their last game against Omaha South being their best defensive performance of the season – only allowing 33 points in the 84-33 blowout win against the Packers.
“My teammates helped me get into a flow,” sophomore London Dada said after a 21 point performance that game. “They helped me get my confidence and we all had a good game.”
The Mustangs are also led by three double-digit scorers. Derek Rollins leads the Mustangs, averaging a double-double with 19 points per game and 11 rebounds a game. He has put up 12 double-doubles in the Mustangs’ 16 games this season. Along with Rollins, Millard North has two other top scorers in Coriahnn Gallatin and Major Mosser who average 12 and 11 points respectively. Both of them have already attempted over 100 three pointers on the season. Gallitan has made 51 three pointers, which is tenth in the state on 49% shooting, which is crazy for how many he has shot. Millard North lives and dies by the threes, attempting just over 22 of them each game which, along with Westside’s three point flurries, means most points might be scored from behind the arc.
This will be a huge game for both teams. For the Warriors this is the last tough game before an easier schedule to end the season and for the Mustangs this is just the beginning of their gauntlet as they have to face the top three teams in class A to finish the season. History favors the Mustangs as they are looking for their sixth consecutive state championship appearance, while Westside is looking to avenge their loss to Millard North in last year’s state tournament semi-finals which knocked out Westside’s best opportunity at a state championship in a very long time. This will not only be a big morale booster for whoever wins in will affect wildcard standings when districts come around and could determine who has a higher seed going to the state championship tournament.
“We need to have a good day of practice,” Dada said. “We need lock in the scouting report and the film, come in here and take care of business.”
