December 28-30 was the last original GNAC (Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference) basketball tournament with its original eight schools. Which consisted of eight teams: Columbus, Kearney, Lexington, McCook, Norfolk, North platte, Scottsbluff and Hastings.Next year GNAC will be missing three teams: Lexington, Norfolk and Kearney. Lexington High School will be joining the Central 10 Conference, hoping to go up against smaller schools.
“It will be easier, anytime you lose two good class A programs it gets easier,” sophomore Connor Creech said
Norfolk and Kearney, both Class A schools, are joining the Heartland Athletic Conference (HAC), which will consist of primarily Lincoln-area schools.
“Kearney and Norfolk have dominated the GNAC for years so they are looking for better competition,” Hastings High Athletic director Tracy Douglas said.
GNAC will be picking up one team for next year in Gering. Next year, the GNAC championships will rotate host sites between the six participating schools but some will be hosted in more central locations so teams do not have to travel so far.
“We all really enjoyed each other and had a lot of fun at the hotel and while watching the other games.” Junior Alex Swoboda said.
The girls basketball team got second place losing to Kearney High school in the championship. The 2017 basketball conference was hosted in Norfolk. The boys basketball team got fifth place, going up against tough teams.
“I think we under performed for sure and we all knew that. The important part though is that we learned from our losses.” Swoboda said.
