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Ryan Hruska - Play-by-Play Announcer
Coming Soon: Live audio play-by-play broadcasting for Nebraska HS Sports!
A 2011 University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate with a Bachelor’s in Broadcast Journalism, Ryan Hruska is an experienced play-by-play announcer. His background includes serving as the 2017 studio host for Lincoln Saltdogs baseball and as a former radio color commentator for Doane College football. In addition, Ryan has dedicated experience announcing many high school football, basketball, and baseball games.
Girls Highlights: The regular season concluded with high-stakes drama and massive scoring shifts. Omaha Westside and Omaha North battled in one of the highest-scoring games of the year, with Westside coming out on top 86-82, while Grand Island managed a dominant 57-27 win over North Platte. In a defensive masterpiece, St. Mary’s narrowly escaped Ainsworth with a 41-40 victory, and Elm Creek edged past Overton in a 40-39 thriller.
The week also saw dominant performances as teams geared up for the postseason. Omaha Nation showcased its stifling defense in an 87-17 win over Tiospaye Topa (SD), while Pender secured a hard-fought 51-48 victory over Oakland-Craig. Other notable finishes included Pierce’s 39-34 win against Boone Central and a convincing 63-43 win by Crete over North Platte, proving that momentum is shifting as the bracket season begins.
Boys Highlights: The boys' slate was defined by games that went down to the final buzzer. Tri County managed a razor-thin 44-43 victory over Sandy Creek, while David City secured a 48-45 win against H&H. Gothenburg also found itself in the win column with a 36-35 defensive struggle against Grand Island Central Catholic, and Ponca fell just short in a 35-33 heartbreaker against Wayne.
While some games were close, others were offensive showcases. Millard South dismantled Norfolk 98-60, and Walthill topped Tri County Northeast in an 87-77 shootout. The most staggering margin of the week came from Gordon-Rushville, which defeated Morrill 97-10. Meanwhile, North Platte St. Patrick’s displayed its scoring depth with an 83-63 win over Cambridge, and Crete handled North Platte in a 66-20 rout.
Girls Highlights: Week 9 was highlighted by several nail-biting finishes and defensive clinics. North Bend Central squeezed past Wayne in a 36-35 defensive struggle, while Hemingford secured a 42-41 victory over South Platte. In a clash of giants, Omaha Westview narrowly defeated Bellevue West 69-68, a game that featured multiple lead changes in the final minutes.
The scoring gap was much wider in other contests as Omaha Westview later overwhelmed Omaha South 83-1. Lincoln Christian also flexed its muscles with an 88-26 victory over Omaha Concordia. Other key results included Hitchcock County’s 70-21 win over Wallace and Gordon-Rushville’s 57-27 victory against Leyton, highlighting a week where the top-ranked teams began to separate themselves from the field.
Boys Highlights: The boys' division featured a mix of out-of-state victories and local shootouts. Omaha Westview put on a scoring clinic with a 93-59 win over Omaha South, while Sandhills/Thedford fell to Twin Loup in a high-octane 78-68 battle. Omaha Nation managed to hold off Flandreau Indian (SD) in a 45-44 thriller, and Adams Central secured a one-point victory over Columbus Lakeview, finishing 50-49.
Defensive dominance was also a major theme. Lingle-Ft. Laramie (WY) held Morrill to just five points in an 85-5 victory, and Potter-Dix secured a 76-8 win over Banner County. Elsewhere, Lincoln Standing Bear defeated Blair 62-53, and Bishop Neumann handled Boys Town 49-36. These results showcased the growing gap between the state's powerhouses and the rest of the pack as February approached.
Girls Highlights: This week saw a rarity in high school hoops: a game decided by a single basket in a low-scoring defensive battle, as Bancroft-Rosalie edged out Wynot 28-27. South Platte found similar success in a 35-34 win over Bayard, while Cambridge outlasted Wauneta-Palisade 56-55. These grinders stood in stark contrast to O'Neill’s offensive explosion, where they defeated Elgin Public/Pope John 83-57.
The "big school" matchups also delivered, with Omaha North topping Omaha South in a 76-9 blowout and Johnston (IA) defeating Omaha Marian 73-39. Other scores included Kearney Catholic’s 50-45 win over Aquinas Catholic and Scottsbluff’s 59-32 victory against Gering. The week proved that whether games were shootouts or defensive struggles, the competition was heating up across all classes.
Boys Highlights: Inter-state competition provided some of the most memorable moments of the season. Omaha Westside traveled to Iowa and engaged in a legendary 97-99 shootout loss against Storm Lake, while Millard South represented the state well with a 95-72 win over Sioux City East (IA). Locally, Archangels Catholic secured a 65-64 thriller against Riverside, and East Butler edged Mead 57-56.
The week also featured massive scoring discrepancies in several tournament games. Stuart dominated Santee in a 79-9 win, and Marty (SD) took down Santee 97-30. Other notable scores included Scottsbluff’s 87-57 win over Gering and Leyton’s 71-21 victory against Minatare. With so many teams playing high-efficiency basketball, Week 8 set a new standard for offensive production.
Girls Highlights: Precision and patience were required this week as several games were decided by the narrowest of margins. Blue Hill topped Franklin 29-28 in a game that came down to a final free throw, while Louisville edged Fort Calhoun 48-47. Omaha North continued to impress with an 87-76 victory over Elkhorn South, and Ogallala outlasted Sidney in a 68-65 back-and-forth battle.
Blowouts remained part of the story, however, as Omaha Westview defeated Bellevue East 83-5 and Lincoln Southwest handled Omaha Benson 76-39. Other key scores included Wahoo’s 84-25 victory over Nebraska City and Sandy Creek’s 70-34 win over Red Cloud. These results highlighted the importance of depth as the season moved into its most grueling stretch.
Boys Highlights: The boys' slate was highlighted by one of the best out-of-state matchups of the year, as Lincoln Southeast fell just short in an 80-87 shootout against Blue Valley North (KS). Hyannis managed to secure a gritty 34-33 win over Sandhills Valley, and Bertrand escaped Overton with a 56-55 victory. These close calls were balanced by Wahoo’s dominant 84-25 win over Nebraska City.
In other action, Lincoln Southwest defeated Omaha Benson 87-74, and Lincoln North Star topped Millard West in an 81-71 high-scoring affair. Flandreau Indian (SD) also made headlines with an 89-29 win over Santee. The week demonstrated that teams are finding their rhythm, with several programs across the state scoring at their highest rates of the season.
Girls Highlights: High-scoring offenses were the headline of Week 6. Bennington led the pack with 90 points in their win over Gering, while Omaha Nation outscored Oakland-Craig 70-65. Not every game was a high-scoring affair, as Wakefield narrowly defeated Wynot 40-39 and Morrill topped Hyannis 50-49 in a defensive thriller that went to the final possession.
Maywood-Hayes Center provided one of the most lopsided scores of the week, defeating Hi-Line 80-14, while Alma handled Superior in a 57-12 rout. Other results included Omaha Westside’s 51-42 win over Lincoln Southwest and Raymond Central’s 62-30 victory against Centennial. These scores highlighted a week where defensive specialists were just as vital as the primary scorers.
Boys Highlights: Week 6 featured some of the most consistent offensive play of the winter. Holdrege racked up 92 points against Phillipsburg (KS), and Omaha Gross Catholic outlasted Arlington 84-75. Raymond Central managed to sneak past Centennial 58-57, and Silver Lake earned a 60-59 win over Pleasanton. Every point mattered this week, as several games were determined by a single shot.
On the other end of the spectrum, Alma put on a masterclass in their 90-14 victory over Axtell. Deshler also found significant success, defeating Scandia-Pike Valley (KS) 86-33, and St. Francis Indian (SD) topped Santee 86-20. As the mid-season point arrived, these scores served as a benchmark for teams looking to make a deep run in the state tournament.