Slam Dunk: North Star, Southwest teams secure historic state basketball titles

April 8, 2026

North Star and Southwest students netted more than just gold medals this winter when they claimed state basketball championships for their high schools.
 
The North Star girls basketball and Southwest boys basketball teams both capped their seasons with Class A state titles at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Navigators earned the school’s first state championship in any team sport when they defeated Omaha North 51-35. North Star became the first LPS school to win the Class A girls title since Southwest accomplished the feat in 2017.
 
Southwest captured the school’s first boys basketball title by stopping Papillion-La Vista South 57-53. The Silver Hawks became the first LPS boys basketball program to win the Class A prize since Lincoln High in 2003. Southwest’s only other appearance in the championship game came in 2009.
 
Students and coaches from both squads said they picked up many life lessons from their historic title journeys. North Star head coach Tommy Johnson and senior Kendall said the basketball court taught the Navigators about tenacity, problem solving and leaning on one another.
 
“From basketball, I’ve learned so much about myself as a player and as a person,” Kendall said. “I’ve learned that you can achieve anything you put your mind to as long as you put in the work. I also feel like basketball has gotten me through a lot of things in life and is a way for me to be myself.”
 
“They can learn about life in a fun, competitive way, and in an environment that isn’t as stressful as the adult world,” Johnson said. “They can literally just learn true life skills like communication and networking and getting to know people.”

Eighteen North Star girls basketball players and coaches smile in a team photo in the high school commons. Head coach Tommy Johnson is also holding his young daughter. All of the players are wearing gold medals, and two players are holding the team's state championship trophy.
 
Southwest head coach Alex Bahe and senior Le’Vonte said the Silver Hawks discovered the importance of unity and cooperation from their experiences. They said all 14 varsity players boosted the program throughout the season.
 
“Being on the basketball team helped me learn to step up in my role and succeed in it,” Le’Vonte said. “Sometimes you have to learn how to work as a team and do whatever it takes to win. This was a good life lesson because being humble is important. You may be able to do something yourself, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a better outcome working together with a team.”
 
“I think this group truly understood the value of togetherness, embracing roles and a willingness to sacrifice for one another,” Bahe said. “No one put themselves above the team, and there was a clear understanding of how each individual uniquely contributed to our success.”

Members of the Lincoln Southwest boys basketball team celebrate with dozens of student fans who are in the crowd at the state championship game. The players are raising the state championship trophy and the students in the seats are cheering with their hands raised.
 
Family and Community Engagement is one of the key prongs of the 2024-29 LPS Strategic Plan because of the vital connections it produces. Kendall and Le’Vonte both said the encouragement from fans this year boosted everyone's confidence on their teams. Both schools had large crowds at many games.
 
“I’ve always felt like North Star has the best student section and fan base in Lincoln,” Kendall said. “Everyone shows out at all the games and makes it such a fun environment. Especially at state, I feel like the North Star community really showed up and showed out for us. All the teachers, staff, students, parents and friends really made my four years memorable.”
 
“The support that my teammates and I got from all friends and family was unmatched,” Le’Vonte said. “They showed up to every game cheering the loudest even when things weren’t going our way. The team really needed the fans as much as we needed each other, and I can’t thank them enough for being there for us.”
 
Bahe and Kendall both said the family atmosphere within their locker rooms also made a difference. Both groups had veteran leaders who served as mentors for younger players. They promised each other that everyone would work hard towards their championship goals. Along the way, they created lifelong friendships through their time at practices and games.
 
“That shared purpose and togetherness guided us all season and served as constant motivation,” Bahe said. “More than any team I’ve coached at Southwest, this group fully embraced our program identity.”
 
“No matter what I go through, I know I can get through it and I have a support system that will be there for me no matter what, especially my LNS girls basketball community,” Kendall said.

A North Star girls basketball player smiles toward the camera during a Gatorwalk in a school hallway. She is carrying the 2026 Class A state championship trophy, which features the words State Champion below the shape of the state of Nebraska.

North Star girls basketball players, coaches and managers hold their index fingers in the air to indicate that they finished first in this year's state basketball tournament. All of the players are wearing gold medals around their necks, and two players are holding a state championship trophy in front of them.
 
Johnson took over North Star’s program in July 2021 and began setting a foundation for the team’s historic run. He said school activities like basketball offer students many tools they can use to improve their futures. He said being involved as a coach has also changed his own outlook on life.
 
“When I first came here, I was pretty transactional. Let’s find ways to win,” Johnson said. “And then with these girls, getting to know them and watching them grow, I became more transformational. Now, it’s like, we’ve figured out how to win in high school, but how can I help you learn to win at the next level? How can I help you learn how to win in life?
 
“What are the skill sets that will help them both on and off the court so they can have a better future? That’s the most important thing.”
 
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Published: April 8, 2026, Updated: April 8, 2026

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North Star girls basketball players smile for a team photo in the high school commons earlier this school year. The Navigators and the Southwest boys basketball team both went on historic journeys this season. The North Star girls earned the school's first state title in any team sport, and Southwest became the first LPS school to net a boys basketball state championship since 2003.