Bellevue West races past Westside, secures fourth straight title game berth
LINCOLN, Neb. - For the fourth straight season, Bellevue West will play for a state title.
The Thunderbirds cruised past Westside 74-41 in the Class A boys state basketball semifinals. Bellevue West won in 2020, but it has lost each of the two previous seasons to Millard North.
Josiah Dotzler paced Bellevue West in a balanced offensive attack, scoring 21 points to lead the Thunderbirds. Jaden Jackson scored 13 points before leaving the court with an apparent ankle injury.
Rickey Loftin and Kevin Stubblefield scored 10 points apiece to lead Westside.
Bellevue West never trailed in the contest, building a 29-17 halftime lead. It was after the break, however, that the Thunderbirds turned on the jets, outscoring the Warriors 45-24.
The Thunderbirds have played Millard North in each of the past three state championship games. They will either play the Mustangs for a fourth straight year, or they will draw Class A title game newcomer Gretna.
Watch highlights in the video above.
#1 Bellevue West (27-0) 19 10 24 21 - 74
#5 Westside (17-8) 4 13 8 16 - 41
SCORING
Bellevue West: Dotzler 21, Jackson 13, Garcia 9, Ajang 6, Stueve 5, Wraggs-McMorris 5, Bullion 4, Turner 4, Poulicek 3, Gauff 2, High 2
Westside: Loftin 10, Stubblefield 10, Mitchell 6, Odvody 4, Barfield 3, Brown 3, Crawford 3