PREVIEW: Orangemen aim to defend state championship at state

BEATRICE - The defending state champions are back for more in 2022 at the NSAA state tournament.

The Beatrice Orangemen were labeled as the underdog a year ago, but went on to win the Class-B state championship. This year, as the six-seed, they look to do it again. Confidence is high amongst the group, says senior Elliot Jurgens.

“You know, we always want to think we have a chance,” Jurgens said. “This team is just a group of winners at the end of the day, so I think we’re all sty going to fight to get to the one goal at the end.”

Orangemen head coach Clark Ribble is in his fourth season at the helm. A year ago, Beatrice went on to win it all, but now, they play the role of defending their title. Ribble says that change is noticeable as the team works through practice ahead of state.

"I’d say it’s very different,” Ribble said. “Beatrice is a basketball place, a basketball community. I’d say there’s a bit more expectation this year than there was last year.”

Tucker Timmerman and Elliot Jurgens are the only two returners who played a large amount of minutes at the state tournament last season. Ribble says the two have used their prior experiences to prepare a number of players who didn’t play at state a year ago.

“They’ve really shared some things about the arena, what it looks like, where to find the scoreboard…. Stuff you wouldn’t really notice unless you’ve played.”

When on the road to a state championship, it never hurts to have a sharp shooter in your arsenal. Shelton Crawford has been that for Beatrice all year, but especially as of late. Crawford has consecutive games in double figures, including a career high 21 in Beatrice’s blowout win over York in the district final. Crawford credits his current hot streak to dedication to extra work with his dad. Crawford has a hoop at his house and the two work together each morning.

“He gets me up around 6:20 [in the morning], we go out, shoot threes, dribble drives,” Crawford said. “We shoot for about 40 minutes or more. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without him.”

This will be the final go around at state for Elliot Jurgens, who eclipsed the 1,000 point mark earlier this season. He’s working to balance his focus of winning with living in the moment.

“I don’t really try to look into things that much,” Jurgens said. “At the end of the day I probably will look back on it, wishing I did put more in it, but I think the main goal for me is just to win.”

The goal at state for Tucker Timmerman and Jurgens is to win it all by playing the Beatrice brand of basketball.

“Obviously our main goal is to try to win it again, but I just want all of us to do our best every single game, and fight for a win,” Jurgens said.

“Win it all, play team basketball, play our game and what happens, happens,” Timmerman said.

Beatrice begins their journey to defend Monday night, as they battle Scottsbluff in an evening matchup, 7:45 at the Devaney Center.