Norris leaning on prior state experience, chasing first state title in over 20 years

FIRTH, Neb. - After back to back appearances at the NSAA State Tournament, the Norris Titans are back at state again this year, finding themselves as the top seed in Class B.

The Titans are using the past two years of coming up short, as experience and motivation as they chase their first state title since 2003.

“We’re hoping to go down there and make a run at this thing again."

Head Coach Jimmy Motz referred to the first of Norris’ three straight state appearances as “house money”, but says the team still feels the sting of last years state finals loss to Skutt.

But with another successful regular season under their belt, Motz says his group is ready to give it another go in 2025.

“These kids have waited now, another year, for this opportunity, they’ve put a lot of tine and effort into it and they’ve had to answer the bell 26 times this season,” Motz said. “We’re at that point in the year where they know the routine, they know the drill.”

For Senior Barrett Boesiger, he’s trying to lead by example, turning the last two years of coming up short into motivation for this week. He says Norris’ experience stretches beyond just knowing routines, but also having multiple players know nothing, but state tournament appearances.

“It’s huge having young guys who have been there a few times,” Boesiger said. “Everybody that plays know has played their before, so no one’s nervous, everybody knows what the expectation is.”

An example of that, is junior Chris Garner Jr.

“It’s really hard to get there,” Garner Jr. said. “Most kids don’t even get to experience it or play and it’s fun to play with this guys. These are my brothers.”

As for what can finally get Norris over the hump, Coach Motz says they’ll have to be sharp on fundamentals.

“Expectations are up there again, but the kids have handled it well all year, they’ve been mature all year, handled the pressure when we’ve had to go on the road and win some tough ones so I think we’re battle tested,” Motz said. “Obviously, when you get down there, anything can happen down there, we’ll face a team that we’ve seen twice already this year that’s going to be hungry.”

The Titans begin the state tournament at 1:15 Thursday afternoon, taking on Lincoln Pius at Pinnacle Bank Arena.