Sports

.Cross County senior Sawyer Anderson was the area’s leading scorer as he put up 16.1 points per game and pulled down 5.2 rebounds. He also led the Polk Co. area in assists at 5.3, he was fifth in FT shooting and sixth in steals. PCN file photo by Ken Kush.

.Cross County senior Sawyer Anderson was the area’s leading scorer as he put up 16.1 points per game and pulled down 5.2 rebounds. He also led the Polk Co. area in assists at 5.3, he was fifth in FT shooting and sixth in steals. PCN file photo by Ken Kush.

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Area Boys Final Basketball Stat Leaders

News Staff
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
STROMSBURG- It used to be that we had to rely on coaches emailing or faxing us the team’s final stats for the season.Now all we have to do is wait until the coach enters them on Max Preps and then put together the final numbers for an area leaders board.The 2025-2026 boys basketball season for Polk...
medal in a team running event in 2025 at Omaha Burke.

medal in a team running event in 2025 at Omaha Burke.

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Spurling Has Experienced Success Through Hard Work and Sacrifices

Ken Kush
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
POLK- Being a three-sport athlete takes a lot of grit, dedication, determination and support and it also consumes a lot of an athlete’s time in high school, leaving less time for the fun things.High Plains senior Brodey Spurling has been down that road for the last four years as he has competed in...

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Track and Field Schedules for 2026

High Plains Storm
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
HIGH PLAINS STORMMarch19 at UNK Indoor (Kearney)24 at Merrick Co. Invite (Cen tral City) April2 at Osceola Invite7 at Fullerton Invite15 High Plains Invite (Osceola)23 at Palmer Invite (Fullerton)27 at Central NE (GI)28 at Shelby-RC Invite May2 at CRC Invite (Osceola)7 at Lawrence-Nelson Invite13...
Ella Clark finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds for Cross County on Thursday. PCN photo by Rick Holtz

Ella Clark finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds for Cross County on Thursday. PCN photo by Rick Holtz

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Cougar season ends at State

Rick Holtz
Friday, March 6, 2026
LINCOLN — A single loss does not define a season. The Cougars saw their season come to an end on Thursday in the opening round of the NSAA Class D-1 State Championships. The No. 7 seed Cross County fell to No. 2 Elm Creek 47-21.“We just didn’t hit shots,” Cross County coach Mitch Boshart said.
Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week.

Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week.

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PCN Athletes of the Week for March 5, 2026

News Staff
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Each week during the school year, the Polk County News will select a male and female Athlete of the Week. Athletes of the Week are brought to you by these fine sponsors.
Cross County pulled off the upset and heads back to Lincoln for the fourth season in a row. PCN photos by Rick Holtz

Cross County pulled off the upset and heads back to Lincoln for the fourth season in a row. PCN photos by Rick Holtz

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Upset Propels Cougars Back to State

Rick Holtz
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
GREELEY — The magical season continues.Cross County earned another bite at the apple on Friday, defeating Central Valley 47-44 in the D1-6 District Final, propelling the Cougars back to State for the fourth season in a row.Entering the game as the underdogs, Cross County (20-7) took everything that...
Junior Jackson Winslow (12) tries to get around the defense of Archangels Catholic’s Gage Braun. Winslow led the Bulldogs with 18 points, but it was not enough as Archangels Catholic Defenders defeated Osceola 65-42. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

Junior Jackson Winslow (12) tries to get around the defense of Archangels Catholic’s Gage Braun. Winslow led the Bulldogs with 18 points, but it was not enough as Archangels Catholic Defenders defeated Osceola 65-42. PCN photo by Ken Kush.

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BULLDOGS NO MATCH FOR ONE-LOSS ARCHANGELS CATHOLIC

Ken Kush
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
HUMPHREY- The Osceola Bulldogs scored first and took a 2-0 lead with 7:03 to play in the first quarter.They would not score again until the 7:08 mark of the second quarter and by then the 23-1 Archangel Catholic Defenders had built a 25-4 lead and went on to cruise to the 65-42 win in semifinal...

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From The Corn Stalks/Corn Rows WHAT IS ALL IN A NUMBER?

News Staff
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
I have always lived by the statement that age was just a number.The other day I was reminded that my number was getting up there and I wanted to respond with some kind of snappy comeback, but I really couldn’t think of anything and I couldn’t really argue with what they said.While I still feel...
Nixon Thelen (30) tries to split the Tekamah-Herman defense in Monday nights 86-78 OT win at Fremont Bergan Catholic. On Tuesday, the C2 defending State champion Knights rolled to a 76-42 win to end the Huskies season at 12-13. PCN photo by Ken Kush

Nixon Thelen (30) tries to split the Tekamah-Herman defense in Monday nights 86-78 OT win at Fremont Bergan Catholic. On Tuesday, the C2 defending State champion Knights rolled to a 76-42 win to end the Huskies season at 12-13. PCN photo by Ken Kush

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KNIGHTS TO TALL OF AN ORDER FOR HUSKIES

Ken Kush
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
FREMONT- After scoring a season-high 86 points on Monday in the quarterfinals against Tekamah-Herman at the C2-2 subdistrict, the Shelby-RC Huskies faced a match-up with No. 1 rated and C2 defending state champion Fremont Bergan Catholic Knights to keep their season alive on Tuesday The Huskies...
High Plains senior Chase Owens releases this mid-range jumper in the Storm’s subdistrict game at L-N High School on Tuesday. Owens led the Storm in scoring with 18, but High Plains season came to an end with the 67-60 loss. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

High Plains senior Chase Owens releases this mid-range jumper in the Storm’s subdistrict game at L-N High School on Tuesday. Owens led the Storm in scoring with 18, but High Plains season came to an end with the 67-60 loss. PCN photo by Beth Sparrow.

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Storm Can’t Make Up Early Deficit at Lawrence-Nelson

Beth Sparrow
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
NELSON - Tuesday was subdistrict play, and High Plains drew #5 ranked Lawrence-Nelson. They fought hard, but lost 67-60.Chase Owens led the first quarter, putting in all 8 points for the Storm. The Raiders took the early lead, and it was 16-8.