"One of the reasons we are going to the holiday tournament is to make sure we are battle-tested. We are going down there and play as hard as we can." -- Coach Anderson

Schools in the Prep Classic:

  • Lincoln Southeast
  • Near North, IL
  • St. Joe Central, MO
  • Kearney
  • Apopka, FL
  • Lincoln East
  • Grand Island
  • Fayetteville,AK
  • Lincoln High
  • N. Allegheny, PA
  • So. Sioux City
  • Alta, UT
  • Msgr. McClancy, NY
  • St. Joe, Benton
  • Wahoo
  • Omaha Roncalli
LAST DANCE

upgrade

All signs pointed towards another exceptional year for the 1994 Warriors, but those who speculated about the possibility of another undefeated season and another monster win streak were nagged by a little doubt:  the Warriors would be facing an upgraded schedule in 1994.  Amid all the success of the Wahoo program there had been a consistent criticism of the schedule, especially when Wahoo was included in the Omaha World Herald All Class rankings.  While Coach Anderson had always defended his teams’ ability to compete at higher levels, he also conceded that a schedule filled with Class A teams would not have produced such gaudy victory margins and perhaps not so many win streaks.  It was also pointed out that it was not easy for a school to make instant changes in the schedules that were partially dictated by conference alignments and also by existing contracts.  Besides that, Wahoo’s best argument that the schedule was not a factor was that the teams always competed well when having to face the best that Class B could offer – the five state championships attested to that.

The most obvious upgrade in the ’93-’94 schedule came in the form of a special invitational tournament – the Lincoln Holiday Prep Classic.  The tournament had been conceived a year earlier and featured some of the best Nebraska teams facing off against quality out-of-state opponents.  In 1993, Wahoo had not been invited.  That oversight was corrected and in early 1993 it had been announced that the Wahoo team would be part of the field in the second year of the tournament.  Along with six Class A teams from Nebraska, Class B Wahoo and Class B Omaha Roncalli would be scheduled to play teams from Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Utah, Missouri, Florida, and New York.  While Coach Anderson tried to play down the significance of the tournament competition, for many it was seen as a test of the legitimacy of not only the 1994 team to be considered as among the best of the larger schools, but also a validation of the claims of previous Wahoo teams.  Coach Anderson tried to keep the appropriate focus:  “I don’t think (the Lincoln tournament) has to be the final straw.  Going back down and playing in the Sports Center in March is what is important to us.”  But in spite of the protests, the 1994 team could not escape the fact that it would be facing tougher competition and much larger schools than its predecessors had had the opportunity to play.  And they couldn’t escape the notion that the 1994 Warriors would be playing for the reputation of the past Warrior teams as well.

In addition to the Lincoln tournament, Wahoo would have one other new challenge on the regular season schedule.   While locked into a playing Capitol Conference teams, half of which were Class C1 teams, Wahoo had sought out some Class B competition by adding Seward to the schedule in 1992.  In 1994, Grand Island Central Catholic replaced North Bend.  GICC was a Class B team with a strong tradition of producing quality basketball teams and would be a high caliber opponent;  and a bit of an unknown for the Wahoo program.  Wahoo’s district tournament assignment also changed in 1994 and the Warriors found themselves grouped with fellow Lincoln Prep Classic participant, Omaha Roncalli. 

Ultimately, the upgrade of the schedule proved to be a challenge the Warriors would face successfully.  While there would be a loss along the way, the Wahoo basketball team would prove itself to be as competitive as Coach Anderson always insisted it would be.  And in meeting the challenge, the 1994 Warriors would add a little extra shine to the trophy that would be presented when they finished the “last dance.”

2/24/15