Lincoln Southwest's Kobi Kerr (32) goes up for a basket against Papillion-LaVista South's Connor Falkinburg and Grant Beckenhauer (23) in the Class A Boys State Basketball Championship on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026. (Jeff Motz/KFOR Sports)LINCOLN–(KFOR Mar. 14)–Lincoln Southwest’s path to winning their first ever NSAA Class A Boys State Basketball championship wasn’t easy, but the Silver Hawks managed to find a way each game to rally back and win. The Silver Hawks had to do it three times in the tournament, including on Saturday afternoon, to capture the school’s first boys basketball title and first for an LPS school since 2003, by defeating defending state champion Papillion-LaVista South 57-53 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Southwest (24-4) was playing in their second state title game in school history and first since 2009.  The Silver Hawks overcame a slow 12-3 start and chipped away at the deficit to close it down to one at halftime, 26-25. Southwest took control in the third quarter and got out to a 40-34 lead when Makkiah Sanders scored off a fast break with four minutes remaining.  Papio South narrowed the Silver Hawk lead down to one, after Connor Falkinburg scored on a second-chance layup and Kenyen Slobodny hit a three-pointer.  Uzziah Sanders, who scored a game-high 20 points, scored on back-to-back possessions in the final 39 seconds of the quarter to give Southwest a 44-39 advantage. During the first 1:17 of the fourth quarter, Southwest stretched the lead to nine, 48-39, when Crayton Meyer scored each time.  Grant Beckenhauer answered with a three-pointer to pull Papio South to within six with 5:42 to play. Neither team scored for about a three-minute span, until Levi Webb hit two free throws to pull the Titans to within four, 48-44.  Southwest went on a surge, including a free throw from Kobi Kerr and a layup from Uzziah Sanders, before Papio South answered with a three from Brady Alderson. Following a Makkiah Sanders free throw, he later forced a turnover and got a steal and basket to make it 54-47 with 33 seconds to play.  Papillion-LaVista South answered with Webb connecting on a three-pointer. Dakari Wilson, who scored 14 points, hit one of two free throws to extend the Silver Hawk lead to five.  Then Slobodny missed a three-pointer with 12 seconds left and Uzziah Sanders took off to the other end for a two-handed dunk to seal the victory. Falkinburg hit a three at the buzzer for the game’s final score, but not enough for the Titans.  He led Papillion-LaVista South (19-7) with 19 points. Click the link below for the podcast of the state championship game. Class A Boys State Basketball Championship: Papillion-LaVista South vs. Lincoln Southwest 3-14-26 ...read more read less