The 2026 MUDECAS Basketball Tournament opens Monday afternoon in Beatrice, marking the 97th edition of one of southeast Nebraska’s longest running high school athletic traditions. This year’s event features a deep field of area programs competing across two eight team brackets.

Girls Tournament Begins Monday

Girls action opens the week, with HTRS, Johnson Brock, JCC, and Falls City Sacred Heart competing in the “A” Division. Pawnee City headlines local representation in the “B” Division. Monday’s first round schedule is as follows:

•             3:30 PM: Falls City Sacred Heart (#3) vs. Palmyra (#6)

•             5:30 PM: Pawnee City (#2) vs. Meridian (#7)

•             6:30 PM: HTRS (#8) vs. Freeman (#1)

•             8:00 PM: Johnson Brock (#4) vs. JCC (#5)

Winners advance to Thursday’s semifinals, while the remaining teams will play consolation games on Thursday or Friday.

Boys Tournament Opens Tuesday

Boys competition begins Tuesday, with Falls City Sacred Heart, JCC, and Johnson Brock representing the area in the “A” Division. HTRS and Pawnee City will compete in the “B” Division. Tuesday’s opening round matchups include:

•             3:30 PM: JCC (#6) vs. EMF (#3)

•             5:00 PM: Johnson Brock (#2) vs. Palmyra (#7)

•             5:30 PM: HTRS (#2) vs. Pawnee City (#7)

•             8:00 PM: Falls City Sacred Heart (#5) vs. Tri County (#4)

Winners will move on to Thursday’s semifinals, while the losing teams will play again on Saturday.

All tournament games will be held in Beatrice.