LINCOLN – The Overton Eagles, dressed in their deep royal blue uniforms, looked poised and ready for their first state title game in 40 years Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, taking on a talented Freeman team who last year lost to Ravenna in the C-2 title game.
Freeman’s experience in the title game was key, along with a dominant performance by their big man Kyle Schlake in the second half, to propel the Falcons to a 52-38 victory over the Eagles, capturing their first state championship.
The game started out just like many anticipated, with Overton pushing the offense, while Freeman settled in with their pass-happy offense and defense with Schlake pinned right in the middle.
“Their length is very difficult,” head coach Jay Staehr said. “When they ran their offense, they took the best possible shot. They were very patient.”
Overton senior Jared Shafer was a thorn in the big man’s side for much of the first half, shutting Schlake down to zero points in the second quarter and four points the entire first half.
The Falcons led the Eagles by only one after the first quarter at 10-9, but the Falcons found a way to keep the Overton offense at bay, double and triple teaming Shafer and Jacob Olmstead on the perimeter, while Schlake blocked shots from Zach Olmstead and any other Eagle who decided to drive the lane on him.
The Eagles only managed four points in the second quarter, as they saw themselves on the ropes going into halftime, trailing 22-13.
Overton all season long has been great on second half adjustments, so how the Eagles responded coming out of the locker room played a big factor.
The Eagles came out and showed the Falcons they weren’t intimidated, with a quick 8-3 run, including two three point plays from Jacob Olmstead, to bring the Eagles within four points.
The four-point deficit was the closest that Overton would be able to get the rest of the game.
Freeman’s Schlake was a nightmare to Overton during the second half, scoring 10 points off of hitting the shots after being fouled, plus hitting the extra free throws to rowdy the Freeman faithful, thereby swinging the momentum of the game considerably.
Staehr could only stand and watch as the seconds ticked away as Freeman stormed the court, thwarting the Eagles’ plans of a state championship.
Jacob Olmstead’s gutsy performance during the title game will be key as he returns for the Eagles next year, scoring 17 points, a team-high and second only to Schlake’s 19 points.
Shafer put it all out on the floor in his final game in an Eagles’ uniform, scoring eight points while grabbing 11 rebounds.
Schlake, combined with teammates and fellow seniors Eric Rapp and Jordan Pella, scored 41 of Freeman’s 52 points. Schlake finished with 19 points, along with 12 boards.
Overton finishes their season at 21-4 overall, going 21-1 against teams in Class D. Freeman finishes at 26-2.
Jacob Olmstead and Jared Shafer were both chosen for the Class D-1 All-Tournament team.
The Eagles’ will lose two starters off the starting five with Jared Hodgson and Jared Shafer, but the Olmstead brothers, along with bench contributor Jacob Jensen and  starter Brady Wiess, look to lead the Eagles back to Lincoln next season.
“I take my hat off to those two seniors,” Staehr said. “They battled through some tough adversity. They are very good leaders. I thought both of them did extremely well.”
At the final poll of the season according to the Omaha World-Herald, the Eagles will finish with one of their highest rankings in school history, finishing at No. 2 overall. The Eagles had climbed to No.1 before the state tournament had begun.
Also, Overton got a ton of state playoff experience, including players such as Max Flores, Tyler Hinkle, who scored the Eagles’ final two points of the contest, Anthony Fisher and Dallas Bevard, all got time in the last minute of the state championship game, that could give them valuable experience going into next season.
The Eagles will not be tall, with Jacob Olmstead being the tallest player on the squad next season, however the talent will be just as good if not better than this year’s squad.
The Freeman Falcons won a state championship after being runner-up the season before.
Is it in the cards for Overton? Only time will tell.

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