LINCOLN, Kan. — The 2025-2026 Northern Plains League (NPL) Basketball Tournament is set to take center stage starting this Friday, January 16, bringing together top talent from across North Central Kansas. This year’s tournament will be hosted at Lincoln High School (LHS) and Lincoln Grade School (LGS), serving as the battleground for both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Girls’ Bracket: Rock Hills Holds Top Seed
The girls’ tournament kicks off with play-in games on Friday, January 16. #8 Lakeside will face #9 Natoma at LGS, while #7 Tescott takes on #10 Thunder Ridge at LHS.
The winners will advance to the quarterfinals on Monday, January 19, where heavy hitters await:
- #1 Rock Hills will face the winner of the Lakeside/Natoma matchup.
- #4 Lincoln will battle #5 Pike Valley.
- #2 St. John’s-Tipton awaits the Tescott/Thunder Ridge victor.
- #3 Osborne will square off against #6 Sylvan-Lucas.
Boys’ Bracket: Thunder Ridge Leads the Pack
On the boys’ side, #1 Thunder Ridge enters as the top seed. The opening round on Friday, January 16, features three key matchups:
- #8 Natoma vs. #9 Stockton.
- #7 Lincoln vs. #10 Pike Valley.
- #6 Lakeside vs. #11 Osborne.
Quarterfinal action for the boys will also take place on Monday, January 19, including a matchup between #4 Sylvan-Lucas and #5 Rock Hills at LGS, and #2 St. John’s/Tipton vs. the Lincoln/Pike Valley winner at LHS. #3 Tescott will face the winner of Lakeside/Osborne at LGS.
Tournament Schedule Highlights
Fans can expect a full week of competition leading up to the championship games on Friday, January 23.
| Event | Date | Location |
| Play-in Games | Friday, Jan 16 | LHS & LGS |
| Quarterfinals | Monday, Jan 19 | LHS & LGS |
| Semifinals/Consolation | Tuesday, Jan 20 | LHS & LGS |
| Championship Friday | Friday, Jan 23 | LHS & LGS |
Catch the Action on KD Country 94
For those unable to attend in person, KD Country 94 will provide extensive coverage of the tournament’s final stages. The station is scheduled to broadcast four games next Tuesday (Jan 20) and four games on the final Friday (Jan 23), ensuring fans don’t miss a moment of the semifinal and championship drama.
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