State Tournament Teams

There have been 17 Osceola teams that have made the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament. From 1913 to 1926,  the boys were on a 13-year streak of making it to the tournament, including a State runner up trophy in 1921. The current 2023 basketball team is on a three-year streak, trying to make a push to make it a fourth year. There are a lot of factors that can go into making it to the tournament, according to the current head coach of the boys team who has done a fantastic job rebuilding the program. 

Jason Zelasney has an impressive resume when it comes to the basketball scene. Zelasney took the head coaching job in 2020 and has never missed a state tournament. Also adding to those accomplishments, after this year's Crossroads Conference Tournament (CRC), he added a third championship in his short term as head coach. When asked what it takes to be a state tournament team. Zelasney replied, “I think you definitely need to be a team playing your best ball towards the end of the year. It’s not about being the team that is playing amazing during December. It’s about the team that is going to grow the most during December and start to peak more towards that February time.” He emphasized having to be able to grow throughout the season. State Championship teams never were playing their best game Week One of the season. Below are the state tournament teams throughout the years found on nsaa.org.home.