Heartland Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament Begins

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The Heartland Athletic Conference boys and girls basketball tournament is set to begin on Tuesday, January 27th, with quarterfinal games on Wednesday, semifinals on Thursday, and championship games on Saturday, January 31st. The top-seeded teams are Lincoln Southwest for the boys bracket and Lincoln North Star in the girls bracket. KFOR plans to provide coverage of several key games throughout the tournament.

Why it matters

The HAC basketball tournament is a highly anticipated annual event that showcases the top high school basketball talent in the Lincoln, Nebraska area. The tournament draws large crowds and generates excitement within the local community.

The details

The tournament will feature play-in games on Tuesday, January 27th, with Lincoln Northeast hosting Norfolk on the boys side and Lincoln Southeast girls hosting Fremont. Quarterfinal games are scheduled for Wednesday, January 28th, followed by the semifinals on Thursday, January 29th. The championship games will take place on Saturday, January 31st.

• The tournament begins on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
• Quarterfinal games are on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
• Semifinal games are on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
• Consolation games are on Friday, January 30, 2026.
• Championship games are on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

What’s next

The tournament will continue with the quarterfinal games on Wednesday, January 28th, followed by the semifinals on Thursday, January 29th, and the championship games on Saturday, January 31st.