Elkhorn North girls fall to Omaha North despite Palmer's 20 points

The Wolves put up a fight in the second half but couldn't overcome the Vikings' early lead

Jan. 29, 2026 at 5:31pm

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The Elkhorn North Wolves girls basketball team fell to the Omaha North Vikings 72-61 in the Nebraska Prep Classic at D.J. Sokol Arena on Saturday, January 24. Omaha North took a 14-point lead into halftime, but Elkhorn North made a strong second-half push, cutting the deficit to just 4 points. Sophomore forward Payton Palmer led the Wolves with a season-high 20 points, while junior guard Kaylee Lake added 12 points and 3 assists. However, the experienced Vikings were able to hold on for the win down the stretch.

Why it matters

This was a tough matchup for the Wolves (6-8) against one of the best Class A teams in the state. The Vikings (13-3) were riding momentum after beating the top-ranked Lincoln North Star the previous day. The loss drops Elkhorn North's record, but the strong second-half performance shows the team's potential as they look to make a push before the district tournament.

The details

Omaha North took a commanding 14-point lead into halftime, but Elkhorn North made some adjustments at the break, switching from man-to-man to a zone defense. This sparked a strong second-half push by the Wolves, who quickly trimmed the lead to just 4 points. Payton Palmer and Kaylee Lake led the charge, with Palmer scoring a season-high 20 points and Lake adding 12 points and 3 assists. However, the experienced Vikings were able to make key stops and free throws down the stretch to close out the win.

  • The game was played on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at the Nebraska Prep Classic in Omaha.
  • Elkhorn North held an early 5-point lead in the first quarter before Omaha North took control.

The players

Payton Palmer

A sophomore forward for Elkhorn North who scored a season-high 20 points in the game.

Kaylee Lake

A junior guard for Elkhorn North who scored 12 points and had 3 assists.

Michael Kroupa

The head coach of the Elkhorn North Wolves girls basketball team.

Omaha North Vikings

The Class A high school basketball team that defeated Elkhorn North.

Elkhorn North Wolves

The girls basketball team from Elkhorn North High School that fell to Omaha North.

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What they’re saying

“'(Payton) is huge for us. She battled the flu a couple of weeks ago, and I think her legs were finally getting back under her. Hopefully she can help us make a push before districts so we can peak at the right time.'”

— Michael Kroupa, Elkhorn North head coach (dcpostgazette.com)

What’s next

The Wolves will have an opportunity to rebound from the loss with back-to-back Eastern Midlands Conference matchups on Thursday and Friday. First, they take on the No.9 ranked Blair Bears, and then they make the trip south to take on the Waverly Vikings.

The takeaway

This game highlights the Wolves' potential, as they were able to mount a strong second-half comeback against one of the top teams in Class A. With just six games left in the regular season, Elkhorn North needs to string together some wins to boost their resume for a better spot in the district tournament.