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Stuart Today
By the People, for the People
NVC Finals Wrap Up Great Basketball Tournament
Niobrara/Verdigre, CWC, EPPJ, and St. Mary's take home NVC titles
Published on Feb. 8, 2026
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The Niobrara Valley Conference (NVC) Basketball Tournament concluded on Saturday, February 7th after an exciting week of competition. The final day featured consolation matches for both the girls and boys, followed by the championship games. Niobrara/Verdigre and CWC won the girls and boys consolation matches respectively. In the girls championship, Elgin Pope John (EPPJ) defeated Santee 67-43 to claim the title. The boys championship was a rematch from last year, with St. Mary's defeating EPPJ 63-47 to defend their NVC crown.
Why it matters
The NVC Basketball Tournament is a highly anticipated annual event that showcases the top high school basketball talent in the region. The tournament finals provide an exciting conclusion to the season and determine the conference champions.
The details
In the girls consolation match, Niobrara/Verdigre defeated North Central 36-28 after building a big first-half lead. The boys consolation saw CWC defeat Stuart 45-40. In the girls championship, EPPJ jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in their 67-43 win over Santee. The boys title game was a back-and-forth battle, but St. Mary's pulled away in the fourth quarter to defend their championship with a 63-47 victory over EPPJ.
- The NVC Basketball Tournament concluded on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
- The girls and boys consolation matches took place earlier in the day on February 7th.
- The girls championship game between EPPJ and Santee was played on the evening of February 7th.
- The boys championship game between St. Mary's and EPPJ was the final event of the tournament on February 7th.
The players
Niobrara/Verdigre
The Niobrara/Verdigre girls basketball team won the third place consolation match.
CWC
The CWC boys basketball team won the third place consolation match.
EPPJ
The Elgin Pope John girls basketball team won the NVC championship.
St. Mary's
The St. Mary's boys basketball team won the NVC championship, defending their title from the previous year.
The takeaway
The NVC Basketball Tournament provided an exciting conclusion to the high school basketball season, with several teams and players showcasing their skills and determination. The tournament highlights the strong basketball tradition in the region and the competitive nature of the conference.
