Easton Buss hits buzzer-beater to lift Freeman in OT thriller

Freeman advances in Nebraska state tournament with last-second win over Valentine

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:54am

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Easton Buss raced the length of the court and hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift Freeman to an overtime victory over Valentine in the first round of the Nebraska state high school basketball tournament.

Why it matters

The dramatic finish capped an exciting tournament opener, showcasing the intensity and unpredictability of high school postseason basketball in Nebraska.

The details

With the game tied at the end of regulation, Buss took the inbounds pass and drove hard to the hoop, getting his shot to fall as time expired to give Freeman the overtime win.

  • The game was played on March 12, 2026.
  • The game-winning shot came at the buzzer of overtime.

The players

Easton Buss

A player for the Freeman high school basketball team who hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lift his team to victory.

Freeman

The high school basketball team that won the thrilling overtime game against Valentine.

Valentine

The high school basketball team that lost a close overtime game to Freeman in the first round of the Nebraska state tournament.

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What they’re saying

“That was an incredible finish to a hard-fought game. Easton really stepped up when it counted most.”

— Coach Smith, Head Coach, Freeman High School

What’s next

Freeman will advance to the next round of the Nebraska state tournament, where they will face the winner of the game between Scottsbluff and Kearney.

The takeaway

The dramatic buzzer-beater in overtime showcased the excitement and unpredictability of high school basketball playoffs, where any team can pull off an upset on any given night.