This small town located 20 miles north of Columbus has three of their four basketball teams (Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family boys and girls basketball, and Humphrey St. Francis girls basketball) vying for the title this week.

Mayor Robert Priester echoed the sentiments of many in town, saying, “I’m amazed. It seems like every year they are good, it’s been quite a few years now.”

Indeed it has. According to online statistics from NSAA, the Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family boys team has been to state three straight years. They have won the title twice in those years. The Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family girls have reached state four times since the two schools merged for their sports teams in 2013.

Coming from a small town in Iowa (and having been a cheerleader for boys basketball throughout junior and senior high school) I know that sports are a big deal to small towns. And when the sports teams do well, the town comes out in droves for support. That's why this town of under 1,000 people has been largely empty this week. Almost everyone has driven to Lincoln to support their teams.

“I think the kids just have a lot of drive to succeed," Priester said. "They produce some good athletes, that’s for sure. These kids have played together for years, I think that makes a difference.”

The Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family boys basketball team plays against Grand Island Central Catholic in the class C-2 final at 4 p.m. today (Friday, March 11) 

The Humphrey St. Francis girls play against Sacred Heart Falls City in the D-1 final at 8 p.m. tonight.

The Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family girls basketball team plays against Shelton in the D-2 finals tomorrow (Saturday, March 12) at 9 a.m.