Class C2 Season Preview

Over the next three weeks, we're going to take a look at each class in Nebraska, starting with Class D2 and ending up with Class A right around Thanksgiving weekend.  Today, we will take a look at Class C2, which returns a tremendous amount of top-shelf talent and a loaded returning state champion squad. <strong>RETURNING CHAMPION: </strong>Hastings St. Cecilia raised the Class C2 state champions trophy, defeating another traditional power, Crofton, in the final, 63-45.  St. Cecilia's just barely made it into the final after defeating Oakland-Craig 72-68 in overtime in the semi-final, but the Hawkettes got things going late against Crofton and pulled away for their first state title since 2011. <strong>TOP RETURNING PLAYER: </strong>Perhaps the best basketball player in Class C2, Kalynn Meyer of Superior will not even pursue the sport in college.  The University of Nebraska volleyball recruit also does a great job on the basketball court as well, averaging 20 points and 17 rebounds a game for a Superior program that was knocked out of the state tournament in the opening round last season. <strong>TEAM ON THE BRINK:</strong> Centennial (Utica) is set to make some noise in C2 this season after narrowly missing out on the state tournament last year.  With all five starters returning from an 18-7 team, the Broncos are primed to make a jump this winter.  Kierra Green, a transfer in from McCool Junction, is expected to help the Broncos after averaging 10.1 points a game last year.  Depth and balance will help the Broncos move into the elite this season. <strong>BEST CONFERENCE:</strong> The Centennial Conference is one of the elite conferences in all sports and activities in the state, and that is no different in girls basketball.  Hastings St. Cecilia, Grand Island Central Catholic and Wahoo Neumann, the returning Class C1 state champions who dropped down to C2 this season, are amongst the great programs in this conference.  If you want to see a preview of the state tournament, watch the results of the Centennial Conference tournament on an annual basis. <strong>REGULAR SEASON GAME(S) OF THE YEAR: </strong>Three of our top four teams in Class C2 meet in the regular season in a pair of match-ups.  Hastings St. Cecilia heads to Fillmore Central on January 2nd, while the Hawkettes also hit the road for another great match-up on February 13th when they go to meet conference foe Grand Island Central Catholic.  These two games should be two great measuring sticks to see where everyone lines up going into the postseason. <strong>"SUPER SEVEN" INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS IN CLASS C2:</strong> Kalynn Meyer, Superior (20 ppg, 17 rpg, Sr.)/ Lacey Sprakel, Crofton (15.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, Jr.)/ Bailey Kissinger, Hastings St. Cecilia (12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, So.)/ Kennedy Benne, Oakland-Craig (14.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, Sr.)/ Kaci Day, Ponca (14.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, Jr.)/ Jackie Schelkopf, Fillmore Central (13.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, Jr.)/ Lindsay Thiele, Wahoo Neumann (12.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, Sr.) <strong>"ELITE EIGHT" IN LINCOLN THE FIRST WEEKEND IN MARCH: </strong>Hastings St. Cecilia, Crofton, Fillmore Central, Grand Island Central Catholic, Nebraska City Lourdes, Oakland-Craig, Centennial (Utica), Superior <strong>PRE-SEASON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PICK: </strong>I believe that there is a pretty distinct split between the top five squads in Class C2 and everyone else in the class, with Hastings St. Cecilia, Crofton, Fillmore Central, Superior and Grand Island Central Catholic (dropping down from C2 from C1 last year) a notch above everyone else.  Watch out for Superior to be the squad to perhaps spoil the party for the two combatants in last year's title game, but I see a rematch in Class C2, with the depth of Hastings St. Cecilia once again wearing down Aaron Losing's Crofton squad and repeating as state champions.