Class C2 District Finals Preview

The 2019-20 Class C2 slate has been highly competitive all season long, especially at the top.  Some of Nebraska's best small school programs once again litter the landscape as they prepare for this Friday's district finals, with some returning for the first time in a couple of years.  Let's take a look at the eight district finals and see who will be playing next weekend in Lincoln. <strong>DISTRICT C2-1 FINAL: (16) Wood River vs. (1) Oakland-Craig</strong> <strong>Key players: </strong>Wood River will come into this contest as a very heavy underdog against the once-beaten Knights, but don't count them out.  Wood River has two outstanding juniors in <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/boston-boucher/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/boston-boucher/">Boston Boucher</a></a>, who has hit 56 three point shots on her way to averaging 17.4 points a game, and Hannah Paulk, who chips in almost nine a night.  These two will have to have a big game for Wood River to give Oakland-Craig a run. <strong>Outlook:  </strong>Oakland-Craig is long, deep, aggressive and athletic, and they have played one of the tougher schedules in the state for a small school.  Look for all-stater <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kennedy-benne/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kennedy-benne/">Kennedy Benne</a></a> to not be denied another opportunity at the state tournament, and I see Oakland-Craig pulling away in this one. <strong>DISTRICT C2-2 FINAL: (15) Freeman vs. (2) Crofton</strong> <strong>Key player: </strong>Last season, Crofton finished runner-up in Class C2, and that did not sit well with Alexis Arens and her teammates.  Her all around game has helped Crofton run out to a 22-3 record, and Arens figures to play large in Friday's district final.  As Arens goes, that's how Crofton's post-season chances will play out. <strong>Outlook: </strong>Freeman faces an uphill battle in this one.  Coach Aaron Losing has had perhaps the most dominant program in the state in the last decade, and look for that run to continue.  With their relentless defense and attacking offense, the Warriors should cut down the nets this Friday and return to Lincoln. <strong>DISTRICT C2-3 FINAL: (14) Centennial vs. (3) Hastings St. Cecilia</strong> <strong>Key player: </strong>Both teams sport a dynamic duo.  For St. Cecilia's, it is the inside-out combo of sophomore <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/bailey-kissinger/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/bailey-kissinger/">Bailey Kissinger</a></a> (11 ppg) and senior Tori Thomas (14 points and 7 rebounds). They will be matched up against the combination of <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kate-hirschfeld/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kate-hirschfeld/">Kate Hirschfeld</a></a> (14 ppg/ 6 rpg) and Hunter Hartshorn, who averages 11 a night.  Whichever school wins this tag-team match-up has a great chance of winning this Friday. <strong>Outlook:  </strong>Both teams have played a strong schedule, but Hastings St. Cecilia has really ran the gauntlet and has faced off against most of the best schools in central Nebraska.  Centennial has struggled against some of the elite programs, including blowout losses to Superior and Oakland-Craig.  I see the supporting cast of St. Cecilia's being too strong for the Broncos to match up with. <strong>DISTRICT C2-4 FINAL: (13) Clarkson/Leigh vs. (4) Guardian Angels Central Catholic</strong> <strong>Key player: </strong>Clarkson-Leigh comes in with a balanced attack, led by sophomore Kennedy Settje and junior Cassidy Hoffman, both of whom average around 10 points a game for the 19-5 Patriots, who have overcome a 2-3 start.  If Clarkson/Leigh is going to have a chance against one of the traditional powers of the state, these two are going to have great games. <strong>Outlook:  </strong>Coach Jerry Stracke has build one of the most dominant programs in the history of the state, and this year's squad is no different.  The Bluejays have won 15 of their last 17, including avenging an early season loss against BRLD and they have also toppled Crofton and Ponca along the way.  I see GACC pulling away in the second half of this one. <strong>DISTRICT C2-5 FINAL: (12) Nebraska City Lourdes vs. (5) Ponca</strong> <strong>Key player:</strong> Coming from northeast Nebraska, Ponca is battle-tested and looking for a return trip to Lincoln.  The veteran/rookie combination of senior <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kaci-day/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kaci-day/">Kaci Day</a></a> (14.7 ppg/ 6.8 rpg) and freshman Ashlyn Kingsbury (11 ppg/ 4.6 rpg) have keyed the Indians all season long, including an impressive win over Wynot.  These two will need to play well for Ponca to win. <strong>Outlook:  </strong>Nebraska City Lourdes is also very battled-tested, with two impressive wins over Sterling and a blowout victory over Class B Omaha Duchesne.  I see this as perhaps the closest of any of the district finals that will probably come down to the last few possessions, but I see Nebraska City Lourdes just a little more talented than Ponca and therefore pulling out the victory. <strong>DISTRICT C2-6 FINAL: (11) Bridgeport vs. (6) Grand Island Central Catholic</strong> <strong>Key player:</strong> Out of the Panhandle comes Bridgeport, with the fabulous freshman duo of Ruthie Loomis-Goltl (17.8 ppg) and Mackenzie Liakos (9 ppg) to help out junior Sydney Nein (13.8 ppg).  These "Three Musketeers" have led Bridgeport to a 19-5 record, but the competition that they have played is probably not as difficult as some of our other competitiors. <strong>Outlook: </strong>While Bridgeport does not have a great strength of schedule, Grand Island Central Catholic has taken on all comers, and have gotten nice wins over Omaha Gross, York and Hastings St. Cecilia.  That strength of schedule and success against it gives Central Catholic a big edge going into this contest, and I look for them to come out on top. <strong>DISTRICT C2-7 FINAL: (10) North Central vs. (7) Superior</strong> <strong>Key player:</strong> It's no secret where Superior is going to go when they need a big play; one of the two Meyers' are going to be involved in some way, shape or form.  Nebraska volleyball recruit Kalynn Meyer (21.5 ppg/ 15.7 rpg) and sophomore Shayla Meyer (13 ppg/ 5 rpg) have been the center of everything that Superior has done all season, and they will be chore for the Knights to stop. <strong>Outlook:  </strong>North Central comes into this one with an impressive 20-4 record, and they are the only team that has given D1's top ranked squad CWC a loss.  However, the athleticism of Kalynn Meyer is going to hard to handle, and I think that will be the difference for the Wildcats as they return to the state tournament for the third year in a row. <strong>DISTRICT C2-8 FINAL: (9) South Loup vs. (8) BRLD</strong> <strong>Key player:</strong> BRLD is one of the more exciting teams in the state, averaging over 60 points a night.  They are led by the three-headed monster of senior Kailynn Lovejoy (10 ppg/ 5 rpg), junior Caregan Tietz (12 ppg/ 4.5 rpg) and sophomore Jordan Snyder (12 ppg/ 7 rpg).  When these three get going, BRLD is difficult to stop, as victories over Ponca, Clarkson/Leigh and Guardian Angels Central Catholic shows us. <strong>Outlook:  </strong>This looks like a tough match-up for South Loup, who have played 16 games against Class D-level programs, including 10 games against schools who are in D2.  I think that lack of strength of schedule is going to be difficult for the Bobcats to overcome, and I see BRLD turning up their pressure and running away with a district championship.