2020 Class C2 “Super 7”

As we finish our coverage of the 2019-20 season, and as we wait anxiously to have basketball return, let’s take a look at the seven best players in Nebraska’s Class C2 this past winter. <strong>The Season in Review: </strong>A deep and talented class this past season, C2 started out the season with five or six clubs that initially separated themselves from the rest of the pack.  As the season progressed, Oakland-Craig came away with some really big regular season wins, while teams like Grand Island Central Catholic, Superior and Hastings St. Cecilia battled in the central part of the state.  In the northeastern corner of the state, schools like Crofton, Ponca and Guardian Angels Central Catholic fought for supremacy, which lead to a balanced and action packed state tournament. <strong>Recapping the State Tournament: </strong>The top six seeds jockied for position and seedings, with a couple of great matchups in the first round, as Hastings St. Cecilia took out Superior and Ponca knocked off Grand Island Central Catholic.  In the semi-final, Ponca rose up to knock out top seeded Oakland-Craig, while a matchup of titans in the other semi-final between Crofton and St. Cecilia’s resulted in a 62-60 instant classic victory for the Hawkettes.  In the final, Hastings St. Cecilia repeated as state champions with a hard fought 41-37 victory over the Indians of Ponca. <strong>Plum’s Predictions: </strong>3-4; ugh!  The Ponca Indians destroyed my bracket, and I also had Crofton over Hastings in a true coin-toss. <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">THE SUPER SEVEN</span></strong> <strong>Kalynn Meyer (6’3" Center, Senior, Superior):</strong> Perhaps the best all around female athlete in the state of Nebraska, Meyer truly carried the Wildcats back to the state tournament with Walton-esque numbers of 21.1 points and an astounding 15.6 rebounds a night.  The future Husker volleyballer will make waves in Lincoln for John Cook, but you can bet that there were Division I basketball coaches that wished that Meyer would have chosen their sport. <strong>Tori Thomas (6’0" Center, Senior, Hastings St. Cecilia): </strong>Thomas closed her high school career with back to back state titles, and she was a tremendous leader for the Hawkettes this season.  Averaging 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds for a balanced St. Cecilia’s squad, Thomas was a dominant player at the state tournament who was on a mission to repeat, and her complete game around the basket helped the Hawkettes accomplish their preseason goal. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="94517" first="Bailey" last="Kissinger"] (5’6" Guard, Sophomore, Hastings St. Cecilia’s): </strong>Kissinger was the over half of the Hawkettes’ "Dynamic Duo" this past season, and she built off of an outstanding freshman season to an even better sophomore campaign.  The dynamic sharpshooter averaged 12.1 points a game while also working on her off the bounce game.  As Kissinger continues to grow in her game, her athleticism and basketball IQ should only grow. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="94324" first="Kennedy" last="Benne"] (5’7" Guard, Senior, Oakland-Craig): </strong>A player who battled injuries throughout her career, Benne finally had a completely healthy senior campaign, which allowed her to show the state what type of player she truly is.  Leading a young but talented Knights team, Benne finished the season averaging 20 points and six rebounds a game, along with five steals a game.  A Briar Cliff commit, Benne has a chance to be an outstanding player at the NAIA level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="94320" first="Kaci" last="Day"] (5’10" Wing, Senior, Ponca): </strong>Day lead the Indians to their first state championship game appearance since 1993, and she did so in grand fashion, saving some of her best basketball for the state tournament.  Day averaged 14.6 points a game, along with 6.6 rebounds, and her activity on both ends of the floor caught the attention of a lot of folks in Lincoln.  Day has the chance to be a very good player at the next level with her athleticism, but she will need to get stronger to absorb the physicality of the game. <strong>Rylie Rice (5’9" Guard, Sophomore, Grand Island Central Catholic): </strong>Rice, who missed time during the season for the Crusaders, still tallied 15.1 points a game, along with almost five rebounds a night.  The sharp shooter, who can hit shots well beyond the arc, was key in the Crusaders run to the state tournament.  A dynamic offensive player, Rice will have to improve her game on the defensive end to attract attention from Division II schools, but she has a chance to be a dandy by the time she is done. <strong>Lacey Sprackel (5’9" Forward, Junior, Crofton): </strong>As always, the Warriors came to the state tournament with a deep, tough and talented squad, but the catalyst was Sprackel.  A player who can take smaller players down the block or take bigger players outside, Sprackel lead the Warriors with 11.7 points a game to go along with 6.4 rebounds.  An undersized forward, smaller schools in the region might want to take a good, long look at this tough player who knows how to win.