Holiday Hoopers: Northeast Nebraska's Top Performers

After a five-day Christmas break, teams across the state were ready to hit the hardwood last week with holiday tournaments. Here are some of the top performances and a brief breakdown from players across Northeast Nebraska. Check back for more in depth breakdowns as the week progresses.   <h2>2023s</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='296328' first='Hannah' last='Baumgart'] (2023) | 5-3 CG | St. Francis   22 points in a 49-41 win over Wynot   Energetic and saavy, Baumgart uses her speed and quick hands to force turnovers and start fast breaks for Humphrey St. Francis. A knockdown shooter, Baumgart had a big scoring night in a win over D-2 foe Wynot last week.   [player_tooltip player_id='296327' first='Emma' last='Baumgart'] (2023) | 5-3 CG | St. Francis   14 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 steals in a 49-41 win over Wynot   Similar to her twin sister, [player_tooltip player_id='296327' first='Emma' last='Baumgart'] doesnt have the size, but makes a big impact nonetheless. Her double-double with 12 rebounds gives you an idea of just how active and big of an impact she makes.   Makenna Noecker (2023) | 5-8 CG | Cedar Catholic   22 points in a 59-32 win over LCC   24 points in a 51-40 win over Plainview   A volume scorer who can really shoot the basketball, Noecker continued her blazing start to the year into the Northeast Nebraska Shootoutout in Wayne. She can score at all three levels and is deadly from deep.   [player_tooltip player_id='276513' first='Brooklyn' last='Kruse'] (2023) | 6-3 C | Wayne   18 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks in a 45-43 win over Plainview   21 points, 5 blocks in a 55-40 win over Auburn   One of the highest-ranked post players in the class, Kruse had some dominant performances last week. With her length and athleticism, she really makes her impact felt on both sides of the court. Her averages speak for the kind of season she's having at 17ppg, 7.6rpg, and 3.4 bpg.   <h2>2024s</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='770415' first='Madison' last='Abbenhaus'] (2024) | 5-8 CG | Bloomfield   40 points in a 73-64 win over Creighton   The performance of the week goes to Bloomfield junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='770415' first='Madison' last='Abbenhaus']. The 5'7 junior has a knack for getting by defenders and getting to the hoop. With the handles to go either way and make a dribble move to shake defenders, and an ability to finish around and thru defenders with either hand, Abbenhaus is a real offensive threat. However, it's not just scoring with the 2024 standout; her passing abilities and court vision really stick out.   [player_tooltip player_id='502335' first='Josilyn' last='Miller'] (2024) | 5-7 CG | Niobrara-Verdigre   20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals in a 55-36 win over Stuart   27 points, 8 rebounds in a 63-32 win over Osmond-Randolph   Just a week after tallying her 1000th point just seven games into her junior year, Miller dominated the Randolph Holiday Tournament. The 5'9 guard uses athleticism and length to create turnovers for her team leading to layups. A great finisher around the hoop, and a threat to knock down an open jumper, Miller impacts the game in a variety of ways.   [player_tooltip player_id='300307' first='Chloe' last='Hanel'] (2024) | 5-11 CG | Clarkson-Leigh   22 points in a 72-23 win over Fillmore Central   25 points in a 55-22 win over Fullerton   No shocker that Clarkson-Leigh star [player_tooltip player_id='300307' first='Chloe' last='Hanel'] put up big numbers in their blowout wins at the Shelby-Rising City Holiday Tournament. One of the top players in her class, Hanel continues to display her dominance for Clarkson-Leigh. A high basketball IQ, Hanel can get other teammates involved or put up volume scoring depending on the matchup. Her skill level parlayed with great athleticism makes her a matchup nightmare.   <h2>2025s</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='766585' first='JJ' last='Black'] (2025) | 6-2 C | Elkhorn Valley   14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 blocks in a 36-27 win over Battle Creek   With serious length and athleticism, [player_tooltip player_id='766585' first='JJ' last='Black'] has developed into one of the best shot blockers in the state, and one of the top recruits in her class. At 6'2, Black has the ability to run the floor and moves well inside. She can step out and knock down a jump shot and finishes well around the hoop. Black's sophomore averages include 11.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 6.2 blocks per game   Skylar Scholting (2025) | 5-7 CG | Pierce   24 points in a 51-41 win over LCC   24 points in a 58-38 win over Auburn   One of the best underclassmen in Northeast Nebraska, Scholting is coming into her own this year for Pierce. The sophomore plays with a lot of confidence and is a threat from anywhere on the court. She has good handles and is a strong finisher. These attributes were on display last week and this season with an average of 14.4 points per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='342207' first='Maya' last='Dolliver'] (2025) | 5-6 PG | Pender   21 points in a 45-30 win over HCC   20 points in a 55-45 win over Pierce   A smart, and savvy guard and leading scorer for the 10-1 Pender Pendragons, Dolliver has developed into one of the best guards of her class. A knockdown shooter and good finisher, Dolliver averages 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.   <h2>2026s</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='757565' first='Aubrey' last='Russell'] (2026) | 5-7 G/F | Winside   28 points, 7 rebounds in a 48-28 win over Stuart   Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='757565' first='Aubrey' last='Russell'] has helped an improved WInside team this season. Averaging 18.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg Russell is a big, strong guard with a high basketball IQ. The main threat for WInside, Russell is asked to do it all on the court and is a capable shooter, good finisher, and smart passer.

After a five-day Christmas break, teams across the state were ready to hit the hardwood last week with holiday tournaments. Here are some of the top performances and a brief breakdown from players across Northeast Nebraska. Check back for more in depth breakdowns as the week progresses.