Season Outlook – Class A, B, C1
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Since the state of Nebraska doesn’t have rules or regulations on Holiday Tournaments, there is no “off” week during this time of the year. Everyone may get a few days here and there but from what I’m seeing, most programs…
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Continue ReadingSince the state of Nebraska doesn’t have rules or regulations on Holiday Tournaments, there is no “off” week during this time of the year. Everyone may get a few days here and there but from what I’m seeing, most programs practice through and try to stay in top shape.
At this point in the season a lot of teams know where they stand for the most part. Programs understand who, is going to fall where in the Playoffs and what games mean the most moving forward for their State Title aspirations. In the article below, we are going to cover a handful of the top teams throughout the state in each perspective Class, while checking in on what their futures might hold looking forward.
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Class A
Millard West (11-0)
- Class A is the biggest Class in the state and it brings us some of the best talent. To start off this season, Millard West is making a case for being not only the best team in their own perspective Class, but throughout the entire state regardless. West is loaded with multiple college level/committed players. They have the Gessert Twins in the middle, who will both be Power-5 committed within the next few months. Two more productive wing/forwards in the forms of Taylor Hansen Taylor Hansen 5'10" | PF Millard West | 2024 State NE and Callie Ott Callie Ott 5'10" | SG Millard West | 2024 State NE , whom are both already college committed, and an enforcer in the lane with Kylee Paben Kylee Paben 6'1" | SF Millard West | 2026 State NE , the #9 ranked player in the 2026 Class in Nebraska. When you account for this type of roster at the high school level, it’s second to none. Coming out of break, the Ladycats are 11-0 and coming off of a Holiday Tournament Championship. This team is going to have some more challenges before the Playoffs come around but not too many. If they want to bring home a title this season, they are going to have to lock it in. Take every game seriously, like it’s their last ,and understand how to adapt quickly. If they can do all that, this group should go all the way this winter.
Millard North (9-2)
- All of the top programs throughout the state have collegiate level talent in some form. Plain and simple. Millard North has a few players that are going to have a chance to compete at the next level but right now, you can tell that they are simply playing great team basketball. You could shoutout one of their star Guards – Sara Harley Sara Harley 5'9" | SG Millard North | 2025 State NE , or even their consistent Forward – Avril Smith Avril Smith 6'0" | PF Millard North | 2025 State NE , who gives them 7 and 9 per game but you won’t find a team that is playing better as a unit than these Mustangs right now. If you check out the leaders in stat categories throughout the state for things such as PPG, RPG, APG, or SPG, you aren’t going to find many of these players super high on those list and the reason for that being because EVERYONE is putting up consistent numbers, each contest. This demonstrates just how well this team shares the ball and how much everyone plays for one another. This group is going to be in the running for the Class A Championship at the end of this season. They have all the pieces, now they just need to go out and compete!
Lincoln Southwest (10-1)
- Lincoln Southwest has recently suffered a 3 point loss but other than that, they have been fantastic this season. The Silver Hawks are currently sitting at 10-1 and a big reason for that is because of the play of their Senior PG, Kennadi Williams Kennadi Williams 5'7" | PG Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State NE . Williams, a Huskers Women’s basketball and softball commit, is quite the athlete. She moves effortlessly coming down the floor with the ball and looks fluid in all of her movements on the court. Not to mention, her hustle is next level. She is never taking a play off and most of the time, she is actually turning her defense into offense. I’m not worried for this team right now but more-so, later down the road. They are going to finish out this season with a really nice record but once they get to Playoffs or the State Tournament, I’m not sure how they will match up. They run fundamental sets, that do a good job of setting up their players for success but someone other than Williams is going to need to have a big game. Whether it be on the boards, defensively, or scoring, it doesn’t matter. If some others can continue to produce and step up in the right moments, they are going to have the ability to put together some wins during this post season.
Omaha Central (11-1)
- It’s hard to envision a team with a better chance to take down Millard West than Omaha Central this season. Even though Central’s only lose on the year is to West, I think they can beat them down the road given the right circumstances. Everyone is going to have to play out of their minds but honestly, in their first matchup, it was a close and the Eagles played badly. In the end, the score did not reflect how that contest was play. If you exclude a rough shooting quarter to start off the day by Central, who knows what the outcome could have been. I know that is something you could say about any contest as an excuse but I think it’s a factor that should be considered when looking toward everyone’s future in this specific situation. The star of this Eagles team, Inia Jones Inia Jones 5'7" | PG Omaha Central | 2024 State NE , is going to show out the rest of her season with some revenge on her mind. This contest that I’m referring to wasn’t her best of the year and I know that she is looking forward to facing this team down the road again. This loss maybe exactly what this group needed. Now they are going into every game hungry for the rest of the season, ready to dismantle their opponents. Talk about a team needing an edge? This is the type of edge they can use to help them bring home a State Title.
Honorable Mentions – Lincoln Northeast (9-2), Omaha Westside (9-4), Marian (8-2)
Class B
Elkhorn North (10-0)
- The B Class is represented by two teams at this point, that are no stranger to each-other or this position. One of those teams being Elkhorn North. North is a powerhouse program that has two stars at the front of their impressive squad in McKenna Murphy McKenna Murphy 5'11" | SG Elkhart North | 2024 State NE and Britt Prince Britt Prince 5'11" | PG Elkhorn North | 2024 State NE . Both players are D1 committed athletes, that are extremely skilled but that is not the only reason why this group is successful. They are successful because of everyone’s attitude on the floor. Everyone plays for each other and understands what is the best route to attack their opponent. Usually that route has to do with Murphy or Prince scoring the ball in some form but nevertheless. I expect this team to take their talents all the way to the State Tournament this season and compete for a title once again. At this time, they are the Class B favorites from here on out, unless they slip up along the way but with the players and personal they have on roster, I wouldn’t count on that happening.
Skutt Catholic (10-1)
- Skutt Catholic is the other powerhouse rival in this B Class that needs to be talked about. The SkyHawks have only fallen once this season and it was this past Saturday at the hands of Elkhorn North. Prior to that game, they were sitting at 10-0 while winning all of their games, including a Holiday tournament in Arizona. The headline of this team has been and will be their Guard play. The competitors that they have at the guard position, that are always making a difference are Peyton McCabe Peyton McCabe 5'4" | PG Skutt Catholic | 2024 State NE and Molly Ladwig Molly Ladwig 5'9" | CG Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2025 State NE . Along with McCabe and Ladwig, the rest of this team has some other productive individuals when put in the right situations. They may have fallen yesterday but as long as they learn from it, they will be okay. I have a feeling that it’s destiny for these two teams to meet again at the State Championship to cap off what has been an intense past 4 years between these groups. They are good enough. If they both run their own race, it could and should happen.
Honorable Mentions – Norris (9-2), Beatrice (10-1), Waverly (7-3)
Class C1
Adams Central (9-2)
- Adams Central is coming off of a season where they fell short in the State Title game. This season they are looking for redemption and will not settle for anything less than bringing home a championship at the end of this year. Central wasn’t the highest ranked team in the State Tournament a year ago and they aren’t the highest ranked team right now but I think everyone is sleeping on them. This is one of those groups that can beat anyone in this C1 Class on any given night. They play team basketball with physicality and high level rebounding, they make productive changes, and they defend. You can win a lot of games if you play like that each time you step onto the floor. This group is an experienced one and that is going to play in their favor moving forward. They are currently 9-2 with some momentum coming out of break. They just need to continue to build on that game by game.
Lincoln Christian (10-1)
- The #1 ranked team, statistically, out of the C1 Class at this moment is Lincoln Christian High School. Lincoln Christian has started off this season with a 10-1 record, while only losing by 3 to Sidney High School as of most recent. The Crusaders “make their money” on the defensive side of the ball. Throughout their first 11 games this winter, they have scored 615+ points, averaging to about 56 PPG. Defensively, they have only let in 415 points, averaging to about 37.7 PPG. That is a 20+ point scoring differential each contest. That is pretty good if you ask me. Any team that can stand up and stop teams throughout and entire contest, will always give themselves a chance to win it in the end. That’s what this team does so well and that’s why I’m excited to see where they can take it from here.
Grand Island Central Catholic (11-1)
- In a Class that holds several undefeated or 1-loss teams so far, it’s hard to pick who is the best of the best with all considering factors. A team that has held their own this season and I’m expecting that to continue moving forward is Grand Island Central Catholic. This program is young. They have a big roster, with a lot of underclassmen. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but it makes you think that if they are doing well now, just wait a few more years. Experience at this level means everything for players to grow, develop their abilities, and learn what they are best at. This team is helping these players do all of that, while also winning most of their games and that’s something you love to see as a coach. I’m not sure if this program is really #2 in this Class with the types of teams I have named below but they are making a strong case so far and that’s something I can’t debate.
Honorable Mentions – Broken Bow (10-1), Battle Creek (10-1), Minden (9-2), Sidney (11-0), Bridgeport (10-0)