2024 Playoff Preview – The Big Playoff Picture (Class A-C1)
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At the beginning of the season I gave my preseason predictions of what each Class Playoff picture may look like. In this article, we are going to revisit those predictions and figure out where I went wrong, along with talking…
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Continue ReadingAt the beginning of the season I gave my preseason predictions of what each Class Playoff picture may look like. In this article, we are going to revisit those predictions and figure out where I went wrong, along with talking about the near future and the star players from each perspective Class.
Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!
Class A
To start things off at the beginning of this year I did not have Millard West as the #1 team and powerhouse program that they are. I had them in a top group of teams that I thought had potential but they have completely proven me wrong this Winter. On every occasion they have stepped up and made the most of their opportunities, putting together some good games and a really successful season as a whole at 20-1. Their only loss came at the hands of the #1 ranked team out of Iowa, the Johnston Dragons. Which is nothing to be ashamed of as the Dragons are currently ranked as the #20 team in country according to ESPNW. West has a path to bring it home. Before that can happen, they are going to have to deal with some other contenders like Lincoln Southwest, Millard North, PLVS, Bellevue West, Lincoln North Star, and few others. If they do that, they will be crowed the Class A State Championships over this next month but if not, it’s anyone’s game.
Some Players To Know In Class A: Neleigh Gessert Neleigh Gessert 6'0" | SG Millard West | 2025 State NE (18 PPG/6 RPG/3 APG), Norah Gessert Norah Gessert 6'0" | PG Millard West | 2025 State NE (11 PPG/5 RPG/4 APG), Kylee Paben Kylee Paben 6'1" | SF Millard West | 2026 State NE (10 PPG/7 APG), Taylor Hansen Taylor Hansen 5'10" | PF Millard West | 2024 State NE (8.1 PPG/2.6 APG), Naomi White Naomi White 5'9" | CG Bellevue West | 2024 NE (18 PPG/7 RPG/3.4 APG), Kenzie Melcher Kenzie Melcher 5'11" | SG Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (12 PPG/4 RPG/3 APG), Ahnica Russell Brown (12 PPG/4 APG), Dani Coyer Dani Coyer 6'1" | C Bellevue West | 2024 State NE (8.5 PPG/6 RPG), Kennadi Williams Kennadi Williams 5'7" | PG Lincoln Southwest | 2024 State NE (16 PPG/4 RPG/3 APG), Eleanor Griffin Eleanor Griffin PG Lincoln Southwest | 2026 NE (8 PPG/4 RPG), Rylee McLucas Rylee McLucas 6'0" | SF Millard North | 2025 State NE (8.4 PPG/3.4 RPG), Sara Harley Sara Harley 5'9" | SG Millard North | 2025 State NE (8.6 PPG/2.1 APG), Avril Smith Avril Smith 6'0" | PF Millard North | 2025 State NE (6.7 PPG/9 RPG/2 APG), Izzie Galligan Izzie Galligan 5'9" | SG Millard North | 2026 State NE (8 PPG/3.6 RPG/2 APG), Ani Leu Ani Leu 5'11" | PG Lincoln North Star | 2026 State NE (15 PPG/7.8 RPG/4 APG), Sarah Gatwech Sarah Gatwech 6'0" | CG Lincoln North Star | 2025 State NE 13.3 PPG/6 RPG/2 APG), Kaytee Irons Kaytee Irons 5'5" | PG Lincoln Northstar | 2027 NE -Buettner (11 PPG), Addison Medeck Addison Medeck 6'2" | PF Papillion LV South | 2027 NE (11 PPG/8.2 RPG), Ella Morehouse (9.2 PPG/2 APG), Kate Ligon Kate Ligon 6'1" | PF Papillion Lavista South | 2024 State NE (6 RPG), Doneelah Washington Doneelah Washington 6'1" | C Lincoln Northeast | 2024 State NE (22 PPG/14 RPG/3 SPG/3 BPG), Serena Heeren Serena Heeren 6'0" | PF Lincoln Northeast | 2024 State NE (11 PPG/ 8 RPG), Sara Iburg Sara Iburg 5'10" | SF Pius X | 2024 State NE (11 PPG/4 PPG/2.3 APG), Brynn Sebek Brynn Sebek 5'6" | SG Pius X | 2024 State NE (11 PPG), Inia Jones Inia Jones 5'7" | PG Omaha Central | 2024 State NE (19 PPG/6 RPG/4 APG), Lillianna Petersen (9 PPG/5 RPG), Elsa Verdral (12 PPG/5 RPG), McKenna Stover McKenna Stover 5'11" | SF Marian | 2024 State NE (7.5 PPG/6 RPG/2 APG), Jasani Green (12 PPG/10 RPG), Kara Sticklin (16 PPG/1 APG)
Class B
My prediction for the Class B title was going to be between two powerhouse programs that have been competing against each other at a high level throughout the past few seasons and those teams are Elkhorn North and Skutt Catholic. These two programs have been the best in this Class the past four seasons and that hasn’t changed up to this point. These two are the hands down favorites to make it to the State Title game. They have faced off earlier this season with Elkhorn North coming out on top but that was just a preview. If everything goes according to plan, these two will be facing off for a shot at the Class B State Title before you know it. They are superior in talent compared to everyone else around them and if they take care of their own business, it’s inevitable. I hope there are some battles prior to this between other programs with some wild upsets and intense games but in the end, it should be these two playing for the Championship.
Some Players To Know In Class B: Peyton McCabe Peyton McCabe 5'4" | PG Skutt Catholic | 2024 State NE , Molly Ladwig Molly Ladwig 5'9" | CG Omaha Skutt Catholic | 2025 State NE , Addison Burt Addison Burt 5'7" | SG Skutt Catholic | 2024 NE , Mia McMahon, Britt Prince Britt Prince 5'11" | PG Elkhorn North | 2024 State NE , McKenna Murphy McKenna Murphy 5'11" | SG Elkhart North | 2024 State NE , Grace Kohler Grace Kohler 5'9" | SF Norris | 2024 State NE (10 PPG/7 RPG/2 APG), Ella Johnson (8 PPG/5 RPG), Annie Harms Annie Harms 5'6" | PG Waverly | 2025 NE (13 PPG), Parker Christiansen Parker Christiansen 6'0" | SF Waverly | 2025 State NE (11.5 PPG), Addison Hatcliff Addison Hatcliff 5'7" | CG Beatrice | 2024 State NE , Callie Schwisow Callie Schwisow CG Beatrice | 2026 NE , Annie Gleason Annie Gleason 5'11" | SF Beatrice | 2025 State NE , Presley Baca Presley Baca 5'10" | SF Bennington | 2025 NE (13 PPG/6 RPG), Skylar Johnson (11 PPG), Brooklyn Heineman Brooklyn Heineman 5'7" | PG South Sioux City | 2024 State NE (17 PPG/8 RPG/4 APG), Bailee Durant (13.2 PPG/4 RPG), Taryn French Taryn French 5'8" | SG Gretna East | 2026 State NE , Emily Woods, Jada James Jada James 5'8" | PG Duchesne Academy Of The Sacred Heart Omaha | 2027 NE (9.5 PPG/4 RPG/1 APG), June Mullen (9.9 PPG/4 RPG/4 APG), Marin Rasgorshek Marin Rasgorshek 6'1" | C Crete | 2024 State NE (12 PPG/8 RPG), Amelia Hohlen (11.1 PPG/1.3 APG), Anna Hohlen (10 PPG/3 APG)
Class C1
As we take a look at Class C1, there are few teams in the Top that I would have imagined but this is really a Class that is WIDE open. If you look at the Regional matchups, where teams have to go and who they have to play, it’s going to be VERY interesting who comes out on the other side at the State Tournament. There are some high ranking teams in this Class, teams like Lincoln Christian, GICC, Sidney, Bridgeport, Minden, and more but after you get to your second and third round matchups, anything can happen. No upset would surprise me here. There are only a handful of teams that I think have an easier path than most to get to State but like I said, after that anything can happen. This is going to be a very fun Class to watch and I can’t wait to see who ends up on top.
Some Players To Know In Class C: Kena Ailes Kena Ailes 6'0" | PF Lincoln Christian | 2025 State NE , Bryndal Moody Bryndal Moody 5'6" | PG Grand Island Central Catholic | 2025 NE (12.5 PPG/4.4 RPG/2 APG), Carolyn Maser Carolyn Maser 6'1" | C Grand Island Central Catholic | 2024 State NE (10 PPG/10.1 RPG), Avery O’Boyle (10 PPG/4 RPG/3.5 APG), Karsyn Leeling, Mattie Kamery Mattie Kamery 5'9" | CG Minden | 2025 State NE (17 PPG/5.3 RPG/3.1 APG), Kinsie Land Kinsie Land 5'10" | SF Minden | 2025 NE (11.6 PPG/4.8 RPG/3.3 APG), Mylą Emery (11 PPG/5 RPG/4 APG), Olivia Loomis-Goltl Olivia Loomis-Goltl 5'10" | PG Bridgeport | 2024 State NE (23 PPG/6.7 RPG/4 APG), Ella Schluterbusch Ella Schluterbusch 5'2" | PG Bridgeport | 2026 NE (10.7 PPG/3.8 APG), Grace Dean (11 PPG/6 RPG), McKinley Tobey (20 PPG/4 RPG/2 APG), Halle Mccaslin (12.6 PPG/4 APG), Gabby Staples (4.6 RPG/5.4 APG), Lindly Anderson, Emerson Timm Emerson Timm 5'6" | PG Arlington | 2026 State NE (14 PPG/4 RPG/4 APG/4 SPG), Britt Nielsen (12 PPG/7 RPG/1 APG), Macy Wolf Macy Wolf 5'9" | SG Arlington | 2026 State NE (11 PPG/3 APG/2.8 SPG), Halle Dolliver Halle Dolliver 5'10" | CG Malcolm | 2026 State NE (23 PPG/12 RPG/3 APG/3 SPG/2 BPG), McKenna Powell McKenna Powell 5'10" | SG Malcolm | 2026 State NE (7 PPG), Raeann Massey Raeann Massey 5'7" | PG Fort Calhoun | 2027 NE (13 PPG/2 APG)