2024 Playoff Preview – The Big Playoff Picture (Class C2-D2)
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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.
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Class C2
When you look at this C2 Class as a whole, you see that there are four teams that hold two losses or less so far this season, while Crofton High School stands alone as the only undefeated at 22-0. Most of the teams that you would expect to be in the hunt for a state title, are there. The favorite and returning C2 Champion has moved to the D1 Class, meaning that there will need to be a new team to take over the reigns. I think it would be dumb to say that Crofton (22-0) isn’t a top team but some others to keep an eye on would be Yutan (18-2), St. Cecilia (14-4), Bishop Neumann (16-5), Elmwood-Murdock (21-1), Cross Country (21-2), Bayard (20-3), and a few select others. Any one of these teams could get hot at the right time and put together a run to remember. Whoever puts it together the most, at the correct time, is going to be the group who takes it all the way.
Some Players To Know In Class C2: Cassie Allen Cassie Allen 5'5" | CG Crofton | 2025 State NE , Sammie Allen Sammie Allen 5'8" | SG Crofton | 2025 State NE , Maura Tichota Maura Tichota 5'10" | SG Yutan | 2024 State NE (11 PPG/6 RPG/4 APG), Jade Lewis Jade Lewis 5'8" | SG Yutan | 2025 State NE (10.1 PPG/6 RPG/3.2 SPG), Mylee Tichota Mylee Tichota 5'10" | PG Yutan | 2026 State NE (9 PPG/5 RPG), Jill Johnson Jill Johnson 5'9" | PF Bishop Neumann | 2025 State NE , Aj Bosak, Emma Keith, Tatum Krickan (12.6 PPG/5 RPG/1.4 APG), Ryann Sabatka (9 PPG/5 RPG), Avery Kissinger Avery Kissinger 5'6" | SG St. Cecilia | 2026 State NE (9.3 PPG/4.3 RPG), Shyanna Anderson Shyanna Anderson PG Cross County | 2024 State NE (12.9 PPG/4.3 APG/3.5 SPG), Lilly Peterson Lilly Peterson 5'10" | SG Cross County | 2024 State NE (9.3 PPG/6.1 RPG/1.7 APG), Adrienne Waller (6.7 PPG/4.9 RPG), Tatum Backemeyer Tatum Backemeyer 5'5" | PG Elmwood-Murdock | 2024 State NE (17.3 PPG/2.9 SPG), Laney Frahm (9.2 PPG/6.8 RPG/5 APG), Brooke Goudie (7 RPG), Brooklyn Mans (9.1 PPG/2.7 APG), Joslyn Hopkins (14 PPG/5.6 RPG), Lexi Fiscus Lexi Fiscus 5'10" | CG Bayard | 2024 State NE (13.5 PPG/5 RPG/3 APG), Dani Harter (8.2 PPG/3.7 APG), Avery Yosten Avery Yosten 6'1" | SF Norfolk Catholic | 2024 State NE (14.3 PPG/9.4 RPG/1.1 BPG), Chloe Hanel Chloe Hanel 5'11" | CG Clarkson/Leigh | 2024 State NE (20 PPG/5.7 RPG/3.4 APG), Brynn Settje (9.4 PPG/1 APG), Josilyn Miller Josilyn Miller 5'9" | CG Verdigre Public School | 2024 State NE (26 PPG/7 RPG/3 APG), Rena Rasmussen Rena Rasmussen 5'9" | PF Laurel-Concord-Coleridge | 2027 NE (16.5 PPG/8.2 RPG/1.1 APG), Mallory Eriksen Mallory Eriksen 5'9" | SF Laurel-Concord-Coleridge | 2024 NE (10.1 PPG/7.7 RPG/2.2 SPG)
Class D1
As soon as you bring up the D1 Class, you think of handful of successful programs that all have a shot at the title this winter. Teams like GACC (15-2), Southern Valley (23-1), Johnson-Brock (19-2), St. Mary’s (O’Neil) (19-2), Pender (22-1), and McCool Junction (18-2) will all have the opportunity to prove how good they really are over these next few weeks. Each of these programs has prospects with collegiate level talent but they still are going to need to show up when the lights are the brightest. If I HAD to pick a team to take it all the way at this point, it’s the team I picked at the start of the year and that is the Pender Pendragons. Coming off of a title in a larger Class, it’s fair to assume that they can run the table once again. It’s not going to be a “walk in the park” by any means but I’m sure that this group has the ability to take it all the way for back to back titles, in two different Classes.
Some Players To Know In Class D1: Maya Dolliver Maya Dolliver 5'7" | PG Pender | 2025 State NE (14.4 PPG/3.3 APG), Avery Wegner Avery Wegner 5'10" | SF Pender | 2024 State NE (13.4 PPG/7 RPG), Maddie Dolliver (11 PPG/ 3.4 RPG/2.7 APG), Tori Bose Tori Bose 5'11" | C Southern Valley | 2026 NE , Ann Bose Ann Bose 5'9" | PG Southern Valley | 2024 NE , Lily Holste, Taryn Ottemann Taryn Ottemann 5'11" | PF Johnson Brock | 2025 State NE (17.1 PPG/7.4 RPG), Brooklyn Behrends Brooklyn Behrends 5'8" | SG Johnson Brock | 2025 State NE (10.1 PPG/1.7 APG), Natalie Knippelmeyer (9.6 PPG/4.4 RPG/2 APG), Alissa Brabec Alissa Brabec 5'5" | SG St. Mary's | 2024 State NE (18.3 PPG/2.1 APG), Mya Hedstorm Mya Hedstorm 5'10" | SF St. Mary's | 2024 State NE (16.4 PPG/8.2 RPG/4.5 APG), Lorissa Reiman Lorissa Reiman 5'9" | PF St. Mary's | 2024 State NE (11.1 PPG/12.5 RPG), Mckenna Yates (19.1 PPG/3.8 RPG/3.2 APG), Karissa Stengel Karissa Stengel 5'6" | CG Maywood/Hayes Center | 2026 NE (11.5 PPG/4.4 RPG/2 APG), Tierston Moore Tierston Moore 5'10" | PF Mullen | 2026 NE (8.9 PPG/6.7 RPG), Mikah O’Neil Mikah O’Neil 5'11" | PF Sumner-Eddyville-Miller | 2024 State NE (17.9 PPG/9 RPG/3 APG), Adyson Mlnarik Adyson Mlnarik 5'8" | PG Summerland | 2024 State NE (24 PPG/7.2 RPG/3.1 APG), Myleigh Weers Myleigh Weers 5'9" | PG Diller-Odell | 2025 State NE (21.8 PPG/4 RPG/3 APG)
Class D2
All of the top teams that were in the State conversation, that returned to the D2 Class this winter are back once again for a shot at the belt. The returning champs, Scared Heart, is sitting with a 17-4 record moving into the Playoffs and I’m sure they are content with their position while other schools like Overton and Wynot are each sitting with only 1-loss. It seems that everyone who is moving closer and close to the finals, all know about each other. They have all seemed to have met before in the past and that is going to play a factor as things unfold. It’s like a boxer that has seen their competition a handful of times prior. They start to have a complex understanding of their opponent moves and what they custom to doing. If you can capitalize from those opportunities, it’s sweet sailing. If not, you are in for a long night. I think most of the favorites of their Regions are going to make it to their Elite 8 but once they get there, it’ll be a cluster. I’m not sure there is an outright favorite in this Class at this point. If there is, we are going to find out shortly once Playoff action gets underway.
Some Players To Know In Class D2: Joel Ryan (14.9 PPG/7 RPG/1.8 APG), Natalie Wood Natalie Wood 5'9" | C Overton | 2024 NE (11.1 PPG/10.4 RPG), Grace Luther (3.2 APG), Allison Wieseler, Kayla Pinkelman, MaKinley Scholl, Hallie Jones, Zaili Benish Zaili Benish 5'5" | PG Leyton | 2025 State NE (23.5 PPG/5.3 APG), Shawnee Gamble (11.1 PPG/3 RPG/4.5 APG), Abbie Kromarek Abbie Kromarek 5'8" | PG Plainview | 2024 NE (15.2 PPG/7.5 RPG/4 APG), Teya Boyer Teya Boyer 5'9" | PF Plainview | 2024 NE (11.1 PPG/6.6 RPG/1.4 APG), Madison Bunger Madison Bunger 6'0" | C Wilcox-Hildreth | 2025 State NE (12.6 PPG/9.6 RPG), Cara Bunger (8.2 PPG/5.4 RPG/4.5 APG), Katelyn Bunger (8 PPG/4.6 RPG/1 APG), Brylyn Springer (11.3 PPG/7.1 RPG), Ana Dimas (10.1 PPG/2.3 APG), Mya Turman (14.2 PPG/8.3 RPG/3.2 APG), Julia Russell Julia Russell 5'8" | SF Hay Springs | 2026 NE (8.9 PPG/11.4 RPG), Britney Klein Britney Klein 5'5" | SG Crawford | 2024 State NE (16 PPG/6.6 RPG/3.6 APG)