Season Outlook - Class C2, D1, D2

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 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.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!   Class C2   Bishop Neumann (9-1)   <ul> <li>Bishop Neumann has had one of the best turnarounds from last season until now. They ended their 2022-2023 year with an overall record of 11-13, basically putting them at around .500. This season, the Cavs are 9-1 and they are looking to continue with their success moving forward. I think the most impressive part of this turnaround is that their varsity roster only dresses 7-8 players each night. That means they must stay out of foul trouble or else things could get choppy toward the end a contest. If this teams season ended today, they would call it a major success so right now they are playing with house money. If they continue to keep doing, what they are doing, I'm expecting some more positives moving forward for their season. Positives like some meaningful post season games and maybe even a trip to the State Tournament. </li> </ul>   Cross County (12-1)   <ul> <li>Within this loaded C2 Class, there are a lot of talented programs, that have already made big statements this season. A team that keeps on winning at a convincing rate is Cross County High School. The Cougars are 12-1 in their first 13 games this season and they have beaten a handful of ranked opponents already. The biggest thing that stands out in this teams victories is their margins. The have score over 700 points and only let in 410 so far. When you consider that stuff and the fact that they have 7 different players averaging over 4.5 PPG, you start to see as to why this team could make some waves this post season. We are still a few months away from that but you know what they say, "if you are failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." So I'm sure this group or coaching staff is somewhat looking ahead.</li> </ul>   Crofton (13-0)   <ul> <li>The #1 ranked team going into the State Playoff for the C2 Class last season was Crofton High School. Though they may not of came away with a title, they still had a season to remember going 24-4 during the 2022-2023 year. To start off this winter, Crofton has picked up right where they left off and that is winning a lot of games. They have started this season at 13-0 and they are running their competition out of the gym for the most part. To be honest, it's hard to imagine a State Tournament without this group. They are well coached, they possess a 37-3 in their last 40 games, and they have veteran leaders to take over when things get difficult. They have every piece to make something big happen in 2024 and I can't wait to see it.</li> </ul>   Honorable Mentions - St. Cecilia (8-2), Elmwood-Murdock (10-1), Yutan (8-2?), Oakland-Craig (9-3)   Class D1   Pender (14-0)   <ul> <li>Coming off of a State Title can be challenging. There are a lot of exceptions to uphold and a lot of politics to deal with. A program that has been fantastic this winter, after coming off of a memorable season last year is the Pender Pendragons. Pender, as of most recent, won the C2 Class title last season. They skated through the Playoff's until the Championship game, where they won by a final of 45-42 over Oakland-Craig. Considering that this group brings back a good majority of their scoring from a season ago and they moved down a Class level, I'm going to venture out and say that this is Pender's Championship to lose. They have their star sisters back in Madalyn and [player_tooltip player_id='342207' first='Maya' last='Dolliver'], who are sure to impress, along with having 2-3 other contributors on roster that opposing teams are going to have to account for. Looking toward the future, I would be surprised if this team suffered a loss this season, they are that good against the competition they play. </li> </ul>   GACC (10-1)   <ul> <li>This GACC group is a tough one to evaluate. Last season they had a final record of 20-5, only taking losses to the teams that you might expect. In the end they made it to the C1 State Tournament and were sent home after losing a tough battle in the semi's to Pender. There isn't much to go on about their stats from last year but from their box scores, this team won a lot but there were some close battles. To start off this winter, the Bluejays are sitting at 10-1 and have to be happy with how things are going so far. Throughout their first 11 games of this season, they are averaging 66 PPG and only allowing in 39 PPG on average. That's a positive number, showing that their defense is getting the job done. If I was this group my message would be to take the season one game at a time. Down the road you know you will have to face the Pendragons again if you want to become the C2 State Champs but that's still a month or two away. Hopefully this group learned from the last time they battled on the hardwood and they can use that if/when they meet later this season. </li> </ul>   Honorable Mention - Johnson Brock (10-1), Southern Valley (12-1), Elgin/Pope John (11-1), Alma (10-1), Sumner Eddyville Miller (9-0), Maywood/Hayes Center (11-1), Summerland/Clearwater (11-2)   Class D2   [player_tooltip player_id='899462' first='Leyton' last=''] (10-0)   <ul> <li>The [player_tooltip player_id='899462' first='Leyton' last=''] Warriors are undefeated to start off their 2023-2024 season. With a group that has 10 players listed on their roster, they do NOT have a single player over 5'10. This is a complete guard line-up through and through. They play fast, efficient basketball and they never wait for their opponent to become set. Obviously their Guard play has been fantastic up until this point but how long can that last? That all depends on how their personal is feeling on any given night. With players at the Point that can handle like [player_tooltip player_id='1005077' first='Shawnee' last='Gamble'], [player_tooltip player_id='766561' first='Zaili' last='Benish'], and Kaydence Haupt, if they can continue to create how they normally do, It's going to be hard for other teams to step up and beat them throughout an entire ball game. I haven't had a chance to see this [player_tooltip player_id='899462' first='Leyton' last=''] team compete live this season but I'm assuming I will have an opportunity during the State Tournament in a few months. If they stay locked in, not many teams are going to be able to stick with them.</li> </ul>   Scared Heart (10-2)   <ul> <li>The Scared Heart Irish are the team to beat in this Class right now. This is a group with multiples contributors at every position on the court. There are very few teams in this Class, or even in this state, that can say that. This really would be a program that adapts the motto, "next women up", purely based on the personal at hand from a coaching perspective. Don't get me wrong, they have their star players that make things happen in the meaningful minutes of a game and that was on full display last season when they won this D2 State Title but they also understand how to play unselfish basketball, as a single unit. This is something important to note because down the line, when things get tough in a close contest, this is the stuff that matters. That extra pass or willingness to pass, can be the make or break component of a game winning shot. Like I mentioned before, this team is coming off of a State Title. I'm sure once the Playoffs start, they are going to be ready to make another memorable run at the trophy before this season comes to an end. </li> </ul>   Overton (10-1)   <ul> <li>Capping off this Class is a group that doesn't have the biggest team on the floor but they do have 4-5 players that all stand at 5'10 and can hold their own. If we were to hold a hypothetical matchup right now between Overton and the rest of the teams in this Class, as a whole they would be one of the taller teams but individually, not so much. Which isn't a bad thing. Up until this point they have proven themselves worthy as a top team in this Class and that's only going to continue until the Playoffs. They have a "three headed" monster in the form of Power Forward - [player_tooltip player_id='770501' first='Jolee' last='Ryan'] scoring 16.5 PPG, Center - [player_tooltip player_id='770632' first='Natalie' last='Wood'] averaging 9 PPG / 9 RPG, and Shooting Guard - [player_tooltip player_id='770543' first='Ashlyn' last='Florell'] putting up 11 PPG on 42% shooting. If those three are having a good game and their Point Guard, Gracyn Luther is setting everyone up for success at the rate she has all season long, this team is going to be hard to contain. You've heard about just some of the other competitive teams in this Class but I assure you, there are plenty more. I don't know much but I do know if anyone wants to win this State Title in 2024, they are going to have to give it everything they have. No holding back.</li> </ul>   Honorable Mentions - Wynot (7-1), Shelton (8-3), Sandhills/Thedford (10-2), Hay Springs (9-3)

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 practice through and try to stay in top shape.