2024 Playoff Preview – The Big Playoff Picture (Class A-C1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 about the near future and the star players from each perspective Class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Some Players To Know In Class A: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='315778' first='Neleigh' last='Gessert'] (18 PPG/6 RPG/3 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='315777' first='Norah' last='Gessert'] (11 PPG/5 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='747368' first='Kylee' last='Paben'] (10 PPG/7 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='299918' first='Taylor' last='Hansen'] (8.1 PPG/2.6 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='192833' first='Naomi' last='White'] (18 PPG/7 RPG/3.4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='277933' first='Kenzie' last='Melcher'] (12 PPG/4 RPG/3 APG), Ahnica Russell Brown (12 PPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='300322' first='Dani' last='Coyer'] (8.5 PPG/6 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='276507' first='Kennadi' last='Williams'] (16 PPG/4 RPG/3 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='820519' first='Eleanor' last='Griffin'] (8 PPG/4 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='276517' first='Rylee' last='McLucas'] (8.4 PPG/3.4 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='336031' first='Sara' last='Harley'] (8.6 PPG/2.1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='305778' first='Avril' last='Smith'] (6.7 PPG/9 RPG/2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='747374' first='Izzie' last='Galligan'] (8 PPG/3.6 RPG/2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='756006' first='Ani' last='Leu'] (15 PPG/7.8 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='336045' first='Sarah' last='Gatwech'] 13.3 PPG/6 RPG/2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='719887' first='Kaytee' last='Irons']-Buettner (11 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='747245' first='Addison' last='Medeck'] (11 PPG/8.2 RPG), Ella Morehouse (9.2 PPG/2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='299895' first='Kate' last='Ligon'] (6 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='276506' first='Doneelah' last='Washington'] (22 PPG/14 RPG/3 SPG/3 BPG), [player_tooltip player_id='279306' first='Serena' last='Heeren'] (11 PPG/ 8 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='315816' first='Sara' last='Iburg'] (11 PPG/4 PPG/2.3 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='315819' first='Brynn' last='Sebek'] (11 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='276504' first='Inia' last='Jones'] (19 PPG/6 RPG/4 APG), Lillianna Petersen (9 PPG/5 RPG), Elsa Verdral (12 PPG/5 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='285674' first='McKenna' last='Stover'] (7.5 PPG/6 RPG/2 APG), Jasani Green (12 PPG/10 RPG), Kara Sticklin (16 PPG/1 APG)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class B</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Some Players To Know In Class B:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='279310' first='Peyton' last='McCabe'], [player_tooltip player_id='276516' first='Molly' last='Ladwig'], [player_tooltip player_id='279311' first='Addison' last='Burt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1194377' first='Mia' last='McMahon'], [player_tooltip player_id='276503' first='Britt' last='Prince'], [player_tooltip player_id='278024' first='McKenna' last='Murphy'], [player_tooltip player_id='360214' first='Grace' last='Kohler'] (10 PPG/7 RPG/2 APG), Ella Johnson (8 PPG/5 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='824279' first='Annie' last='Harms'] (13 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='316416' first='Parker' last='Christiansen'] (11.5 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='300134' first='Addison' last='Hatcliff'], [player_tooltip player_id='760229' first='Callie' last='Schwisow'], [player_tooltip player_id='316653' first='Annie' last='Gleason'], [player_tooltip player_id='897559' first='Presley' last='Baca'] (13 PPG/6 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='677270' first='Skylar' last='Johnson'] (11 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='313730' first='Brooklyn' last='Heineman'] (17 PPG/8 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='666906' first='Bailee' last='Durant'] (13.2 PPG/4 RPG), [player_tooltip player_id='727105' first='Taryn' last='French'], Emily Woods, [player_tooltip player_id='758274' first='Jada' last='James'] (9.5 PPG/4 RPG/1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='878462' first='June' last='Mullen'] (9.9 PPG/4 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='278797' first='Marin' last='Rasgorshek'] (12 PPG/8 RPG), Amelia Hohlen (11.1 PPG/1.3 APG), Anna Hohlen (10 PPG/3 APG)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Class C1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Some Players To Know In Class C:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='316452' first='Kena' last='Ailes'], [player_tooltip player_id='824280' first='Bryndal' last='Moody'] (12.5 PPG/4.4 RPG/2 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='291124' first='Carolyn' last='Maser'] (10 PPG/10.1 RPG), Avery O'Boyle (10 PPG/4 RPG/3.5 APG), Karsyn Leeling, [player_tooltip player_id='766603' first='Mattie' last='Kamery'] (17 PPG/5.3 RPG/3.1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='824285' first='Kinsie' last='Land'] (11.6 PPG/4.8 RPG/3.3 APG), Mylą Emery (11 PPG/5 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='279066' first='Olivia' last='Loomis-Goltl'] (23 PPG/6.7 RPG/4 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='758839' first='Ella' last='Schluterbusch'] (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, [player_tooltip player_id='757579' first='Emerson' last='Timm'] (14 PPG/4 RPG/4 APG/4 SPG), Britt Nielsen (12 PPG/7 RPG/1 APG), [player_tooltip player_id='759022' first='Macy' last='Wolf'] (11 PPG/3 APG/2.8 SPG), [player_tooltip player_id='757558' first='Halle' last='Dolliver'] (23 PPG/12 RPG/3 APG/3 SPG/2 BPG), [player_tooltip player_id='820515' first='McKenna' last='Powell'] (7 PPG), [player_tooltip player_id='755029' first='Raeann' last='Massey'] (13 PPG/2 APG)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->