Top stars, best performances in Nebraska high school girls basketball (Jan. 30 - Feb. 5)

By Sam Pimper 

Our top spot in this week’s Top Stars list has established herself as one of the best scorers in Class C-2. Though her big performance came on the losing end, it’s not every week we have a 30-point scorer. She’s always a fun one to watch. 

Adyson Mlnarik, Summerland junior

Mlnarik scored 30 points on 13-of-32 shooting during a loss to Elkhorn Valley. Twelve of those points came off of long balls, and she added five rebounds on the glass. On the season, Mlnarik is averaging just over 21 points per game, a big jump from last season’s average of just under 13.

Naomi White, Bellevue West junior

White scored her third-highest point total Friday, netting 26 points during a 54-49 win over Omaha Marian. It was a big week all around for White, as she also scored 22 in a win over Omaha Burke, and 25 Saturday during a win over Lincoln Pius X. On the year, she’s averaging just over 18 points per game and seven rebounds.

Kara Stricklin, Bellevue East junior

Stricklin, coming into last Tuesday’s matchup with Glenwood (Iowa), was scoring under 10 points per game. She more than doubled her point total in that matchup, scoring a season-high 25 points on a 10-for-15 shooting performance. On the year, she’s now averaging just under 11 points per contest.

Sara Iburg, Lincoln Pius X junior

Iburg hasn’t been a consistent scoring threat for Pius this season, but during last Tuesday’s win over Kearney, she dropped a season-best 16 points on a six-for-10 shooting performance. She also pulled down five rebounds and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. On the year, she’s averaging just over four points and four rebounds per game.

Regan Barnard, Lincoln East junior

Barnard scored a season high 18 points during Friday’s 59-26 win over Norfolk. She followed that up by netting 14 Saturday en route to a win over Omaha Northwest. On the season, the 5-foot-5 point guard is averaging just over 11 points per game and has scored 205 points on the season.

Ahnica Russell-Brown, Bellevue West junior

Russell-Brown dropped 18 points during last Tuesday’s win over Omaha Burke. On the season, the 5-foot-8 junior is averaging 13 points and nearly four rebounds and assists per game. She was second in team scoring that evening behind teammate Naomi White’s game-high 26 points. Russell-Brown’s season high 27 came during a January loss to Millard South.

Kaylee Denker, Lincoln East junior

Denker, who had only cracked double digits scoring four times heading into Saturday’s game against Omaha Northwest, scored a season-high 20 points during a rout win. On the season, she’s scoring just under nine points and has netted 113 during the duration of the season. During the previous three outings, she’d scored a total of 15 points.

Abriya Watkins, Omaha Northwest sophomore

Watkins last week tied her season-best scoring with 26 points during a loss to Papillion-LaVista, then followed that up with a 19-point performance during a loss to Lincoln East. On the season, Watkins is averaging just under 15 points per game, along with six rebounds and two steals.

Ella Morehouse, Papillion-LaVista South sophomore

Morehouse has been heating up down the stretch for this Titan’s squad. During last Tuesday’s loss against Omaha Central, Morehouse scored 17 points on a 6-for-9 shooting performance. The previous game against Omaha Westside, she also scored 17. These outings are season highs. On the year, she’s averaging six points and just under three rebounds per game.

Mack Reimer, Bellevue East senior

Reimer scored a season-high 17 points during the Chieftains 91-60 win over Glenwood (Iowa). It was her fourth time this season reaching double digits, and her best scoring performance since Bellevue East’s season opening win over Norfolk. On the year, she’s averaging about six points per game and one steal.

Inia Jones, Omaha Central junior

Jones, one of the best scorers in Nebraska’s Class A, scored 20 points during a 46-39 win over Papillion-LaVista South. In 19 games this year, she’s averaging 19.5 points per game, along with five assists, five rebounds and just under three steals. On the year, she’s scored a team-high 371 points.

Ahmani Klabundi, Omaha Benson junior

Klabundi scored 21 points during a 64-38 loss to Kearney last week. On the year, she’s averaging just under 19 points, as well as three assists and five rebounds. Twice this year she’s eclipsed the 30-point scoring mark, against Omaha Burke and Omaha North.

Brinly Christensen, Lincoln Southwest senior

Christensen, a 5-foot-11 power forward, had her second-best shooting performance on the year during a 49-33 win over Omaha Westside. She netted 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. On the season, she’s averaging just under 14 points per game and just over four rebounds.

Kiara Dutenhoffer, Kearney junior

The 5-foot-6 guard had her best scoring performance of the year, dropping 17, during the Bearcats’ Saturday win over Lincoln Northeast. Her previous best of 15 game in late December during a loss to Lincoln High. This season, she’s averaging just over eight points and has scored 154 points.

Dru Zoucha, Papillion-LaVista junior

Zoucha, a 5-foot-3 guard, hit the double-digit scoring mark for the third time this season when she dropped 17 points during an 80-53 win over Omaha Northwest. Her season-high 20 game during a late December win over Omaha South. On the year, she’s averaging just over six points and three rebounds per game.

Carly Gaedeke, Columbus junior

Gaekeke scored a game-high 17 points during a 44-38 win over Grand Island. This output helped the Discoverers notch their seventh win of the year, pushing their overall record to 7-12, and 3-9 in district play. On the season she’s averaging just over nine points per game, and is on pace to better last year’s point-per-game average of seven.

Hailey Kenkel, Grand Island senior

Kenkel scored a team-high 16 points for the Islanders during a loss to Columbus. On the season, she’s averaging just over eight points per game, and is on pace to have a better scoring average than last season. She’s also pulling down about three rebounds per game and notching one steal.

Nicky Huss, Duchesne senior

Huss, the leading scorer for the Class B Cardinals, dropped 20 points during a 60-35 win over Plattsmouth. During her career, she’s improved her scoring statistics annually, and this year, is averaging just over 12 points per game and nearly seven rebounds. In addition, she’s averaging nearly two steals and three blocks.

Shawna Wilkinson, McCook senior

Wilkinson scored a game-high 23 points Friday during a 52-34 win over Ogallala. This included an impressive 5-for-6 shooting performance from behind the arc. She was also perfect – 2-for-2 – from the free throw line. On the season, she’s averaging just under 12 points and four rebounds per game.

Kena Ailes, Lincoln Christian sophomore

Ailes scored 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting helping the Class C-1 Crusaders top Nebraska Christian 48-27. She was 2 for 5 from behind the arc and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. On the season, Ailes is scoring a team-leading 17 points and is pulling down nearly nine rebounds per game.

Myla Emery, Minden freshman

Emery scored a game-high 16 points, helping her squad to a 56-13 win over Cozad. During her first varsity season, she’s averaging 8.5 points per game and just under four rebounds. Minden is 17-4 on the season and 2-1 in district play.

Sammy Leu, Wahoo senior

Leu, the leader of the Class C-1 Warriors, scored 28 points during last Tuesday’s dominant win over Elkhorn. She was 5-for-9 from behind the arc, 3-of-4 from the free throw line and also pulled down five rebounds. On the year, she’s scoring just under 15 points per game, as well as pulling down four rebounds.

Alex Beveridge, Hershey sophomore

Beveridge scored a game-high 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting during a win over Class C-1 Mullen. En route, she made one three pointer and was 6-for-7 at the free throw line. In her first varsity season, she’s averaging 14.5 points and four rebounds per game, acting as a steady presence for the 15-6 Panthers.

Karlee Broberg, Elkhorn Valley sophomore

Broberg scored a team-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting during a win over Summerland. She was 4-for-6 from behind the arc, shooting 67 percent. During her sophomore campaign, she’s elevated her average to nearly 14 points. Last year, she was scoring just under six points per game.

Avery Wegner, Pender junior

Wegner scored 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting during a 43-39 loss to Oakland-Craig. She made one three pointer and was 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. On the season, she’s scoring just under 10 points per game, five rebounds and three steals.