Nebraska high school boys basketball Top 25 (12/13/2023)

For the first time in more than a year, a new No. 1 slots in at the top spot following Millard North ending Bellevue West’s long winning streak. Elsewhere, Bryan climbs to the top 10 after a 4-0 start, Elkhorn rises further up the list as top-rated Class B team and Omaha Westview makes its first appearance in school history. 

1. Millard North (4-0, Last Week #2)

The Mustangs’ early schedule is filled with quality and Millard North responded with four quality wins, none more so than the one over previous No. 1 Bellevue West. Derek Rollins had 31 points while ending the T-Birds’ 31-game winning streak and is averaging over 21 points per game through the first four. Millard North has won every game by double digits and faces a couple of cupcakes before the Metro Tournament.

This Week: Thursday vs. Benson (1-5)

2. Bellevue West (3-1, Last Week #1)

Bell West doesn’t tumble more than one spot down the list but the iron grip the Thunderbirds have had on No. 1 has been broken. The T-Birds couldn’t contain Millard North junior Derek Rollins and gave up a nine-point third-quarter lead when he scored 15 in the third and 11 in the fourth. That and the Mustangs’ big three – Rollins, Eli Gaeth and Neil Mosser – were just a little bit better than Bellevue West’s top trio - Eldon Turner, Steve Poulicek and Jaden Jackson.

This Week: Saturday at Totino-Grace, MN (1-1)

3. Westside (4-0, Last Week #5)

The Warriors are another team that has set up a challenging schedule to test themselves before Christmas. Through four games, they’ve passed with flying colors. The game against Gretna will likely go down as one of the most entertaining of the year, but it was going on the road and beating Kearney the very next day that could be the most impressive.

This Week: Thursday at Omaha Northwest (0-2)

4. Papillion-La Vista South (4-0, Last Week #6)

It’s just the second 4-0 start in the last two seasons and three of those wins are against teams in the top 25. The most impressive was a 63-58 win over Creighton Prep. Junior forward Bryson Bahl is averaging over 28 points per game, had 33 in the win over Prep and 35 the next night in a victory over North Star.

This Week: Friday at Buena Vista (0-4), Saturday vs. Elkhorn South (2-2)

5. Gretna (3-1, Last Week #3)

The Dragons had their biggest test of the young season on Friday, came up short in a loss to Westside but showed that they belong in the state title conversation. Gretna had a chance to tie it at the buzzer but didn’t execute well over the final 14 seconds and had to make a desperate heave from distance. Each of the other wins have come by at least 15 points including the next day at Northeast when the offense produced 93 points.

This Week: Friday vs. Burke (2-2), Saturday at Millard West (3-1)

6. Creighton Prep (3-1, Last Week #4)

The Junior Jays have been dominant in a trio of wins but came up short Friday at Papio South and saw a four-game winning streak over the Titans come to an end. Prep had won 21 of 23 against Papio South but couldn’t match the Titans at the three-point line.

This Week: Thursday vs. Gretna East (2-2), Friday vs. Papio (2-2)

7. Omaha Bryan (4-0, Last Week #12)

The Bears were in the top 15 of the preseason poll, so it wasn’t a total surprise for them to start 4-0. But the fact Bryan is among the final four unbeaten teams in Class A wasn’t likely a situation many predicted. A’mare Bynum is leading the way with over 21 points per game, 48% shooting, two double-doubles and 10 blocks.

This Week: Friday vs. Omaha Central (3-1), Saturday vs. Lincoln Southeast (1-2)

8. Lincoln Southwest (3-1, Last Week #7)

Southwest won big over North Platte and Grand Island, eked out a victory over Millard South and couldn’t quite hang with Westside. To be fair, Southwest hung around but trailed most of the night and couldn’t take advantage of The Warriors shooting 5 of 21 from three-point range. Husker recruit Braden Frager has had at least 17 in all four games.

This Week: Thursday at Omaha North (3-1)

9. Kearney (2-2, Last Week #9)

The Bearcats had three top-25 foes among the first four, lost a pair, but opened with a blowout win. Allowing 26 points in the first quarter to Millard North was too big a hole to recover. Sophomore Jacob Webber has had a strong start that included totals of 20, 12 and 30 points but was then held scoreless and went 0 of 7 in a loss to Westside.

This Week: Saturday vs. Omaha Northwest (0-2)

10. Lincoln Southeast (1-2, Last Week #8)

The Knights were definitely hoping for more than a couple of 15-point losses to two top-10 teams. But matching a veteran group to start the year against Gretna was a tough task. Prep had a 12-5 advantage in three-pointers nine days later in another defeat. Southeast has a few tune-up games before another challenging foe.

This Week: Friday at Grand Island (1-3), Saturday at Bryan (4-0)

11. Omaha Central (3-1, Last Week #13)

The lone loss is to Westview, and while that might have been a cause for distress a year ago, Westview already has three wins. The Wolverines earned the win thanks to a 14-5 advantage in free throws. Central hung on for a win against Millard South and won two other games by more than 30.

This Week: Friday at Bryan (4-0), Saturday at Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln (3-0)

12. Lincoln North Star (2-2, Last Week #10)

It’s been a middling start for the Navigators who won fairly easily over two teams that look headed for a losing record and lost to two others in the top 10. North Star trailed Bellevue West by 13 after the first quarter and blew a nine-point halftime lead against Papio South. The Gators are shooting just 37% to start the year.

This Week: Saturday vs. Omaha Buena Vista (0-4)

13. Lincoln Pius X (1-2, Last Week #11)

A close game with Bellevue West and a blowout loss to Millard North makes more sense after the Mustangs beat the T-Birds. Allowing 12 threes to Millard North while making just five was a recipe for disaster. Pius built an eight-point first-quarter lead against Bell West and maintained that at half but squandered it in the third quarter.

This Week: Saturday at Omaha Westview (3-2)

14. Elkhorn (3-0, Last Week #21)

The Antlers look like they’ve seized the title of Class B favorite thanks to beating two other Class B teams on this list. Elkhorn built a 10-point lead late in the first quarter against Mount Michael and held the advantage the rest of the way. It was a 15-9 deficit to Norris after the first quarter that turned on The Antlers’ defense holding the Titans to 38% shooting and 7 of 22 from the perimeter.

This Week: Thursday vs. Ralston (1-4)

15. Omaha Concordia (2-0, Last Week #19)

The Mustangs have played the fewest games of anyone on this list but have one of the most impressive wins. Concordia trailed as time ticked down to under 10 seconds, hit a jumper to tie it and forced overtime after leading by six to start the quarter and defeated Roncalli, one of the Class B favorites, in overtime.

This Week: Thursday at Bennington (2-2), Saturday at Ralston (1-4)

16. Crete (4-0, Last Week #15)

Crete’s opponents have started the year 4-13 and the Cardinals have taken advantage with four wins of more than 20 points. Of the 12 quarters Crete has played, the defense has allowed single digits in four of those, or, 25% of the time while also scoring 20 or more points in seven of 12 quarters – a deadly combination for opponents.

This Week: Friday vs. Fairbury (3-2), Saturday at Lincoln Northwest (1-3)

17. Omaha Roncalli (2-1, Last Week #14)

The Crimson Pride had big leads at halftime in each of its first two games then had a battle with Concordia that could have been a matchup of the two best teams below Class A. Roncalli had the final possession of overtime but missed a 17-foot jumper with three seconds to play.

This Week: Saturday vs. Doniphan-Trumbull (3-0)

18. Ashland-Greenwood (3-0, Last Week #20)

AG’s identity as a defensive squad has carried it to three suffocating wins to start the season. The Bluejays have allowed just 78 total points and 30 or less in all three games.

This Week: Saturday vs. Milford (1-3)

19. Skutt Catholic (1-1, Last Week #22)

There’s reasons for optimism but also reasons for patience to endure growing pains. Skutt built a 17-point second-quarter lead in the season opener but eventually lost the game. The Skyhawks learned their lesson the next time out and capitalized on a 15-point halftime lead for a 23-point win.

This Week: Friday vs. Grand View Christian, IA (3-1), Saturday vs. MOC-Floyd Valley, IA (4-1)

20. Elkhorn South (2-2, Last Week #18)

The Storm were stomped by 31 and then 20 to start the year then rebounded with wins over a pair of teams that will likely finish below .500. So far, Elkhorn South hasn’t shot the ball all that well and hasn’t helped itself on the offensive glass.

This Week: Thursday vs. Millard West (3-1), Saturday at Papio South (4-0)

21. Norris (3-1, Last Week #16)

The Titans had a few easy wins on the road then came back home for a matchup against one of the best teams in Class C-1. Shooting 50% from three was enough to overcome a 35-point effort by Wahoo senior Marcus Glock. The shooting fell off against Elkhorn and Norris suffered a defeat with an overall percentage of just 38% and 7 of 22 from long range.

This Week: Friday at Seward (2-2)

22. Lincoln East (1-3, Last Week #17)

Putting it together after the graduation of a large senior class has been difficult in the early going. That plus games against two top-10 teams has made it even tougher. The Spartans have yet to find their touch from distance and are struggling to get to the free throw line.

This Week: Thursday vs. Lincoln High (1-3), Saturday at Benson (1-2)

23. Ogallala (4-0, Last Week #23)

The offense hasn’t been quite as explosive as a year ago but Ogallala is blowing teams out again by an average of over 20 points. The Indians twice went over 90 and scored more than 70 in three of the first four games last year. That is hard to replicate, but on the other end of the court, Ogallala has allowed fewer total points than a year ago.

This Week: Friday at Gering (1-2), Saturday vs. Hershey (1-3)

24. Wahoo (4-1, Last Week #24)

Two others have started to ease into their roles as second and third options, but at the top, Marcus Glock has been sensational thus far. The Warrior senior is averaging nearly 30 points per game and has totals of 37, 29, 35, 20 and 25. Were it not for 11 threes by Norris, Glock and a developing Wahoo squad might have knocked off the Titans.

This Week: Saturday at Nebraska City (1-3)

25. Omaha Westview (3-2, Last Week Unrated)

Starting a program from scratch typically includes ups and downs, fits and starts. Westview has had that for sure, but the Wolverines might also be ahead of schedule based on the way they’ve started the new season. They’re without a senior since the school opened just last year, but the frustrations of going 8-17 provided valuable lessons Westview has applied to the new season.