Nebraska high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (12/19/2023)

Millard North remains on top in the third SBLive boys rankings of the season. In fact, the top six remain unchanged while three teams (Omaha North, Lincoln Northeast and Millard West) make the list for the first time. Conference tournaments for the Metro and the HAC kick off later this week while most other teams will take part in a holiday tournament next week. 

1. Millard North (5-0, Last Week #1) 

Followed up the streak-snapping win over Bellevue West with a 17-point road whopping of Lincoln East then a 48-point dismantling of Benson. The Mustangs shot 59% against the Spartans and 67% against the Bunnies with 19 offensive rebounds.

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

2. Bellevue West (4-1, Last Week #2)

Bellevue West faced an eight-point deficit at Pius after seeing its winning streak snapped by Millard West then had a hot third quarter and closed well in the fourth. Robby Garcia (24) and Jaden Jackson (22) led the team in a win over Totino-Grace (Minnesota)

This Week: Tuesday vs. Summit Christian (6-2, Missouri), Thursday at Westside (5-0)

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

Westside used what was essentially a prep week to annihilate Northwest by 43 and get ready for a pair of top-25 foes. Four different players scored in double figures, the Warriors shot 51%, 47% from three and won the battle on the glass 27-14.

This Week: Tuesday at Lincoln Southeast (2-3), Thursday vs. Bellevue West (5-0)

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

Papio South already has three wins over ranked opponents and has won every game but one by double digits. Bryson Bahl is averaging a double-double on 25 points and 10 rebounds and the team is averaging 10 three-pointers per game. He has 19 and is shooting 46% from deep.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Omaha Westview (4-2)

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

Dragons have won three straight since a close loss at Westside and won those three by an average of 27 points. Alex Wilcoxson (17.2), Landon Pokorksi (16.5), Alec Wilkins (12.3) and Kade Cook (12.2) are each averaging more than 10 points and shooting 55% or better.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Omaha South (2-3)

6. Creighton Prep (5-1, Last Week #6)

Like Gretna, Prep responded to its only loss with three straight wins though not in quite as dominant a fashion. The Junior Jays beat Southeast by 15, Gretna East by 19 and Papio by 19. Prep has allowed 50 or fewer points in four of six games and is averaging just 49 against.

This Week: No scheduled games

7. Omaha Central (5-1, Last Week #11)

Daleron Thomas led all scorers with 28, including five more than top 100 national recruit A’mare Bynum, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a poor fourth quarter in a loss to Bryan on Dec. 15. Central was back on the court right away the next night and had 27 by Thomas plus 20 from senior Devin Holmon in a bounce back win over Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln. Nearly 20 offensive rebounds were the recipe for success.

This Week: No scheduled games

8. Omaha Bryan (5-1, Last Week #7)

Bryan had a tough time creating easy offense in a loss to Omaha Central then nearly let a 12-point first quarter lead slip against Southeast the next night. The Bears were 9 of 29 from beyond the arc against Central, were better at 11 for 26 in the double overtime win over Southeast, but 55 threes in two games reveals a potentially concerning trend if Bryan has an off night.

This Week: No scheduled games

9. Omaha North (5-1, Last Week Unrated)

The Eagles didn’t have many quality wins early and suffered a close loss to Bryan. But that performance plus a win over Westview and Southwest and four wins in a row have North on the rise. Minor Strong is scoring 18 points per game and the Eagles are sharing the ball well at 14 assists per game but they’re struggling to shoot from the perimeter and at the free throw line.

This Week: No scheduled games

10. Kearney (4-2, Last Week #9)

Kearney extended its winning streak over Columbus to 14 in a row thanks to shooting 10 for 20 from deep, allowing just one offensive rebound and 25 points from Asher Endorf. Scored 22 or more in the first three quarters against Omaha Northwest and shot 60% as a team

This Week: No scheduled games

11. Lincoln Southwest (3-2, Last Week #8)

The Silver Hawks are above .500 but each of the three wins are against teams below .500. The two losses against top-10 opponents are by 15 and 16. Last week’s only game was a 62-46 loss to Omaha North in which Southwest settled for 25 threes and Braden Frager was held to 4 of 15 shooting.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Pius X (1-3)

12. Lincoln North Star (3-2, Last Week #12)

A week off following a loss to Papio South must have been spent on defense. North Star returned to the court on Saturday and held Buena Vista to less than 10 points in every quarter of a 50-point win. The Navigators haven’t shot the ball particularly well yet but are cleaning up the glass well enough to pick up wins. North Star has the 4 seed for the HAC Tournament.

This Week: No scheduled games

13. Elkhorn (5-0, Last Week #14)

Elkhorn was behind four other Class B teams in the initial ratings and even had two Class C-1 teams above it in the standings. That’s all in the past following a 5-0 start for the Antlers, a win over Norris and back-to-back wins of more than 20 points. So far, Elkhorn is getting it done by sharing the ball and winning the rebounding battle.

This Week: Friday EMC Tournament

14. Crete (6-0, Last Week #15)

Crete has yet to face much of a challenge. Four of the opponents on the roster thus far have either one win or none. Accordingly, the Cardinals have taken advantage by winning all six by at least 19.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Waverly (1-3)

15. Skutt Catholic (4-1, Last Week #19)

Skutt has bounced back well from an opening-game loss to a team from Kansas with quality wins over other regional foes and some familiar ones within the borders of Nebraska. On back-to-back nights, Skutt took down two Iowa teams starting with a win over Grand View Christian that required withstanding a late Grand View run. A better third quarter led to an easy win over MOC-Floyd Valley.

This Week: Friday at Ralston (1-6)

16. Omaha Westview (4-2, last Week #25)

A 17-point loss to Bryan then a 26-point defeat to Omaha North last week show that maybe Westview isn’t in the championship or the state conversation. But the Wolverines have also beaten Omaha Central and are already halfway to last year’s win total. Junior Tayvin Martin has four games with more than 20 points and had 30 in the loss to Bryan.

This Week: No scheduled games

17. Lincoln Southeast (2-3, Last Week #10)

Four players in double figures and 13 offensive rebounds delivered a win over Grand Island. The Knights nearly dug out of an 18-6 first-quarter hole against Bryan and forced two overtimes but couldn’t close the deal. Knights earned the five seed for the HAC tournament and host Columbus to start.

This Week: Friday vs. Columbus (1-6)

18. Ashland-Greenwood (5-0, Last Week #18)

AG has allowed 30 points or fewer in all five wins. That number will be tested by Marcus Glock and Wahoo on Tuesday. Three players – Dane Jacobsen, Derek Tonjes and Dawson Thies – are sharing the scoring load in the early going.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Wahoo (5-1), Thursday at Nebraska City (1-6)

19. Ogallala (7-0, Last Week #23)

Three games in one week pushed the Indians’ state-leading win total out to seven. The 89-80 win at Gering was the first time in those seven an opponent came within single digits of Ogallala.

This Week: Thursday/Friday Holiday Tournament

20. Lincoln Northeast (4-2, Last Week Unrated)

Northeast cracks the ratings thanks to wins in four of the first six games. The two losses were by an average of over 25 points but the defeats came to top five Westside and Gretna. Essentially, the Rockets have won the games they should and have yet to pull an upset.

This Week: Friday vs. Norfolk (1-4)

21. Millard West (4-2, Last Week Unrated)

The Wildcats are also new to the ratings and had won three in a row until a loss to Gretna. One of those wins during the win streak was over previously rated Elkhorn South. Millard West is shooting the ball OK but will have to improve in that area to overcome a lack of second-chance opportunities.

This Week: Friday vs. Buena Vista (0-6)

22. Norris (5-1, Last Week #21)

The 10-point loss to Elkhorn looks much better now that it seems the Antlers are playing the best in Class B. Following that tough defeat, Norris battled Mount Michael to overtime where the Titans pressed the action, forced fouls and forced turnovers. A 26-6 start against Seward made it two in a row.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Aurora (3-2)

23. Wahoo (5-1, Last Week #24)

Wahoo shot 63% in its lone game last week, hit 10 threes and forced 29 turnovers during an 84-23 win over Nebraska City. Despite a lot of new faces playing major minutes, the Warriors have scored over 70 points in all six games.

This Week: Tuesday at Ashland-Greenwood (5-0)

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

East couldn’t find the range from the perimeter against Lincoln High but 16 offensive rebounds staked the Spartans to a 15-point win. Fourteen turnovers and 33% shooting against Benson made it a battle down to the wire East escaped 44-43.

This Week: Friday vs. Fremont (2-4)

25. Omaha Roncalli (3-2, Last Week #16)

Roncalli looked like the preeminent favorite in Class B this season but the Crimson Pride are now sitting just one game above .500 following a loss to Class C-1 Doniphan-Trumbull. The Cardinals earned 33 trips to the line and scored 26 points from the stripe in that one.

This Week: Tuesday at Hastings (3-2)

Next 5: Elkhorn South, Lincoln Pius X, Omaha Concordia, Wahoo Neumann, Papillion-La Vista