Nebraska high school boys basketball Top 25 (12/27/2023)

Most of these teams headed into the moratorium with some momentum, and thus, there are only a few changes in this week’s edition of the Top 25. The Metro Tournament resumes Friday and will eventually lead to several head-to-head matchups of teams on this list. The HAC is back in action Thursday and will lead to Top 25 games this weekend leading into next. 

1. Millard North (6-0, Last Week #1) 

Not surprisingly, Millard North took care of business against Norfolk in its lone game last week. The Mustangs shot 56%, hit 10 threes and won the rebounding battle 31-9. Millard North is the top seed for the Metro Tournament that begins on Friday.

This Week: Friday vs. Gretna East

2. Bellevue West (6-1, Last Week #2)

The T-Birds spent time in Minneapolis then Kansas City, won both then returned home for maybe the biggest win so far – a 78-66 victory over previous No. 3 Westside. Eldon Turner had 18 in that one while three other teammates each had 11 or more. Bell West hit 7 of 9 from the perimeter in the second quarter and took control for good.

This Week: Friday vs. Bellevue East

3. Papillion-La Vista South (7-0, Last Week #4)

Papio South wrapped up the pre-Christmas schedule by exploding for 44 second-half points in a win over Westview. The offense came to life in the third with 27 points then the defense closed it out by allowing just nine points in the final eight minutes.

This Week: Friday vs. Elkhorn South

4. Gretna (6-1, Last Week #5)

It took a quarter for Gretna to adjust, but once the defense found its footing, the Dragons pulled away for good and earned a 38-point win over Omaha South. Gretna led 21-18 then won the second quarter 30-5. Giving up just two offensive rebounds was key to the dominant win.

This Week: Friday vs. Millard West

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

The Junior Jays head into the Metro Tournament rested and ready – Prep hasn’t played since a 62-43 win over Papio on Dec. 16. Up first is a Millard South team that snapped a four-game skid on Dec. 16 before it also went on an extended break.

This Week: Friday vs. Millard South

6. Omaha Westside (5-1, Last Week #3)

Westside tumbles three spots after a pair of losses. The Warriors never found their shooting touch against Southeast, went 3 of 15 from three and paid for it with a 58-51 loss. Westside battled against Bellevue West but was mostly held to one-and-done chances on offense and lost the rebounding battle 41-25.

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

The Eagles went into the Christmas break on a four-game winning streak and held all four foes to 55 points or less. In fact, Central hasn’t yet given up 60 points. Its lone loss was a 56-54 defeat to Westside.

This Week: Friday vs. Omaha North

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

Bryan is another team that enjoyed more than a week off after playing its last game on Dec. 16. The Bears are very reliant on perimeter shooting. Bryan already has 335 three-point attempts in six games. The Metro Tournament opens with a rematch against Westview

This Week: Friday vs. Omaha Westview

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

North might be concerned about rust when it steps on the court for Friday’s Metro Tournament. The Vikings haven’t played since Dec. 14 but enter that one on a four-game winning streak. Three of those four were by 16 points or more.

This Week: Friday vs. Omaha Central

10. Lincoln Southeast (4-3, Last Week #17)

Southeast fell out of the top 10 when it lost two of three during an eight-day stretch. But the Knights showed why they had top-10 potential by handing Westside its first loss of the year. Southeast came out hot and built a 27-12 lead then hung on after scoring just 23 points in the second half. Three days later and the opening round of the HAC Tournament looked like a letdown opportunity but Southeast gave up just 10 or more points in one quarter.

This Week: Thursday vs. North Star

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

Kearney has two losses to top 10 teams but has more than taken care of business against the other four teams on the schedule. The Bearcats pick up the top seed for the HAC Tournament and will be coming off nine days since its last game.

This Week: Thursday vs. Grand Island

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

A 3-2 start for North Star gave the Navigators the four seed for the HAC Tournament and the final bye into the quarterfinals. North Star draws Southeast looking to snap a three-game skid against the Knights.

This Week: Thursday vs. Southeast

13. Elkhorn (6-0, Last Week #13)

The Antlers had a whole lot of fun in the three weeks leading up to the Christmas break. Elkhorn has, thus far, established itself as the team to beat in Class A with six wins all by double digits, four that included defensive efforts of under 50 points and an efficient offense that averages 17 assists per game.

This Week: Friday vs. Elkhorn North, Saturday Easter Midlands Tournament

14. Crete (7-0, Last Week #14)

Crete is among the leaders in Nebraska in total wins. Five of the opponents have just one win. The Cardinals went into the break in emphatic fashion, smashing another weak foe by taking down 1-5 Waverly 66-42.

This Week: Thursday vs. Maryville, Friday vs. Doane Holiday Tournament

15. Skutt Catholic (5-1, Last Week #15)

Skutt challenged itself with games against teams from Kansas and Iowa, lost one of those, but has been more than dominant against its three Nebraska foes. The most recent was a 71-25 win over Ralston on Dec. 22. The Skyhawks are in the Doane Holiday Tournament that also includes Crete.

This Week: Thursday vs. GI Northwest, Friday vs. Doane Holiday Tournament

16. Omaha Westview (4-3, Last Week #16)

Westview is the story of the early season. A rematch with Bryan awaits following the Christmas break. The Wolverines lost to the Bears by 17 on Dec. 4 after a poor start that dug a 22-6 hole. Through seven games, it hasn’t been a fluke. Westview owns wins over Central and Pius.

This Week: Friday vs. Omaha Bryan

17. Lincoln Pius X (2-3, Last Week Unrated)

Pius has yet to climb above .500, but the Bolts have losses to No. 1 Millard North, No. 2 Bellevue West and No. 16 Westview. A win over Pius gets the Thunderbolts back onto the list and with some momentum for the HAC Tournament. Even though it’s a 2-3 start, the quality of opponents has Pius as the three seed and with a potential rematch against Southwest in the semifinals.

This Week: Thursday vs. Northeast

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

Southwest trailed by 13 in the fourth quarter at home against Pius on Dec. 19 but tied it up with under a minute to go. An offensive rebound, putback and foul ruined the comeback hopes. Even with the loss and an even record, the Silver Hawks have the two seed for the HAC Tournament.

This Week: Thursday vs. East

19. Ashland-Greenwood (7-0, Last Week #18)

AG overcame a slow shooting start and a rugged Wahoo defense then came alive in overtime for the Bluejays’ best win of the early season in a Dec. 19 win over the Warriors. Ashland-Greenwood had just 14 points at halftime then won the extra four minutes 11-2. Sophomore Derek Tonjes had a breakout performance that included 26 points. AG followed it up with a 39-point win over Nebraska City three nights later.

This Week: Friday vs. Aurora, Saturday vs. Roncalli/Gross

20. Ogallala (10-0, Last Week #19)

Ogallala took its high-scoring show on the road to Arizona last weekend and returned home for Christmas with three wins under the tree. Only one of those opponents had a winning record, but winning in another time zone and winning three times in three days only confirms how good of a group this is. The Indians have won more than 20 games in four of the past five seasons but this might be their best team yet.

This Week: Idle

21. Lincoln Northeast (5-2, Last Week #20)

Northeast overcame a 32% shooting night and took 45 threes in a HAC Tournament win over Norfolk on Dec. 22. The Rockets held a seven-point lead to start the fourth quarter, found themselves in a tie with 3:25 to go but then hit a three with just under two minutes remaining to build a four-point lead and hang on.

This Week: Thursday vs. Pius X

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

Millard West ended the first part of the schedule with its best offensive performance of the season. Granted, it came against 0-7 Buena Vista, but shooting 52%, 47% from three and grabbing 15 offensive rebounds is a great way to head into a break with some positive vibes.

This Week: Friday vs. Gretna

23. Norris (7-1, Last Week #22)

Norris has won four in a row since suffering a loss to Elkhorn. Last week included a 36-point win over Aurora and a 15-point victory against Waverly. The Titans had four in double digits and shot 45% against Aurora then used defense and gave up just 14 points in the middle two quarters of the win over Waverly.

This Week: EMC Tournament

24. Lincoln East (4-3, Last Week #24)

East won in the first round of the HAC Tournament over Fremont in a game that was a battle from start to finish. Neither side led by more than a possession or two but it was the Spartans who were tough enough to make it three wins in a row.

This Week: Thursday vs. Southwest

25. Omaha Roncalli (4-2, Last Week #25)

Roncalli went into the break on a positive note thanks to 43 first-half points and an eventual 32-point win over Hastings. The Crimson Pride has captured four wins each by 19 or more points and suffered a two-point loss and another by eight.

This Week: Saturday vs. Cedar Catholic

Next 5: Papillion-La Vista, Wahoo, Grand Island, Bennington, Auburn