Nebraska high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (1/10/2024)

Bellevue West regains the top spot thanks to a Metro Tournament title and nine wins in a row. Millard South slots in just behind after holding on to No. 1 for just about a month. Central rises to No. 3 despite losing two in a row because of its run to the Metro championship final. Gretna hosting Millard North highlights action this week.

1. Bellevue West (11-1, Last Week #2) 

Bellevue West takes over the top spot in the Power 25 thanks to a Metro Conference championship and nine straight wins. Bell West trailed Omaha Central by eight at the end of the first quarter but then started the third with a 13-0 run and soon found itself up 16. 

This Week: Friday vs. Bellevue East, Monday vs. West Des Moines Valley (at CB Abe Lincoln)

2. Millard North (9-1, Last Week #1)

The Mustangs maintained the top spot last week because the ratings were released prior to the title game of the Metro Tournament. Had Central won, Millard North might have remained No. 1. Millard North responded to the loss against Central with a quick answer back in the rematch six days later by overcoming a poor shooting night in a 58-46 victory.

This Week: Thursday at #4 Gretna, Saturday at #23 Northeast

3. Omaha Central (9-3, Last Week #5)

Central lost twice in a row counting the defeat in the Metro Tournament but goes up a few notches in the ratings thanks to that run to the title game. The Eagles now have wins over No. 9 Bryan, No. 2 Millard North and No. 4 Gretna.

This Week: Friday vs. #22 Millard West, Saturday vs. #18 Southwest

4. Gretna (9-2, Last Week #3)

The Dragon defense was setting the tone in the Metro semifinal until Central’s Daleron Thomas and Devin Holman combined for 16 of their 30 in the fourth quarter. Gretna returned to action with a win over No. 16 North Star by hitting 13 threes, five by JaKeyce Fowler.

This Week: Thursday vs. #2 Millard North, Saturday at East

5. Omaha Westside (8-3, Last Week #4)

Westside hung around with Bellevue West the first half of the Metro semifinal until the Warriors lost track of T-Bird shooters, mostly Steven Poulicek. The Bell West senior was 8 for 10 from long range. Westside came back for a win over Elkhorn South by jumping out to a 28-8 first quarter.

This Week: Friday at #6 Papio South, Saturday vs. #15 Pius X

6. Papillion-La Vista South (9-2, Last Week #6)

The Titans maintain their spot on the list despite losing to Millard North. Papio South has lost two of the last three but each of those two were by two points. The Titans squandered a 13-point halftime lead against Omaha North in large part due to 20 turnovers.

This Week: Friday vs. #5 Westside

7. Creighton Prep (8-2, Last Week #7)

Prep stays one spot behind Papio South since the Titans defeated the Junior Jays 63-58 on Dec. 8. Last week included a 72-49 win over Bellevue East thanks to 14 offensive rebounds and a 67-50 win over Westview that started with a 15-4 start and 22 points from Dillon Claussen.

This Week: Friday vs. Millard South, Saturday vs. Omaha South

8. Lincoln Southeast (9-3, Last Week #8)

Southeast has won seven in a row and is already closing in on the Capital City title with a 4-0 record against other Lincoln teams. The Knights came back from their HAC title with a 53-50 win over Southwest and an 84-62 victory against Northeast. Taye Moore had 25 against Southwest. Southeast shot 61% and 64% against Northeast.

9. Omaha Bryan (8-2, Last Week #9)

Bryan came back from six days off and easily defeated a pair of cupcakes by a combined 74 points. The Bears have three wins over teams in the top 25 and two losses against teams in the top five. Bryan will see two top-six teams before the month concludes.

This Week: Thursday vs. Gretna East, Saturday vs. Grand Island

10. Omaha North (8-2, Last Week #10)

The Vikings are coming off their best win of the season – a 62-60 victory over #6 Papio South. North trailed by 13 at halftime and was just 3 of 20 from beyond the arc but forced 20 turnovers and created 21 trips to the foul line. The previous best wins were over Westview and Southwest.

This Week: Friday at Papio, Saturday at Columbus

11. Kearney (7-3, Last Week #11)

Two road wins, the first at North Platte and the next at Grand Island, followed a HAC semifinal loss over Southeast. Jacob Webber scored 24 points and hit six threes against North Platte. The defense held Grand Island to 2 from 17 from distance.

This Week: Friday vs. East, Saturday at Westview

12. Crete (11-0, Last Week #12)

The Cardinals remain the last unbeaten team in Class B thanks to a win over Gering and Scottsbluff. Crete handed Scottsbluff just its second loss of the season when the Cardinals forced the Bearcats to take 30 of its 48 shots from beyond the arc. Scottsbluff hit just six of those.

This Week: Friday at York

13. Norris (9-1, Last Week #14)

Norris has been off since winning the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament. The Titans have wins over Elkhorn, Wahoo, Aurora and Bennington. The combined record of Norris’ opponents is 58-45.

This Week: Friday vs. Blair

14. Elkhorn (9-1, Last Week #15)

Elkhorn recovered from the EMC final loss to Norris by recording wins over Plattsmouth and Boys Town. The Antlers led the Blue Devils 21-10 in the first quarter and won by 28 with 23 from Nixon Farmer. Five had double digits and Elkhorn turned a nine-point lead over Boys Town into an 18-point advantage with a 34-point third quarter.

This Week: Friday vs. Elkhorn North, Saturday at Gross Catholic

15. Lincoln Pius X (6-4, Last Week #17)

After a 1-3 start, Pius has won five of six and four of those are against teams at or above .500. The Bolts bounced back from a HAC championship loss by shooting 60% against North Platte and winning the rebounding battle against Columbus 43-24.

This Week: Thursday at #8 Southeast, Saturday at #5 Westside

16. Lincoln North Star (4-4, Last Week #13)

North Star’s early exit from the HAC left the Navigators 3-3. A 70-57 win over Lincoln High included 12 makes from three. North Star went down to Gretna but it was the best the Gators have played against a ranked foe this season.

This Week: Friday at #18 Southwest, Saturday at Elkhorn South

17. Skutt Catholic (7-3, Last Week #16)

Skutt had its best win of the year when the Skyhawks jumped all over Roncalli 22-14 to start a 71-63 road win on Jan. 5. Did a loss to Elkhorn North the next night signal a power change in Class B?

This Week: Saturday at Sioux City West

18. Lincoln Southwest (5-5, Last Week #18)

Southwest nearly had its best win of the season Jan. 5 against Southeast but the Silver Hawks sent the Knights to the free throw line 21 times. A quick turnaround against Lincoln High allowed Southwest to wash away that disappointment with 56% shooting and 10 three-pointers.

This Week: Friday vs. #16 North Star, Saturday at #3 Central

19. Omaha Westview (6-5, Last Week #19)

Westview shot 55% and 56% from long range against Elkhorn South then fell behind Prep 15-4 in the first quarter and trailed by 22 at halftime.

This Week: Friday at Omaha South, Saturday vs. #11 Kearney

20. Ogallala (12-0, Last Week #21)

Ogallala moves one spot ahead of Ashland-Greenwood thanks to five wins over teams at or above .500 including 60-52 over Cozad on Jan. 5 that gave the Haymakers just their second loss.

This Week: Friday vs. Sidney, Saturday at Valentine

21. Ashland-Greenwood (10-0, Last Week #20)

AG is one of four unbeaten teams in Class C-1 and is defeating teams by almost 30 points per game. Only three of the 10 wins are against teams with a winning record but three of those have come in the last five.

This Week: Thursday at Lincoln Lutheran

22. Millard West (7-3, Last Week #23)

Millard West has won every game other than two against Gretna and a loss to Papio South in the second game of the season. Reece Carson shot 6 of 7 and had 18 points in a win over Gretna East.

This Week: Friday at #3 Central, Saturday vs. Burke

23. Lincoln Northeast (6-4, Last Week #22)

Northeast struggled to 36% shooting and 21% against Grand Island in a win Jan. 5, potentially signaling trouble for the next day against Gretna. The Rockets have one win against a team at .500, the rest have four or fewer victories.

This Week: Thursday at Lincoln High, Saturday vs. #2 Millard North

24. Auburn (10-0, Last Week #24)

Auburn gave up 63 points in a win over Maryville but it’s the only other game the Bulldogs gave up more than 40. Defense continues to be the calling card and Auburn has utilized it well enough to start 10-0.

This Week: Friday at Fairbury

25. Scottsbluff (9-2, Last Week #25)

After starting 8-1, Scottsbluff might be showing some kinks in the armor after a double overtime win against 4-6 Waverly then a blowout 55-38 loss to Crete.

This Week: Friday vs Cheyenne Central (WY), Saturday at Cheyenne East (WY)

--Nathan Charles I @SBLiveNeb