Nebraska high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (1/16/2024)

Jack Frost postponed all but a few games across the state last week, but there were a few results of note. Pius answered back against Southeast after the Knights downed the Thunderbolts in the HAC title game. Ogallala suffered its first regular-season loss in nearly two years. 

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

The top team in the state was looking to extend its nine-game winning streak and take down rival Bellevue East. Since that was the only game on the slate, Bell West doesn’t have a ton of rescheduling to do. Three players are averaging double-digits and the T-Birds are shooting 50%.

This Week: Friday vs. Millard West, Saturday vs. Bryan

2. Millard North (10-1, Last Week #2)

The Mustangs have won three in a row since losing in the conference semifinals to Central. The first was vengeance against the Eagles six days later followed by a blowout of Omaha Northwest then a victory over No. 4 Gretna. The win over Gretna was one of the few games played last week. Neal Mosser hit brother Major for a three with 17 seconds in overtime and the eventual 80-75 victory.

This Week: Tuesday at No. 21 Northeast, Friday vs. Curie (IL – Played at Quincy Notre Dame), Saturday at Quincy (IL)

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

Daleron Thomas and Devin Holmon have established themselves as one of the best 1-2 punches in the state. That duo combines for 29 points per game, 13 rebounds, six assists and both shoot for better than 40%. Central has wins No. 9 Bryan, No. 8 Omaha North, No. 2 Millard North and No. 4 Gretna. There are still eight more games against the top 25.

This Week: Tuesday at Elkhorn South, Friday at #6 Papio South, Saturday at Gretna East

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

The Dragons had played since the death of coach Brad Feeken but not at home since Dec. 19. Gretna was chasing most of the game, trailed by double-digits twice in the third quarter but fought back and took the lead with under two minutes remaining. The Dragons then allowed a layup with 15 seconds remaining in regulation and gave up the first four points of overtime. Landon Pokorski had a chance to tie it on a three late in OT but came up long.

This Week: Thursday vs. #7 Prep, Saturday at #15 Westview

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

Westside had a week to prepare for Pius after a win over Elkhorn South when Old Man Winter postponed the top-20 matchup. The Warriors would have had an advantage since Pius played and won the night before at Southeast. The schedule is a busy one this week with three games in six days.

This Week: Monday vs. Rockford Auburn (IL – at CB Abe Lincoln), Friday vs. Omaha South, Saturday at #6 Papio South.

6. Papillion-La Vista South (9-1, Last Week #6)

Papio South went into the Metro Tournament 7-0 before dropping a quarterfinal loss to Gretna. The Titans then lost the second of a back-to-back a week later when they came up two points short at North. Last week gave Papio South the chance to get back in the conversation with a pair of top-20 opponents until the weather postponed two games.

This Week: Friday vs. No. 3 Central, Saturday vs. No. 5 Westside

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

Prep was set for a tune-up this week against Millard South and Omaha South. Instead, the Junior Jays had days off school and away from the gym ahead of returning to the court for a three-game week and two rated foes. Senior Dillon Claussen is averaging nearly a double-double on points and rebounds and has had five of those in 10 games.

This Week: Tuesday vs. #8 Bryan, Thursday at #4 Gretna, Saturday at Buena Vista

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

Bryan had a week off in between a road win over Buena Vista then a scheduled home game hosting Grand Island. The game against Grand Island didn’t happen, but the Bears rose a spot thanks to a loss by Southeast. The time off should be helpful facing a week with three road games.

This Week: Tuesday at No. 7 Prep, Friday at Elkhorn South, Saturday at No. 1 Bellevue West

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

North is another squad that won’t have to make too many schedule adjustments thanks to a week in between games from Jan. 6 to Jan. 13. A nice, unexpected break in the middle of the season normally sounds helpful. But for North, the Vikings had just captured their best win of the year during a victory over No. 6 Papio South. Momentum from that one has likely dissipated by now.

This Week: Tuesday at Columbus, Saturday at No. 20 Millard West

10. Lincoln Southeast (9-4, Last Week #8)

Southeast is the HAC champ, was playing at home and had won seven in a row but likely went into last week’s game against Pius the underdog. The Thunderbolts were motivated by payback and had simply come close too many times not to break through. Southeast hit 14 threes the first time but was held to its lowest total in the rematch.

This Week: Tuesday at Omaha Northwest, Thursday vs. Lincoln High

11. Lincoln Pius X (7-4, Last Week #15)

Pius hadn’t necessarily been close in its four losses, but the Bolts had taken care of business against everyone else. Regardless, Pius was still lacking a signature win when it took the court for a rematch against Southeast. The Knights won the HAC just about two weeks earlier thanks to 14 threes and a late 11-0 run. In the rematch, Pius held Southeast to 4 of 19 from long range, 3 of 14 from the long range and put together a 12-0 run in the fourth.

This Week: Tuesday at Norfolk, Friday vs. Grand Island

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

Crete remains the highest-rated non-Class A team and is one of just six unbeaten teams left in the state. The Cardinals will return from a postponement at York with two more road games before facing its toughest test of the season thus far when Elkhorn comes to town.

This Week: Tuesday at Seward, Thursday at Blair, Saturday vs. #14 Elkhorn

13. Norris (7-4, Last Week #13)

Norris had a lone game on the schedule last week and was stepping down into Class C-1 to face Lincoln Lutheran. But the 10-3 Warriors would have been a good test to resume play after nine days away. Instead, the Titans face a three-game week and three opponents with winning records.

This Week: Tuesday vs. York, Thursday vs. Bennington, Saturday vs. Bishop Heelan (IA – at Sokol Arena)

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

Snow cost Elkhorn a game at Gross Catholic to get ready for a rematch with Elkhorn North. The Antlers took down the Wolves 64-59 in the semifinals of the EMC Tournament, but Elkhorn North earned a program-building win over Skutt on Jan. 6 and will be playing with confidence. It doesn’t get any easier in the two games that close the week.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Elkhorn North, Thursday at Ashland-Greenwood, Saturday at #12 Crete.

15. Omaha Westview (7-5, Last Week #19)

Westview was one of the few Metro area teams that had a chance to play and took advantage with a 29-point win over Omaha South. The Wolverines overcame 3 of 16 from long range by pulling down 16 offensive rebounds. Westview rises four spots thanks to that win and a closer look at the resume as compared to the three teams right behind in the ratings.

This Week: Saturday vs. No. 4 Gretna

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

Kearney didn’t do anything wrong to warrant dropping five spots. But another review of the schedule shows four wins against teams with two wins or fewer. The Bearcats could have answered some criticism with a win over Westview but that one set for Jan. 13 was postponed.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Lincoln East, Friday at Norfolk

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

North Star played its best game of the season when it hit 13 three-pointers and hung around all game with Gretna but couldn’t make any plays late after trailing most of the game. Despite the loss, it was the best the Navigators had played all season. Then came two rounds of snow and sub-zero temps that have now given North Star 10 days away from competition. Was the performance against Gretna a positive sign? Will the time away revert North Star to the team that lost by an average of 18 to the previous three other foes in the top 10?

This Week: Friday vs. Columbus, Saturday vs. No. 21 Northeast

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

Skutt hasn’t taken the court since Elkhorn North. That loss was part of two in three during a 10-day stretch as part of a holiday tournament then a back-to-back on Jan. 5/6. The Skyhawks have stewed on the loss to the Wolves for 10 days and will likely take that frustration out at the River Cities Conference Tournament that has three teams with four or fewer wins and a Roncalli squad that hasn’t yet lived up to expectations.

This Week: River Cities Tournament

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

Weather cost the Silver Hawks a chance to make an impression against North Star and Central. They’ll resume play with Fremont. Husker recruit Braden Frager had just 18 combined points in losses to Pius and Southeast then got back on track with 22 in a win over Lincoln High before the weather postponed games last week.

This Week: Friday vs. Fremont

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

The Wildcats received a reprieve from the weather last week during a slate that included back-to-back starting with No. 3 Central. It doesn’t get any easier the next two weeks. The next four feature No. 1 Bellevue West, No. 9 Omaha North, No. 19 Southwest and No. 5 Westside.

This Week: Friday at No. #1 Bellevue West, Saturday at #9 Omaha North

21. Lincoln Northeast (7-4, Last Week #23)

Snow meant Northeast missed out on a back-to-back. This week offers a few winnable games, one against a rated team that could vault the Rockets a few more spots up the list.

This Week: Friday vs. East, Saturday at #17 North Star

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

Auburn’s unbeaten start includes four victories against teams with eight or more wins. It could be a few weeks and the conference tournament before the Bulldogs face any more foes of that quality.

This Week: Tuesday vs. FC Sacred Heart, Friday vs. Nebraska City, Saturday at Wilber-Clatonia

23. Sidney (13-0, Last Week Unrated)

So, it seems, the Red Raiders are for real. Isak Doty scored 24 points, two others were in double figures and Sidney handed Ogallala its first regular season loss in almost two years when the Red Raiders took down the Indians on the road in double overtime on Jan. 12. Snow prevented following that up the next night against Class A North Platte.

This Week: Friday at Gothenburg, Saturday at Yuma (CO)

24. Scottsbluff (10-3, Last Week #25)

Scottsbluff has been a regular part of the ratings for a few weeks now after not landing on the initial list. Scottsbluff lost to 10-0 Cheyenne Central last week then beat 10-1 Cheyenne East. Losses are to teams that are 28-1. Wins are against foes that are 54-44.

This Week: Tuesday vs. #25 Ogallala, Saturday vs. Gering

25. Ogallala (12-1, Last Week #20)

The Indians haven’t suffered a regular season loss since Feb. 4, 2022, and hadn’t gone down at home since almost two years to the date when Sidney did it on Saturday. Still, it took two overtimes. Ogallala goes to #24 Scottsbluff on Tuesday. That one will give another indicator of where the Indians stand in comparison to the last few years.

This Week: Tuesday at #24 Scottsbluff, Friday at Alliance, Saturday vs. Ainsworth

--Nathan Charles I @SBLiveNeb