Nebraska high school girls basketball Top 25 rankings (2/13/2024)

Britt Prince and McKenna Murphy had huge nights for Elkhorn North, as they rolled through Norris on Friday, 66-47. Prince, the highly touted Nebraska commit, netted 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Murphy, a Colorado State commit, scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The Wolves’ (17-1) lone blemish came against Waverly and they are the clear favorite to repeat as state champions. 

1. Millard West (20-1, Last Week #1) 

The Wildcats rolled over Westview and Marian last week, winning by scores of 62-33 and 57-44, respectively. This week, it’s on to Millard South and Papillion-LaVista South. Look for West to make an easy game of Millard South. PLVS, though, could make this interesting, at least early. We expect Millard West to win, though.

2. Elkhorn North (17-1, Last Week #2)

Double-doubles from Britt Prince and McKenna Murphy led the Wolves past Norris last week. Murphy’s 19 points all came in the first three quarters of play. Elkhorn North closes out the regular season Friday against 10-10 Grand Island Northwest. We don’t expect any major surprises in this matchup.

3. Skutt Catholic (20-1, Last Week #4)

Skutt Catholic’s impressive play moves them up one spot – back into our top-3 – in this week’s rankings. Last Week, the SkyHawks picked up wins over Norris and Elkhorn. The Norris win was by six, and Elkhorn was a 66-38 blowout. This week, Skutt faces 7-12 Omaha Mercy. This one will likely be over by half.

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

Southwest last week bagged wins over Columbus, Norfolk and Lincoln North Star. Though low scoring, the win over North Star was a big one for the Silverhawks. This week, Kearney wraps up its regular season Thursday against Kearney. Kearney has shown improvement, but Southwest should take care of business.

5. Lincoln North Star (16-4, Last Week #5)

North Star is coming off a 43-35 loss against Lincoln Southwest. The Navigators have two great opportunities to bounce back this week, games against Lincoln Southwest and Millard North. Winning both of these games would be terrific, but winning one is necessary leading up to the district tournament.

6. Millard North (14-6, Last Week #8)

The Mustangs lost a somewhat surprising game in overtime to Bellevue East Last week, and then bounced back with a blowout win over Duchesne. The regular season concludes this week with games against Marian and Lincoln North Star. We think North will pick up the win against Marian and lose to the Navigators in a close one.

7. Papillion-La Vista South (15-5, Last Week #6)

PLVS blew out Burke and rival PLV last week, improving its win streak to four since its late-January loss to Millard North. Freshman Addison Medeck continues to lead the Titans in scoring, averaging about 10 per game. Ella Morehouse is adding 9. Games Friday and Saturday against Bellevue West and Millard West will be challenging. If the Titans pick up one here, it will likely be against the Thunderbirds.

8. Lincoln Northeast (17-5, Last Week #7)

Doneelah Washington scored 24 and pulled down 15 boards Saturday during a 65-60 win over Benson. Washington, a 6-foot senior, netted 15 in the second half. Northeast this week takes on Lincoln Pius X, which should be a competitive matchup. Pius is trending in the right direction to close the season, but we think Northeast does enough to win this.

9. Bellevue West (13-6, Last Week #10)

Bellevue west is finally playing the way many thought it would from the start of the season. After a rocky few months, the Thunderbirds are now rolling, winning seven straight. Wins were picked up last week against solid Omaha Central and Bellevue East Squads. This week, West faces PLV and PLVS.

10. Lincoln Pius X (15-6, Last Week #11)

Pius is on a seven-game winning streak, and is doing everything needed to have a chance at district tournament run. Last year, they lost in the district finals 36-35 in overtime to Lincoln North Star. Coming off wins against Lincoln East and Fremont, Pius has a big one Thursday against Lincoln Northeast. We think this is competitive, but Northeast wins.

11. Omaha Central (16-6, Last Week #9)

It was a rough one for Central last week as it fell to Bellevue West 81-61. A day later, though, the Eagles bounced back with a blowout win over Omaha North, prevailing by 40. This week, Westside is on the horizon. The Warriors have been struggling and Central should be able to pick up a win here.

12. Lincoln Southeast (15-5, Last Week #12)

Southeast went 2-1 last week, beating Westside and PLV, but falling 53-42 to Kearney. We think the Knights pick up a needed win Tuesday against Columbus before a big game Friday against Lincoln North Star. Southeast fell 57-45 to the Navigators in late December.

13. Marian (15-6, Last Week #13)

Marian last week beat Lincoln High and Millard South, but fell to state No. 1 Millard West 57-44. McKenna Stover led Marian in scoring against the Wildcats, scoring 10 points. Madison Stover added seven points. Neleigh Gessert led Millard West with 25 points. Up next is Millard North Tuesday.

14. Bellevue East (13-7, Last Week #15)

Bellevue East moves up a spot in this week’s rankings, and has been trending upward the past month. The Chieftains lost to crosstown rival Bellevue West last Tuesday, but bounced back with a huge win in overtime over Millard North, followed by a dominant showing over Westview. Junior Brani Jackson scored 21 in the win over the Mustangs.

15. Gretna East (13-6, Last Week 17)

Gretna East picked up wins last week against Elkhorn South and Lincoln High. This week, we expect them to beat Omaha Bryan and Buena Vista before an interesting matchup with PLV. The Griffins have been a surprisingly good team this season, and we give them an edge against a PLV squad on a losing skid.

16. Benson (11-7, Last Week 24)

Benson went 1-1 last week, beating PLV before falling 65-60 to Lincoln Northeast. Doneelah Washington tallied a double-double and created matchup issues for the Bunnies all night. Benson this week faces Elkhorn South, followed by Omaha South. Both are winnable games.

17. Waverly (14-4, Last Week #18)

Waverly is on a four-game winning streak since falling by 10 to Gretna east at the end of January. Last week, they took care of Duchesne and Hastings. Waverly should handle Lincoln Northwest Tuesday before a big matchup with Beatrice Thursday.

18. Norris (13-5, Last Week #16)

Norris slides in this week’s rankings and is on its first multiple-game losing skid of the season. It’s been a rough three-game stretch, with the Titans losing to Skutt Catholic and Elkhorn North, as well as Lincoln Christian, one of Class C-1’s best teams. Blair, Grand Island and Lincoln Northwest are all winnable games this week.

19. Kearney (11-9, Last Week NR)

Kearney jumps into our Top-25 power rankings this week. The Bearcats are 3-1 over their last four games, and picked up wins over Westview and a very good Lincoln Southeast team last week. Against the Knights, Senior Paige Mailahn scored a team-high 15 points. Harley Straka added 14, and freshman Libby Province, 10.

20. Westside (12-7, Last Week 14)

It has been an abysmal stretch for the Warriors, who have lost five of their last six. They got a much-needed win last week against Millard South, and should pick up a win this week against Omaha North Tuesday. It will be a tough weekend stretch, though, when Westside faces Omaha Central and Bellevue East.

21. Papillion-La Vista (12-7, Last Week #14)

PLV is on a four-game losing streak, and it gets no easier this Tuesday when they play Bellevue West. We like the Monarchs to pick up a win Friday against Westview, but think they probably fall Saturday to Class B Gretna east.

22. Sidney (22-0, Last Week # 20)

Sidney remains perfect on the year, picking up wins over Alliance and Chadron last week. The Red Raiders are the top C-1 team in the state, and have looked the part all season. The vast majority of their wins have been in blowout fashion and they are a lock to make the postseason.

23. Bridgeport (22-0, Last Week #21)

The Class C-1 Bulldogs are coming off wins last week against Torrington, Morrill and Gordon-Rushville. Against Gordon-Rushville, Olivia Loomis-Goltl netted a game-high 27 points. On the season, she’s averaging 23 points per game.

24. Lincoln Christian (19-2, Last Week #22)

It has been a great February for Lincoln Christian, a team on a five-game winning streak. This month, the Crusaders have notched wins over quality competition like Bishop Neumann, Norris and Beatrice. They are undoubtedly one of C-1’s best.

25. Broken Bow (18-3, Last Week NR)

Broken Bow enters our rankings for the first time this season. The Indians are on a five-game win streak and have scored 70 or more in three of their last four outings. Leading broken Bow in scoring is Makinley Tobey, netting 20 per game. Halle McCaslin, a senior, is scoring about 13.

Next 5: North Platte, Columbus, Grand Island Central Catholic, Elkhorn, Bennington 

--Sam Pimper I @SBLiveNeb