Each week during the high school basketball season, select coaches from the six Nebraska classes rate the teams in their class and our Tony Chapman compiles the rankings. Here are the ratings for January 30, with records as of games played on Saturday, January 28.
Class A (Record), Previous
1. Millard South (16-2), 1
2. Bellevue West (15-2), 2
3. Millard North (16-1), 3
4. Lincoln High (16-1), 4
5. Bellevue East (12-3), 6
6. Lincoln Pius X (13-3), 5
7. Lincoln East (11-4), 7
8. Omaha Central (11-7), 8
9. Millard West (10-6), RV
10. Lincoln North Star (9-6), 10
Receiving Votes: none.
Comments: Millard West re-enters after a big 3-0 week that included a win over No. 10 Lincoln North Star. The Navigators stay put, however, as they got a win over then-No. 9 Kearney. The top-8 remain the same, with a little reshuffling. Games of note: Lincoln Pius X at Kearney (Tuesday), Lincoln North Star at Lincoln Pius X (Friday), Millard North at Millard South (Friday).
Class B (Record), Previous
1. Skutt Catholic (18-1), 1
2. Elkhorn North (16-1), 2
3. York (15-2), 3
4. Sidney (16-1), 5
5. Norris (11-6), 4
6. Beatrice (12-2), 6
7. Omaha Duchesne (10-4), 7
8. Scottsbluff (15-4), 8
9. Waverly (10-6), 10
10. Blair (12-5), 9
Receiving Votes: Seward (10-7), NR.
Comments: Skutt with a dominating week that included wins over two top-10 Class A teams (Pius, Omaha Central). Elkhorn North defeated Norris for the Eastern Midlands title and they’ll face York on Friday. Minor changes in the rest of the top-10. Games of note: Adams Central at Seward (Friday), York at Elkhorn North (Friday), Lincoln Christian at Norris (Friday), Scottsbluff at Sidney (Saturday), Seward at Blair (Saturday).
Class C-1 (Record), Previous
1. Bridgeport (17-0), 1
2. North Bend (17-1), 2
3. Adams Central (17-1), 3
4. Lincoln Christian (15-2), 4
5. Wahoo (14-3), 6
6. Minden (16-3), RV
7. Milford (16-3), 7
8. Scotus Central Catholic (14-5), 9
9. Malcolm (15-4), 8
10. Gothenburg (13-3), 5
Receiving Votes: Yutan (16-2), 10.
Comments: Minden returns after a 54-51 win over then-No. 5 Gothenburg in the Southwest Conference final. Adams Central (Central), Lincoln Christian (Centennial) and Wahoo (Trailblazer) also won league titles last week, with Scotus second to LC and Malcolm runner-up to Wahoo. Milford will have the Southern Nebraska tournament this week. Yutan drops out to make room for Minden. Games of note: North Bend Central in EHC Tournament (Monday-Saturday), Beatrice at Wahoo (Saturday), Malcolm at Yutan (Saturday).
Class C-2 (Record), Previous
1. Guardian Angels CC (15-1), 1
2. Crofton (16-1), 2
3. Ponca (16-1), 3
4. Pender (18-2), 4
5. Oakland-Craig (15-3), 5
6. Clarkson/Leigh (15-3), 6
7. Southern Valley (14-2), 8
8. Archbishop Bergan (12-5), 7
9. Superior (16-2), RV
10. Summerland (16-1), RV
Receiving Votes: Lincoln Lutheran (8-10), NR; Gordon-Rushville (13-2), 10.
Comments: This week will serve to shake up this ranking or keep it fairly intact. Possible matchup with Crofton and GACC in the Mid-State final and Pender, O-C and Clarkson/Leigh will compete in the East Husker tournament with Class C-1, No. 2 North Bend Central. Summerland in for the first time this year and Superior re-enters in time for the Southern Nebraska Conference Tournament. Games of note: Pender, Oakland-Craig, Clarkson/Leigh in EHC Tournament (Monday-Saturday), Gothenburg at Southern Valley (Monday), Alma at Southern Valley (Friday).
Class D-1 (Record), Previous
1. Ravenna (17-1), 2
2. Maywood-Hayes Center (17-1), 1
3. Centura (15-2), 3
4. Hartington Cedar Catholic (14-4), 5
5. Hastings St. Cecilia (13-5), 4
6. Elgin Public/Pope John (15-3), 7
7. Niobrara/Verdigre (14-3), 8
8. Alma (12-2), 6
9. Elmwood-Murdock (13-4), RV
10. Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (14-5), 9
Receiving Votes: Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (14-1), NR; Johnson-Brock (14-4), 10.
Comments: Ravenna takes the top spot for the first time this year (our fourth No. 1) as they defeated No. 3 Centura 53-40, and Maywood-Hayes Center lost to Southern Valley 54-39 in the RPAC final. Ravenna and Centura could meet again in the LouPlatte final on Saturday. Cedar Catholic’s four losses are to ranked Class C-2 teams. Games of note: Ravenna, Centura in LouPlatt Tournament (Tuesday-Saturday), Adams Central at Hastings St. Cecilia (Tuesday), Blair at Archbishop Bergan (Thursday).
Class D-2 (Record), Previous
1. Falls City Sacred Heart (16-2), 2
2. O’Neill St. Mary’s (14-2), 4
3. Humphrey St. Francis (15-4), 3
4. Overton (15-3), 7
5. Shelton (14-1), 1
6. Wynot (10-7), 5
7. McCool Junction (16-2), 6
8. Parkview Christian (14-6), 9
9. Wilcox-Hildreth (14-4), 8
10. Leyton (11-4), RV
Receiving Votes: Lewiston (12-5), NR; Howells-Dodge (11-8), NR; Hay Springs (13-2), NR.
Comments: Overton’s win over Shelton last week causes some changes and moves Sacred Heart to the top spot. Overton jumps to No. 4 with Shelton behind. Despite winning the Crossroads Tournament, McCool falls one spot for Overton’s jump. Games of note: Shelton in Twin Valley Tournament (Tuesday-Saturday), Wilcox-Hildreth in Fort Kearney Tournament (Monday-Saturday).