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 is the sixth in-season poll for the 2023-2024 season, presented by Pinnacle Bank.
Records are for games played through Saturday, Jan. 20.
Class A (Record), Previous
1. Millard West (12-1), 1
2. Lincoln Southwest (12-1), 4
3. Millard North (10-4), 2
4. Lincoln Northeast (12-3), 5
5. Lincoln North Star (9-2), 8
6. Omaha Central (13-4), 3
7. Lincoln Southeast (9-3), RV
8. Omaha Westside (11-5), 10
9. Papillon-LaVista South (10-4), NR
10. Omaha Marian (11-3), 6
Receiving Votes: Bellevue West (6-5), 7; Lincoln Pius X (8-5), 9.
Comments: We finally got back in the swing of things and it got a little crazy in Class A last week. Millard West dropped their first game of the season — to Iowa, No. 1 Johnston on Saturday. Lincoln Northeast won a double overtime game with then No. 2 Millard North, but then lost a 56-55 decision to North Star and the Gators advance. Southwest jumps to No. 2 in time for Tueaday’s game with Millard West.
Class B (Record), Previous
1. Elkhorn North (13-0), 1
2. Skutt Catholic (13-1), 2
3. Norris (10-2), 3
4. Beatrice (12-1), 4
5. Waverly (9-3), 5
6. Gretna East (8-5), 9
7. Bennington (9-5), 6
8. Elkhorn (9-4), 8
9. Seward (6-6), 7
10. South Sioux City (8-6), 10
Receiving Votes: Crete (8-6), NR; Scottsbluff (9-7), NR.
Comments: Near status quo in Class B as the top-five remain the same with Elkhorn North adding another Class A pelt on Saturday when they topped Millard North. Gretna East moves up with a big win over Class A, No. 6 Omaha Central. Crete receives votes for the first time after a win over Seward, which drops to ninth.
Class C-1 (Record), Previous
1. Sidney (15-0), 1
2. Lincoln Christian (12-1), 2
3. GICC (13-1), 5
4. Bridgeport (15-0), 3
5. Broken Bow (12-2), 7
6. Minden (11-2), 6
7. Gothenburg (11-3), 4
8. Adams Central (11-3), 8
9. Malcolm (11-4), 10
10. Arlington (13-2), RV
Receiving Votes: Battle Creek (11-2), 9; Wahoo (7-5), RV.
Comments: Sidney stays on top after holding off Gothenburg, who also lost to Broken Bow this week. GICC jumps to third after an impressive win over Adams Central. A chance for GICC and Christian to play in the Centennial finals this weekend.
Class C-2 (Record), Previous
1. Crofton (14-0), 1
2. Elmwood-Murdock (13-1), 2
3. Bishop Neumann (12-1), 3
4. Hastings St. Cecilia (10-2), 4
5. Oakland-Craig (10-3), 5
6. Cross County (14-1), 6
7. Yutan (10-2), 7
8. Freeman (13-2), 8
9. Bayard (15-1), RV
10. Thayer Central (10-2), 10
Receiving Votes: Bayard (12-1), RV; Clarkson/Leigh (10-4), RV; Niobrara/Verdigre (10-3), 9.
Comments: The top-8 remain the same with only No. 8 Freeman losing 36-31 to Class C-1, No. 9 Malcolm. The coaches finally pull the trigger on 15-1 Bayard, who’s only loss is to Sidney and they have defeated Class D-2, No. 4 Leyton twice.
Class D-1 (Record), Previous
1. Pender (16-0), 1
2. Guardian Angels CC (14-1), 2
3. Southern Valley (15-1), 3
4. O’Neill St. Mary’s (10-2), 4
5. Johnson-Brock (13-1), 5
6. Elgin Public/Pope John (13-1), 6
7. McCool Junction (9-3), 8
8. Summerland (12-2), 7
9. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (13-1), 9
10. Elm Creek (11-3), 10
Receiving Votes: Alma (14-1), RV.
Comments: No ranked teams lost in Class D-1 last week and the only change is McCool Junction and Summerland flipping spots.
Class D-2 (Record), Previous
1. Falls City Sacred Heart (13-2), 1
2. Overton (15-1), 2
3. Wynot (9-2), 3
4. Leyton (13-2), 4
5. Shelton (10-3), 5
6. Sandhills/Thedford (12-3), 6
7. Howells-Dodge (8-5), 7
8. Hay Springs (12-4), RV
9. Plainview (9-4), RV
10. Humphrey St. Francis (9-6), 10
Receiving Votes: Paxton (10-5), 9; Wilcox-Hildreth (11-5), 8.
Comments: No changes to the top-seven teams, but Hay Springs and Plainview replace Paxton and Wilcox-Hildreth which both had losses this week.
