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 eighth in-season poll for the 2023-2024 season, presented by Pinnacle Bank.
Records are for games played through Saturday, February 3, 2024.
Class A (Record), Previous
- Millard West (18-1), 1
- Lincoln Southwest (15-3), 4
- Millard North (13-5), 2
- Lincoln North Star (14-3), 3
- Lincoln Northeast (15-5), 6
- Bellevue West (11-6), 9
- Papillon-LaVista South (13-5), 5
- Lincoln Pius X (12-6), RV
- Lincoln Southeast (13-4), 7
- Omaha Central (15-5), 10
Receiving Votes: Bellevue East (11-6), NR; Omaha Marian (13-5), RV; Omaha Westside (11-9), 8
Comments: Millard West has beat Lincoln Southwest and Millard North in the past two weeks and now seems to be a clear front runner for a state title. After that the coaches agree than any of about 13 teams could find their way to Lincoln. The district tournaments should be fantastic.
Class B (Record), Previous
- Elkhorn North (16-), 1
- Skutt Catholic (18-1), 2
- Norris (13-3), 3
- Gretna East (11-6), 6
- Waverly (12-4), 4
- Beatrice (16-2), 5
- South Sioux City (13-7), 10
- Bennington (12-7), 7
- Elkhorn (12-5), 8
- Seward (11-7), 9
Receiving Votes: Crete (10-7), RV.
Comments: We said last week that Class B seems as strong as ever. Still true. After Waverly knocked off Elkhorn North, they lost to Gretna East last Tuesday. The Griffins then followed that up by taking Class A, No. 2 Lincoln Southwest deep into the fourth quarter. This shuffles the 4-6 spots. Norris plays Skutt and Elkhorn North this week.
Class C-1 (Record), Previous
- Sidney (20-0), 1
- GICC (19-1), 2
- Lincoln Christian (17-2), 3
- Bridgeport (19-0), 4
- Minden (15-3), 5
- Gothenburg (15-4), 7
- Broken Bow (16-3), 6
- Adams Central (17-3), 8
- Arlington (17-3), 10
- Columbus Scotus (13-6), RV
Receiving Votes: Malcolm (13-7), 9.
Comments: The top four remain the same with no changes. Gothenburg beat Minden on avenging a loss in the Southwest Conference final. As one coach said, “no clue how to rank teams 5-8; throw them in a cup and roll them out.” Scotus replaces Malcolm at No. 10 having won 13 of 16 after an 0-3 start.
Class C-2 (Record), Previous
- Crofton (18-0), 1
- Elmwood-Murdock (18-1), 2
- Yutan (16-2), 4
- Bishop Neumann (14-4), 3
- Hastings St. Cecilia (12-4), 5
- Bayard (18-3), 6
- Cross County (18-2), 8
- Freeman (15-4), 9
- Clarkson/Leigh (13-5), 10
- Oakland-Craig (11-5), 7
Receiving Votes: Archbishop Bergan (11-6), NR.
Comments: Another jump for Yutan after they upended Malcolm setting up a game with No. 4 Bishop Neumann on Tuesday. No penalty for losses to Adams Central and Bridgeport by St. Cecilia and Bayard. Oakland-Craig drops after a loss to Clarkson/Leigh.
Class D-1 (Record), Previous
- Pender (20-0), 1
- Guardian Angels CC (16-2), 2
- Southern Valley (21-1), 3
- O’Neill St. Mary’s (16-2), 5
- Johnson-Brock (17-2), 4
- McCool Junction (14-3), 6
- Elgin Public/Pope John (17-2), 7
- Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (17-2), 8
- Summerland (15-4), 10
- Elm Creek (15-5), 9
Receiving Votes: Alma (17-3), RV; Maywood-Hayes Center (18-2), RV.
Comments: The one we have waited for is Tuesday as Pender will host Guardian Angels in a 1, 2 matchup that may determine the top overall seed for state. GACC’s only two losses to Class C-2, No. 1 Crofton. St. Mary’s back to fourth after winning the Niobrara Valley title over EPPJ.
Class D-2 (Record), Previous
- Overton (17-1), 2
- Falls City Sacred Heart (14-3), 1
- Wynot (13-2), 3
- Shelton (11-4), 6
- Leyton (16-2), 4
- Sandhills/Thedford (15-3), 7
- Howells-Dodge (11-5), 5
- Plainview (13-4), 8
- Hay Springs (12-4), 9
- Humphrey St. Francis (11-7), 10
Receiving Votes: Wilcox-Hildreth (14-5), RV.
Comments: In the only class without a unanimous No. 1, Overton ascends to the top off their Fort Kearny Conference title in which they beat Wilcox-Hildreth and SEM. Their reward is facing those two teams again this week. Sacred Heart won the Pioneer over Class D-1, No. 5 Johnson-Brock. Wynot and Plainview were tabbed for the Lewis and Clark final on Monday.
