It’s a split week for Nebraska boys basketball. Classes C1, C2, D1 and D2 open sub-district play, while Class A wraps up the regular season and Class B begins district first-round action. With 104 games on the schedule, here are the matchups the NebPreps Computer Ratings say you need to watch.
Game of the Week: No. 5 Lincoln Southwest vs. No. 9 Omaha Central — Class A (Feb. 23)
The biggest regular-season game of the week features two Class A contenders jockeying for positioning heading into districts. Lincoln Southwest (18-3, 76.24 rating) has been one of the most consistent teams in Class A, scoring 74.0 points per game while allowing 59.7. Omaha Central (14-8, 64.75 rating) has the kind of battle-tested resume — facing the sixth-toughest schedule in Class A — that makes them dangerous in the postseason. This is a measuring-stick game for both programs before district brackets are set.
Sub-District Spotlight (Feb. 24)
No. 1 St. Mary’s vs. No. 10 Stuart — Class D2 (Combined: 159.32)
The week’s highest-rated sub-district matchup. St. Mary’s (21-2) has been the top-rated D2 team all season, averaging 72.7 points per game while holding opponents to 40.7. Stuart (15-8) enters with the 13th-toughest schedule in D2, so they’ve seen quality competition. St. Mary’s is the clear favorite, but Stuart won’t be intimidated.
No. 3 Johnson-Brock vs. No. 8 EMF — Class C2 (Combined: 155.11)
A clash of contrasts. Johnson-Brock (20-3) owns one of the stingiest defenses in C2 at 36.7 points per game allowed. EMF (17-6) counters with 65.2 per game of offensive firepower and a top-10 strength of schedule. Something has to give.
No. 4 Deshler vs. No. 9 Grand Island Lutheran — Class D2 (Combined: 151.35)
Deshler (19-2) scores 61.7 and gives up just 38.0 per game. Grand Island Lutheran (15-6) is even stingier defensively at 35.7 allowed. This could be the lowest-scoring, highest-intensity game of the week.
No. 3 Elgin Public/Pope John vs. No. 18 CWC — Class D2 (Combined: 144.95)
Don’t let CWC’s 11-11 record fool you — their strength of schedule ranks No. 1 in all of Class D2. Elgin Public/Pope John (21-1) carries an 86.64 rating, but CWC has been forged by the toughest slate in the classification.
Class B Districts: First Round (Feb. 26)
Class B opens district play Thursday with some intriguing matchups. No. 5 Elkhorn North (74.81 rating) hosts Lincoln Standing Bear, No. 7 Aurora draws York, and No. 8 Gretna East gets Gering. The most competitive first-round game by the ratings: No. 11 McCook vs. No. 17 Alliance (combined 110.69) — the kind of road trip that defines Class B in western Nebraska.
Undefeated Watch
Ogallala (20-0, Class C1) remains the lone undefeated boys basketball team in Nebraska. The Indians own the state’s highest boys rating at 105.74 — nearly 19 points clear of the next C1 team. Their sub-district run begins this week, and every opponent in the bracket knows there’s a target on their back.
All ratings from the NebPreps Computer Ratings. Full rankings and strength of schedule data available at the link. Or see our most recent Coaches Poll.
