The postseason gauntlet begins for Nebraska girls basketball. Class A and B open district play, while Classes C1, C2, D1 and D2 kick off sub-districts — and three undefeated teams are trying to keep perfect records alive. With 60 games on the schedule, here’s where the NebPreps Computer Ratings say you should be watching.
Game of the Week: No. 2 Alma vs. No. 5 Centura — Class C2 Sub-Districts (Feb. 27)
The week’s highest-rated matchup at a combined 168.91 is a C2 showdown between two defensive juggernauts. Alma (23-1) allows just 25.9 points per game — the stingiest mark among teams in this week’s matchups. Centura (21-3) is right there at 24.4 allowed. With Alma scoring 60.8 per game and Centura at 56.6, someone’s defense will have to bend. This is a sub-district game with state tournament implications.
Sub-District Spotlight (Feb. 27)
No. 4 Shelton vs. No. 6 Arapahoe — Class D1 (Combined: 160.82)
Shelton (20-3, 82.48 rating) has been one of D1’s steadiest teams, allowing just 32.4 per game. Arapahoe (20-4) matches them win for win and brings a tougher strength of schedule (18th vs. 41st). Two 20-win teams colliding in sub-districts — this one feels like it belongs in a later round.
No. 4 Omaha Nation vs. No. 8 Holdrege — Class C1 (Combined: 158.96)
Omaha Nation (21-2) leads this matchup with 66.0 points per game — the highest offensive output of any team in the week’s top C1 games. Holdrege (20-3) counters with a top-7 strength of schedule. A legitimate sub-district final caliber game.
No. 3 Pender vs. No. 10 Johnson County Central — Class C2 (Combined: 152.29)
Pender (22-2) has the eighth-toughest schedule in C2 and scores 59.4 per game. Johnson County Central (18-5) doesn’t light up the scoreboard at 45.6 per game but surrenders just 31.2 — they’ll try to make this a grind.
No. 6 Paxton vs. No. 7 Silver Lake — Class D2 (Combined: 151.12)
Nearly identical ratings make this the closest matchup on paper in D2. Paxton (15-6, 76.08) has a slight edge in scoring at 53.2 per game. Silver Lake (17-4, 75.04) has the better record. A true coin flip that could go either way.
District Play: Class A and B (Feb. 25)
Both Class A and B open district first-round games Wednesday. The top A matchup: No. 3 Kearney (76.83 rating) hosts South Sioux City. The most competitive district game by the numbers is No. 10 Papillion-LaVista vs. No. 15 Papillion-La Vista South (combined 115.90) — a crosstown rivalry with district stakes. In Class B, No. 6 Blair draws Lincoln Standing Bear and No. 9 Omaha Gross Catholic faces Elkhorn North in a matchup that could produce an upset.
Undefeated Watch
Three girls teams enter the postseason with perfect records — a remarkable feat this deep into the season.
Bennington (23-0, Class B) carries the state’s highest girls rating at 96.53. They’re the clear frontrunner in Class B and begin district play this week.
Bloomfield (23-0, Class D1) is the top-rated D1 team at 95.06, scoring 64.7 per game. Their sub-district opener draws No. 24 Wauneta-Palisade — a favorable matchup, but the postseason takes no prisoners.
Elkhorn Valley (23-0, Class C2) sits atop C2 with a 92.22 rating and draws No. 21 Aquinas Catholic in sub-districts. Aquinas (13-9) has a deceptive record — they own the ninth-toughest schedule in the entire classification. Don’t write them off.
All ratings from the NebPreps Computer Ratings. Full rankings and strength of schedule data available at the link.
