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 preseason girls basketball coaches poll for the 2023-2024 season presented by Pinnacle Bank.
Class A (2022-23 Record), Previous
1. Bellevue West (21-5), 4
2. Millard North (23-3), 3
3. Millard West (17-8), 6
4. Lincoln North Star (17-8), 7
5. Omaha Central (16-10), RV
6. Lincoln Northeast (14-11), RV
7. Lincoln Pius X (18-6), 7,
8. Lincoln Southwest (14-11), 8
9. Omaha Marian (10-13), NR
10. Bellevue East (21-5), 5
Receiving Votes: Omaha Westside (7-16), NR; Omaha Benson (10-11), NR; Papillion-LaVista South (10-13), NR.
Comments: Bellevue West and Millard North – a pair of 2023 semifinalists – a near dead heat for the top spot with Millard West and Lincoln North Star chasing close behind.
Class B (2022-23 Record), Previous
1. Elkhorn North (25-1), 1
2. Skutt Catholic (26-2), 2
3. Waverly (17-8), 6
4. Norris (16-10), 5
5. Beatrice (17-5), 8
6. Bennington (15-10), RV
7. York (21-4), 4
8. Seward (15-11), 9
9. Omaha Duchesne (16-9), 10
10. South Sioux City (13-12), NR
Receiving Votes: Blair (14-10), Elkhorn (7-16), Gretna East (new school); Scottsbluff (21-6), 7.
Comments: New season, but things don’t change at the top as our coaches believe that Elkhorn North and Skutt will meet for another title. Last year’s final No. 3, Sidney, is in Class C-1 this year.
Class C-1 (2022-23 Record), Previous
1. Minden (19-5), RV
2. Lincoln Christian (22-4), 5
3. Malcolm (22-7), 4
4. Gothenburg (20-5), 6
5. Bridgeport (26-1), 3
6. North Bend (28-1), 1
7. Pierce (15-10), NR
8. Sidney (25-3), 3 Class B
9. Wahoo (19-6), 8
10. DC West (15-11), NR
Receiving Votes: Adams Central (26-2), 2; Battle Creek (12-12), NR; Broken Bow (17-6), NR; Chadron (10-14), NR; DC West (15-11), NR: Kearney Catholic (12-12), NR; Milford (20-5), 9; Platteview (13-11), NR.
Comments: North Bend Central has won four straight titles, but will start the season seventh. On top in a close race are Minden, Lincoln Christian and Malcolm which all received first place votes.
Class C-2 (2022-23 Record), Previous
1. Crofton (24-4), 4
2. Hastings St. Cecilia (19-8), 4 Class D-1
3. Clarkson/Leigh (20-7), 7
4. Cross County (22-5), 8
5. Oakland-Craig (24-5), 2
6. Yutan (22-5), 7 Class C-1
7. Elkhorn Valley (18-7), NR
8. Humphrey/LHF (13-13), NR
9. Elmwood-Murdock (21-6), 6 Class D-1
10. Norfolk Catholic (11-12), NR
Receiving Votes: Aquinas Catholic (2-19), NR; Archbishop Bergan (14-9), NR; Cedar Catholic (22-7), 3 (D-1); Lourdes Central Catholic (16-9), Ponca (23-2), 5; Wakefield (17-8), NR.Comments: Defending champion Pender moves to Class D-1, as does Guardian Angels Central Catholic. Perennial power Crofton assumes the top spot after a semifinal appearance last year with Hastings St. Cecilia, last year’s D-1 runner up and the smallest school in the class, starting second.
Class D-1 (2022-23 Record), Previous
1. Pender (27-3), 1 Class C-2
2. Guardian Angels CC (22-5), 5 Class C-2
3. O’Neill St. Mary’s (22-3), 5 Class D-2
4. McCool Junction (24-3), 6 Class D-2
5. Southern Valley (21-4), 6 Class C-2
6. Amherst (18-7), RV Class C-2
7. Centura (26-3), 1
8. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (18-5), 9
9. Elgin Public/Pope John (22-5), 6
10. Johnson-Brock (21-6), 7
Receiving Votes: Alma (17-4), RV; Diler-Odell (13-10), NR (D-2); Summerland (19-4), NR (C-2).
Comments: A sea of change comes in Class D-1 with none of the top-six in the preseason even in the class last year. C-2 champion Pender drops down with GACC, Southern Valley and Amherst, while D-2 teams St. Mary’s and McCool Junction moving up. Defending champion Centura is the top-ranked team from the class last year.
Class D-2 (2022-23 Record), Previous
1. Wynot (18-10), 2
2. Overton (19-7), 9
3. Falls City Sacred Heart (26-3), 1
4. Shelton (23-2), 3
5. Humphrey St. Francis (20-8), 4
6. Leyton (16-6), 8
7. Howells-Dodge (13-12), 10
8. Meridian (19-7), NR Class D-1
9. Cambridge (12-11), NR Class D-1
10. Sandhills/Thedford (16-6), NR
Receiving Votes: Hay Springs (20-4), NR: Parkview Christian (18-8), RV: Plainview (13-12), NR (D-1); Paxton (15-7), NR; Stuart (8-13), NR; Wilcox-Hildreth (18-7), 10. Comments: Wynot was a unanimous selection for the top spot after returning a solid nucleus from last year’s state runner-up team. Overton and Sacred Heart split most of the No. 2 and 3 votes.
