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 are the ratings for February 6, with records as of games played on Saturday, February 4. Sub-district pairings for Classes C-1 to D-2 will be released by the NSAA on Thursday.
Class A (Record), Previous
1. Millard South (18-2), 1
2. Bellevue West (18-2), 2
3. Lincoln High (17-1), 4
4. Millard North (16-2), 3
5. Bellevue East (15-3), 5
6. Lincoln East (14-4), 7
7. Lincoln Pius X (15-4), 6
8. Omaha Central (13-7), 8
9. Millard West (12-6), 9
10. Lincoln North Star (11-7), 10
Receiving Votes: Kearney (11-9), NR.
Comments: Very few changes again this week with the same ten teams ranked. Lincoln High and Millard North switch spots after North lost to Millard South, 71-59. And, Lincoln East and Pius switch spots as well. Games of note: Omaha Central at Lincoln Northeast (Thursday), Bellevue West at Bellevue East (Friday), Lincoln East at Lincoln Pius X (Friday).
Class B (Record), Previous
1. Skutt Catholic (20-1), 1
2. Elkhorn North (18-1), 2
3. Sidney (19-1), 4
4. York (16-3), 3
5. Norris (13-6), 5
6. Beatrice (14-3), 6
7. Omaha Duchesne (13-4), 7
8. Scottsbluff (16-5), 8
9. Waverly (12-6), 9
10. Seward (12-8), RV
Receiving Votes: none.
Comments: We appear to be on a Skutt, Elkhorn North collision course in Class B. Not sure there is much else to say, any other final would be an upset of epic proportion — think USA hockey in the 1980 Olympics. Seward re-enters, with York and Sidney flipping spots. Games of note: Norris at Omaha Skutt Catholic (Tuesday), Elkhorn North at Norris (Friday), Seward at York (Friday).
Class C-1 (Record), Previous
1. Bridgeport (20-0), 1
2. North Bend (20-1), 2
3. Adams Central (20-1), 3
4. Lincoln Christian (18-2), 4
5. Wahoo (15-4), 5
6. Milford (19-3), 7
7. Minden (17-4), 6
8. Malcolm (17-4), 9
9. Scotus Central Catholic (16-5), 8
10. Gothenburg (16-3), 10
Receiving Votes: Yutan (18-3), RV.
Comments: Not much change, but Milford jumps Minden after the Eagles survived the Southern Nebraska tournament, while the Whippets lost to Gothenburg after beating them last week in the Southwest final. Malcolm jumps Scotus after an 8-point win over Yutan. Bridgeport and North Bend won conference titles. Games of note: Malcolm at Wahoo (Tuesday), Gordon-Rushville at Bridgeport (Thursday), Omaha Duchesne at Malcolm (Thursday).
Class C-2 (Record), Previous
1. Crofton (19-1), 2
2. Guardian Angels CC (17-2), 1
3. Ponca (18-1), 3
4. Pender (20-3), 4
5. Oakland-Craig (17-4), 5
6. Clarkson/Leigh (16-5), 6
7. Southern Valley (16-3), 7
8. Archbishop Bergan (14-5), 8
9. Superior (18-3), 9
10. Summerland (16-2), 10
Receiving Votes: Amherst (16-5), NR; Cross County (17-4), NR; Gordon-Rushville (15-3), RV.
Comments: Crofton avenged their only loss of the season to now No. 2 Guardian Angels CC as is at the top spot for the first time this season. Ponca playing for a conference title on Monday night, while Oakland-Craig, Pender and Clarkson/Leigh ranked just how they finished in the East Husker tournament. Games of note: Superior at Smith Center, KS (Monday), Ponca vs. Wynot in the Lewis and Clark Final (Monday), Archbishop Bergan at Oakland-Craig (Tuesday), Clarkson/Leigh at Pierce (Tuesday), Pender at Guardian Angels CC (Tuesday), Elgin Public/Pope John at Summerland (Thursday).
Class D-1 (Record), Previous
1. Ravenna (20-1), 1
2. Centura (17-3), 3
3. Maywood-Hayes Center (19-1), 1
4. Hastings St. Cecilia (14-6), 5
5. Hartington Cedar Catholic (15-6), 4
6. Niobrara/Verdigre (16-4), 7
7. Elmwood-Murdock (15-5), 9
8. Elgin Public/Pope John (17-4), 6
9. Alma (13-3), 8
10. Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (16-5), 10
Receiving Votes: Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (16-2), RV; Johnson-Brock (16-5), RV.
Comments: Ravenna stays No. 1 with a win over Centura in the LouPlatte final and the two could be again in a sub-district final next week. And, maybe again in Lincoln? Hastings St. Cecilia jumps Cedar Catholic who has lost 4 of 5, but all to Class C-2 and C-1 teams (three ranked). Games of note: BDS at Meridian (Tuesday), Grand Island Central Catholic at Hastings St. Cecilia (Thursday), Overton at Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (Friday).
Class D-2 (Record), Previous
1. Falls City Sacred Heart (18-3), 1
2. O’Neill St. Mary’s (17-2), 2
3. Humphrey St. Francis (16-4), 3
4. Overton (17-4), 4
5. Shelton (17-1), 5
6. Wynot (12-7), 6
7. McCool Junction (18-2), 7
8. Parkview Christian (16-6), 8
9. Lewiston (13-7), RV
10. Howells-Dodge (12-9), RV
Receiving Votes: Wilcox-Hildreth (15-6), 9; Hay Springs (15-3), RV.
Comments: Sacred Heart remains No. 1 despite a loss to Lourdes CC in the Pioneer semifinals. That said, this is a five-team race for the top spot heading into the post season. Lewiston and Howells-Dodge enter the top-10. Games of note: Falls City Sacred Heart at Lewiston (Monday), Overton at Wilcox-Hildreth (Tuesday).