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The Girls Hoops Power 20

As we moved toward Christmas, the basketball games in the gym bring more and more clarity to the Power 20 picture. A few shake ups this week, one because of the game results and, two, because we missed a few on the first week. And, we’ll always be ready to tell you we are wrong.

As we said last week, we are going to try to stay consistent and rate teams on Friday each week to preview the weekend and give some credit for those pesky Tuesday and Thursday games that sometimes get missed. That said, we will go on moratorium next week, too. The next rankings will be January 2nd and their could be some big shake ups by then.

1 - Lincoln North Star (3-0): Two excellent wins since the last ranking over Millard North and Lincoln Northeast. UNK pledge Kendall Anderson is averaging 14 points per game early for the Gators who have Lincoln High (4-1) tonight and a big one on Monday with No. 3 Omaha Westview. Last week: 1.

2 - Millard West (3-0): Millard West keeps rolling, but their two biggest tests await. On Saturday, they travel to play 2024 Iowa state tournament qualifier Cedar Rapids Prairie (3-1). Then on Tuesday, they play Omaha Westside before the Metro Tournament over the holidays. Last week: 2.

3 - Omaha Westview (5-1): Wolverines moved to 5-1 with a 69-8 win over Omaha Burke last night and are now off until Monday’s game with North Star. Kayln Bailey is on a heater for Westview, scoring 15 on Tuesday as they beat previously undefeated Omaha Benson, 85-55. Last week: 3.

4 - Bennington (5-0): We lied. We told you that we’d keep Norris ahead of Bennington until the Eastern Midlands tournament. Impressive wins over Elkhorn North and Gretna East have changed our mind. It will be fun to settle this one on the court. Not in words on the internet. Last week: 6.

5 - Norris (4-0): The Titans have an impressive trio in Ize Tidball, Marlee Emerson and Landri Gates. Adding a consistent fourth scorer each night will make the Titans a tough out all the way until the first weekend of March. Last week: 5.

6 - Omaha North (1-2): In Arizona on Thursday morning, the Vikings got their first win of the season on a game-winner from Ayanna Hill. Hill scored 24 points in the Vikings 66-64 win over St. Vincent Pallotti (MD). In the 16-team John Anderson division, they will play Canyon View (AZ) today. Last week: 7.

7 - Kearney (6-0): It’s not yet Christmas, but one thing seems certain. Coach Drew Danielson’s Bearcats are going to guard you into submission. In six games, including yesterday’s 49-36 win over Thunder Basin (WY), Kearney has yet to give up 50 points and has given up 40 just once. Last week: 8.

8 - Malcolm (5-0): On Thursday night, Halle and Payton Dolliver combined for 42 points in a 67-29 win over Platteview. But, what makes Malcolm better than the sisters are the other players that know their role. Kenna Wilcox and Lena Schmidt combined for 14 points, while Blair Duzik came off the bench for seven. Their next two opponents — Beatrice and Louisville — are 10-1. Last week: 9

9 - Millard North (3-2): In five games, the Mustangs have faced four Power 20 teams with losses to the top-two teams in the rankings. Omaha Central tonight before a nice break that leads into the Metros. Last week: 10.

10 - Omaha Westside (4-1): Look. We messed up last week, with just not enough data on the Warriors. Decisively won the Class A/B Crossover Tournament with a 62-41 win over Gretna East. In Thursday’s 51-30 win over Chandler (AZ) at the Nike Tournament of Champions, Jayah Freeman scored 19 points. Last week: not ranked.

11 - Lincoln Southwest (4-1): Southwest’s opponents have just four wins, but one of those wins is over Elkhorn South. A rare — and fun — trip to Iowa City West on Saturday is next. Last week: 4.

12 - Elkhorn South (1-3): Storm has been off since last Thursday’s overtime win over Omaha Marian. Papio South tonight before Christmas break. Last week: 12.

13 - Lincoln Christian (5-0): The Crusaders are rolling, with a schedule that is back heavy with games against Pius X, Elkhorn North and Pender in the final month. Probably going to need to stay undefeated for a long, long time. Last week: 13.

14 - Papillion-LaVista (3-2): The opening loss to Omaha Marian is now erased with their wins over Bellevue West and Millard South. They will face Omaha Central on Monday before the Metros where a quarterfinal appearance will be a must to stay here. Last week: 17.

15 - Milford (5-1): You don’t often move up after a loss, but the Eagles are going to after going toe-to-toe with No. 5 Norris on Tuesday. Last week: 19.

16 - Gothenburg (3-0): A couple of nice tests this weekend as the Swedes will travel to Holdrege tonight and then to play at Cheyenne (WY) East on Saturday. Last week: 16.

17 - Gretna East (3-2): After a 3-0 start, losses to Omaha Westside and Bennington have slowed down the Griffins just a bit. Time to regroup for the Eastern Midlands tournament. That will also be a meat grinder. Last week: 12.

18 - Pender (5-0): A really good win over Class C-1, No. 7 North Bend Central last night. The Newsletter just wants one thing — the Pendragons to be 12-0 when they face Millard North in the Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase on January 10th. Not too much to ask, right? Last week: 18.

19 - Millard South (4-1): The Patriots should to be 5-1 heading into the Metro tournament and a big chance to move up in the rankings with a good showing on New Year’s week. Last week: 20.

20 - Lincoln Pius X (4-1): Bolts lost to Gretna East in the opening round of the Class A/B Crossover, but have bounced back with a pair of wins over Bellevue West and Omaha Skutt. Topped Blue Springs (MO) South last night, 55-40. Last week: 15.

Watching You (listed alphabetically by class): Bellevue West (2-3), Lincoln High (4-1), Lincoln Northeast (3-1), Omaha Marian (3-3), Blair (4-0), Elkhorn North (3-1), Sidney (4-1), Central City (5-0), Ogallala (3-0), Alma (5-0), Elkhorn Valley (5-0), Oakland-Craig (5-1), Sandy Creek (5-0).

📈📉 Rank ‘Em

The full nepbreps.com Coaches Poll rankings are here for BOYS and GIRLS. Those polls are released Sunday (boys) and Monday each week.

🚢 🏀 Titanic Moment

A good way to start your day might be Isabel Wray’s game winner for Fort Cahloun on a pass from Raeann Massey to beat Yutan on Tuesday 42-41. What an edit.

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