We have heard that some of you get the Newsletter and just skip to find where your favorite team is each week. Fair. We hope you’ll stick with us for just a few more words before the new version of the Power 20, however. We have a thought and who knows if it’s a good one.

It’s time for an all-class tournament option in volleyball and basketball. Buoyed by the awesome Pius, Lincoln Christian girls’ game we have some ideas. Hear us out here, before you delete this e-mail.

This is our idea, in bullet points to make it a bit easier.

1. There are no changes to Classes C-1 and down. They keep their current qualifying and have a state tournament just like they do now. (We may have some format changes in Lincoln, but minor stuff.)

2. Prior to the season, any team not in Class A or B can opt up to Class B. Those teams would then be placed into a Class B sub-district with qualifying remaining how it is today (eight subs, eight wild cards to the district final round). Teams that opt-up are treated as a Class B team all season. Class A qualification would be the same; seven district champions and a wild card.

3. The 16 Class A and B qualifiers are seeded by NSAA power point averages. We have not thought this one all the way through yet, so we might need to adjust this idea a bit. But you get the idea. A 16-team bracket.

4. State tournament Wednesday. The first round of the 16-team tournament is played on Wednesday with 8-games on a rolling schedule starting at 8:50 AM. Simultaneously, Class C-1 and C-2 have their first round at Devaney on the same schedule.

5. State tournament Thursday. A normal schedule would return for Thursday. “The 16” would have quarterfinal games, while two more Class D quarterfinals would be at Pinnacle Bank Arena and a normal six-game slate at the Devaney Center.

6. State tournament Friday. It gets fun here. We play the “class” semifinals at 9:00, 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00 at PBA and Devaney. Then, “The 16” has the tournament to themselves for a Friday night session, let’s call it 6:00 and 8:00.

7. State tournament Saturday. Five state championship games. One less than we play now and a little more flexible schedule for television.

Maybe you like it. Maybe you don’t. You never know. We are living in a state where we can’t figure out classification and this is a forward-thinking idea. You’ve seen Hoosiers, right? 70 years later is it Nebraska’s time to do it? Count us in.

Nebraska Girls Hoops Power 20

1 - Millard West (15-1): One thing seems to be coming increasingly clear. The ‘Cats don’t have any intention of giving this spot up again anytime soon. Last ranking: 1.

2 - Millard North (12-2): Passed tests with both Millard South and Omaha Westside (the latter, 47-45). Now they have three out-of-state tests in their next four games, the first over the weekend with St. Louis Vashon and Quincy (IL). Last ranking: 3.

3 - Omaha Westview (13-1): Last week here it said the Wolverines had “prove it” games against Bellevue East and Omaha Marian. The results? 55-45 over East and 64-57 over Marian. Held on against Papio South, 60-57 on Tuesday. Playing a few weeks now without Lucy Fierro who broke her wrist in a fall against Bellevue East. A chance to avenge their only loss comes Tuesday when they visit Bellevue West. Last week: 6.

4 – Bellevue East (10-3): The Chieftains could run the table in their last ten games and will need to, to stay here or move up. Last ranking: 2.

5 - Lincoln Christian (12-0): Some will say it’s about time. Others will point to the miracle 21-4 run it took to defeat Lincoln Pius last Saturday. (What a basketball game) Even others will say that Christian couldn’t beat Pius in a neutral setting or if the Bolts had more time to prepare after beating Papillion-LaVista on Friday night. And, you all may be correct. You just aren’t putting your name to this list. Last ranking: 10.

6 - Omaha Westside (8-5): After a close loss to Millard North a big weekend looms as the Warriors host Papio on Friday and travel to Millard South on Saturday. Probably need both to go their way. Last ranking: 4.

7 - Lincoln Southwest (11-2): How can the Silverhawks get back in the top five? Win the HAC Tourney next week for starters. Then do some work in Omaha after that. Last ranking: 5.

8 – Millard South (9-5): One game down in the Millard North, Millard West and Westside gauntlet was a 40-31 loss to Millard North. Might still be here next week even at 9-7 if they can compete. Last ranking: 7.

9 - Omaha Skutt Catholic (15-1): We move Skutt back ahead of Pius, just barely. Will need to roll through the River Cities tournament. Last ranking: 9.

10 - Lincoln Pius X (14-3): Pius drops behind Christian and Skutt, but one way to move back up? Beat Gretna East on Tuesday. Last ranking: 8.

11 – Lincoln North Star (8-4): Flipping the Gators and Kearney since we didn’t get to the chance to review their game and there appears to be no make-up (the boys played last night). North Star gets the nod with the best win of the two (Papillion-LaVista). Maybe we should have done it last week. Last ranking: 12.

12 – Kearney (11-1): The ‘Cats have one win over a Nebraska team with a record above .500 (45-35 over Lincoln High). North Star beat them 54-32. A chance to change the rating by beating Columbus and Malcolm this weekend. Last ranking: 11.

13 - Pender (16-0): Status quo for the Pendragons who have an interesting little Friday date with Elkhorn North. They may need something fairly impressive to stay here. Last ranking: 13.

14 – Milford (13-1): A nice test with Beatrice coming up tonight, but the only real way for Milford to stay here? Play Lincoln Christian again in Pinnacle Bank Arena. Doable. Last ranking: 14.

15 - Gretna East (10-4): Off since the last ranking but moving back up. At full speed, the Griffins are a legitimate contender to the Pius, Skutt stranglehold in Class B. Last ranking: 18.

16 – Omaha Marian (6-7): It’s time for the Crusaders to win. And it starts tomorrow with Omaha Central (7-7) who is prime to come in the rankings if they win. Last ranking: 15.

17 – Waverly (10-1): The Vikings make their Power 20 debut off a 52-48 win over Bennington last Thursday. Will have to keep stringing together some more wins to stay here. Last ranking: NR.

18 - Papillion-LaVista (7-7): Monarchs may need to beat Omaha Westside for a second time this season to hang on to this spot. Last ranking: 17.

19 - Oakland-Craig (15-1): Shooters. A glorious, pressing trap. And kid’s that just love to play basketball. Tied with Pender 50-50 with 1:04 left before four Pendragon free throws sealed it. May get one more shot in the East Husker final, but getting there is no easy task. Last ranking: NR.

20 - Minden (14-1): The Whippets have beat seven 10-win teams in their 14 wins and played Oakland-Craig on fumes. Their third game of the week, with the bus arriving home at 1:15 AM on the day they played the Knights at 8:30 PM in the Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase. Last ranking: NR.

Special Mention (listed alphabetically by class): Bellevue West (6-6), Lincoln High (7-4), Lincoln Southeast (5-7), Omaha Central (7-7), Bennington (12-2), Crofton (13-2), Guardian Angels CC (13-2), Elkhorn Valley (14-0).

TEAM OF THE WEEK: North Bend Central. LOL, you all washed the Tigers down the drain two weeks ago when they were 5-6 after a January 7 loss to Raymond Central, 50-46. No matter. Aaron Sterup (what’s the line, again?) and the Tigers have rattled off five straight and two over ranked teams Arlington and Columbus Scotus (27 from Lauren Sterup, including this one).

Just the kind of team, new Power 20, No. 19 Oakland-Craig wants to play tonight, right? The East Husker man. No nights off.

COACHES POLL: You can catch the coaches poll each Monday (boys) and Tuesday (girls) over on nebpreps.com as well.