Back From Break

The Newsletter returns for a new year in 2024 and we are excited to have you with us. Some great showings from many teams in their respective holiday tournaments. We await the rhythm of January where the best separate themselves from the pack.

Tonight, the Metro Conference finals take center stage. The girls matchup will feature No. 5 Omaha Central (11-0) against No. 2 Millard West (9-0). While the boys final has eighth-seeded Central facing Bellevue West in the late game.

Time to dive in to 2024.

The Girls Hoops Power 20

The Power 20 enters the New Year with the same team on top, but multiple changes after that. We were fortunate to get a good look at some of the top teams in the Metro Conference semifinals yesterday. Omaha Central and Millard West will meet in the championship game tonight.

The great thing about these rankings? They will change before we cut the nets down. All records through games played last night, January 2nd. We make these rankings based on conversations with coaches throughout the state, by watching games, and with our gut if we are being honest.

1 - Elkhorn North (8-0): Nebraska commit Britt Prince went over 2,000 career points in the EMC Tournament as the Wolves defeated Norris 47-37 for the title. Last week: 1.

 2 - Millard West (9-0): The ‘Cats keep rolling and move into the Metro conference finals after a convincing 61-43 win over Millard North in the semis. MW trailed 31-30 at the break but outscored the Mustangs 15-6 in the third quarter Neliegh Gessert had 22 points in the win. Last week: 2.

3 - Lincoln Southwest (9-0): Kennadi Williams hit a 40-footer in the HAC semifinals to send the ‘Hawks past North Star and then LSW beat Northeast for a a second time in the finals. Winners win. Last week: 6.

4 - Omaha Skutt Catholic (10-0): The Skyhawks have been impressive through 10 games, including winning their division at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix. Last week, won the Doane Holiday Tournament with dominating wins over Northwest and Crete. Last week: 3. 

5 - Omaha Central (11-0): The Eagles wore out Omaha Westside 69-61 in the first Metro semifinal behind 28 points from Inia Jones. Central had a 35-18 lead near the end of the first half, but the Warriors climbed back to within 42-37 in the third. Last week: 5.

6 - Millard North (7-2): A tail of two halves for the ‘Stangs against Millard West as they made just 4-of-19 shots from the floor after halftime. Izzie Galligan had 10 points. Last week: 4.

7 - Lincoln North Star (5-2): Save for Kennadi Williams’ HAC heroics, the Gators could be up a few spots. The good news? Some more chances for big wins in January. Last week: 9.

8 - Lincoln Northeast (5-1): A nice run to the HAC finals, but the Rockets face a difficult January which includes games with Southeast, Millard North, North Star and Southwest for a third time. Last week: 10.

9 - Lincoln Pius X (4-3): After a loss to Lincoln Northeast in the HAC semifinals, it’s time for the ‘Bolts to string some wins together to stay in the top-10. Last week: 7.

10 - Omaha Westside (8-4): Have bounced back from early losses to Northeast and Kearney with an impressive 3-1 showing at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix. Then a headlining double overtime win over Bellevue West in the Metro quarterfinals. Last week: NR. 

11 - Bellevue West (5-4): We are struggling with what to do with the Birds after the loss to Westside. The positives: 5-2 against Nebraska competition. The negatives: need some big wins. Last week: 8. 

12 - Lincoln Christian (9-0): They seem to be the class of C-1 right now and if they stay unbeaten, chances to move up. Norris and Beatrice on the future schedule. But first we get to see them at the Showcase on Saturday against Sidney. Last week: 14.

13 - Omaha Marian (6-2): Crusaders have beaten the teams they are supposed to beat, but no top shelf win yet for Coach Tvrdy’s bunch. A chance for an up close look at the Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase this weekend. Last week: 11.

14 - Papillion-LaVista (4-3): We thought we’d get a better grade on the Monarchs, but a loss to Westside in the 8-9 Metro game made their tournament a short one. Last week: 12.

15 - Bellevue East (4-2): Despite advancing to the Metro quarterfinals, need to keep the Lady Chieftains here for the time being. Last week: 13.

16 - Lincoln Southeast (5-2): A big chance to prove this ranking in the next four games. Might need to win a couple to stay here. Last week: 16.

17 - Norris (7-2): Avenged a season-opening loss to Wavelry in the EMC semifinals and then held Elkhorn North to just 47 points in the title game. Last week: NR.

18 - Omaha Benson (4-3): January will give the Bunnies a chance to run off some wins and they will need it. In some weird schedule quirks, three of their four wins are against Omaha Westview. Time to play someone else. Last week: 19.

19 - Crofton (8-0): An impressive start continues for the Warriors who rolled through the Humphrey St. Francis holiday tournament. Class C-1, unbeaten Battle Creek awaits on Thursday. Last week: 20.

20 - Pender (12-0): The defending Class C-2 champions are in D-1 this year, but the results have been the same. They have defeated just one Class D-1 team and jump on the list after an impressive 60-32 win over Class B, No. 7 South Sioux City in the Wayne State holiday finals. Last week: NR.

Fell out: Beatrice, Papillion-LaVista South.

Up Next (listed alphabetically by class): Papillion-LaVista South (4-4), Beatrice (8-1), Bennington (6-3), Gretna East (6-3), Waverly (6-2), Bridgeport (8-0), Broken Bow (10-1), Grand Island CC (9-1), Minden (7-2), Sidney (10-0), Bishop Neumann (8-0), Cross County (10-0), Guardian Angels CC (10-1).

Remembering Feek

The Nebraska basketball community lost one of it’s great coaches early Saturday morning when Gretna boys coach Brad Feeken’s battle with neuroendocrine cancer ended. The Hastings High and Doane College basketball standout was 48.

You’d do well to click on just about any content you can find on Coach Feeken and what he meant to the community of Gretna. We recommend our friend Mike Sautter’s piece above. This stirring Dirk Chatelain piece from Flatwater Free Press.

And, these videos from the nebpreps crew on the Feeken benefit, how the Dragons survived playing the same day Feeken passed and Landon Pokorski’s buzzer beater.

Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase

The fourth annual Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase will be this Saturday, January 6th at Kearney High School. Broken Bow girls coach Kelly Cooksley, in partnership with the Kearney Chamber of Commerce, brings together some of the best girls teams in the state each season.

This year, 12 of the 16 teams in the event are ranked in their respective class. Two top-ranked (and Power 20 teams) will be in action when Class C-1, No. 1 Lincoln Christian battles No. 4 Sidney at 6:30. In the game prior at 5:10, Class D-1, No. 1 Pender will take on Class C-2, No. 7 Yutan.

The Season: Coming Home

If he’s being honest, Jason Zelasney wasn’t sure he’d ever come back to Osceola. 

Oh sure he always loved O-Town. Graduated from Osceola High in 2003. But going back to coach and lead the basketball team? Not on his priority list when he got his degree in elementary education from Hastings College in 2008. 

Now, he can’t imagine doing anything else. 

FULL STORY on Osceola coach Jason Zelasney here.