The Nebraska Girls Basketball All-State "Summer Teams"

You can do this about 1,000 different ways, so we are going to try and be just a little bit unique in how we attack our postseason recognition. In the spirit of summer basketball kicking off soon we give you our “all-state” summer teams. Built with nine players — the eight we ‘think’ are the best in class — and then an extra; a glue player if you will that can do a little bit of everything.

Without further ado, our crack at the Nebraska girls basketball all-state teams.

CLASS A

Neleigh Gessert (Captain), Millard West: The undisputed top player in the state will take her all-around game to Creighton next year and we can’t wait to watch. Led the Wildcats to consecutive state titles while averaging nearly 19 points and six rebounds.

Norah Gessert, Millard West: Hard to look past the 11.5 points and almost five rebounds, sure. But, it is the 155 assists and just 46 turnovers that jump out on the page to you.

Stevie Harley, Bellevue West: Coach Dane Bacon won’t mind Stevie for a few more years. The freshman daughter of former Husker Steve Harley jumped on to the Class A scene with 12.8 points and nine rebounds a contest and had 64 blocks.

Ani Leu, Lincoln North Star: As versatile as they come. The 6-footer averaged nearly 15 points and seven rebounds and was a menace (54 steals) in the North Star 1-3-1 defense that, when it was cooking, might have been the best in Class A.

Himayajo Metoyer, Omaha Westside: Another insane talent in this amazing 2028 class, Metoyer averaged 15.1 points and five rebounds for the Warriors in leading them to the state title game.

Rease Murtaugh, Papillion-La Vista: The leading scorer in Class A (second all-class) at 23.5 points per game, Murtaugh was a bucket for the Monarchs.

Kylee Paben, Millard West: Sometimes underappreciated for the Wildcats, but the stats don’t lie: 13.1 points and 6.4 rebounds. Will be in the spotlight next winter.

T’Niyah Wilson-Smith, Bellevue East: Super-talented sophomore averaged a double-double for coach Eric Lenear (21.6 points and 12.8 rebounds) as the Chieftains finished 21-5.

GLUE. Avril Smith, Millard North: Felt like this team needed just a bit more size, so the 6-footer Smith, who grabbed nearly 200 rebounds and had 50 blocks, fits the bill.

COACH ‘EM UP. Jason Simons, Omaha Westview: It’s almost too easy to pick Marc Kruger, who did a heck of a job in guiding Millard West to a second title. But, we give the nod to Simons here, who led the Wolverines to a historic season and their first state tournament appearance.

CLASS B

Molly Ladwig, Omaha Skutt (Captain): Did a little bit of everything for the Skyhawks as they won their first state title in school history. The Buffalo bound Ladwig averaged 18 points and nearly five rebounds a contest.

Presley Baca, Bennington: One of just three seniors for the Badgers, Baca scored 10 points and grabbed nearly four rebounds a contest while also blocking 28 shots as Bennington advanced to the Class B semifinals.

Parker Christiansen, Waverly: The Morningside signee averaged over 16 points per game for Waverly in their 21-4 season that ended in the Class B semifinals. Also had over six rebounds a game and 50+ assists and blocks.

Kamryn Kasner, Omaha Skutt: Skutt’s all-time leading rebounder averaged a double-double for the state champions at just over 10 points and 10 rebounds per contest. Also had over 80 assists and 50 steals on the season.

Keeleigh Knobbe, Lincoln Pius X: The senior led the Bolts in scoring at nearly 14 points per contest in their 22-5 campaign. Added just over three rebounds and two steals a game for coach Ryan Psota.

Kelsey Miller, Seward: Might give Williams a run for the top athlete in the class, Miller, a North Dakota State track pledge, averaged 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Jays.

Izzy Tidball, Norris: The junior averaged nearly 10 points and six rebounds for the Titans and led her team in steals as well. Norris took eventual champion Omaha Skutt to the wire in the opening round of the state tournament.

Karli Williams, Gretna East: The Nebraska soccer recruit proved herself one of the best athletes in the class as she averaged 12 points and six rebounds a game. Also had over 80 steals as the Griffins played in the state championship game in just their second season.

GLUE. Chloe Koch, York: To give us a little more ball handling, and a lot more grit we add Koch. Maybe the most important player to her team in the entire class.

COACH ‘EM UP. Kip Colony, Omaha Skutt: A first-ever state championship for Coach Colony and the Skyhawks. Not much more to say about that.

CLASS C-1

Mattea Kassebaum, Lincoln Christian (Captain): Kassebaum led the Crusaders to a second straight Class C-1 state championship with a 20 points per game average with four rebounds and she was also over 80 assists and 60 steals on the season.

Kena Ailes, Lincoln Christian: If you picked Ailes as your Class C-1 captain, we’d have no problem with that either. It’s pretty easy to think the Crusaders had the two best players in the class this year. Ailes was over 15 points and 11 rebounds per contest for coach Scott Klein.

Alex Beveridge, Gothenburg: The 5-6 senior led Gothenburg in points (13) and rebounds (5) per game, while adding 68 steals for the Swedes who finished fourth in Class C-1 and won the Southwest Conference tournament over Minden.

Payton Dolliver, Malcolm: Another of the talented ones on the 2028 list, Dolliver led Class C-1 in scoring at 20.6 points per contest and shot over 35% from 3-point range for the Clippers.

Lindsey Emanuel, North Bend Central: The heart and soul of the Tigers as they advanced to state for a sixth straight season. Emanuel averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game and had 94 assists.

Mattie Kamrey, Minden: The Wayne State volleyball commit did so much of everything for coach Taylor Maulsby. She averaged 17 points and five rebounds a contest, while also recording over 100 assists and 100 steals for the Whippets.

Ayla Roth, Milford: The definition of a point guard. Roth, who will play at Concordia, averaged 14 points and three rebounds, but also dished out over 100 assists for the Eagles, who had just two losses to state champion Lincoln Christian.

Emerson Timm, Arlington: Timm stuffed the stat sheet for the Eagles this winter as they qualified for state for the first time since 2001. Timm averaged 15 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest, but also added 160 assists and 80 steals.

GLUE. Shayla Rautenberg, Milford: This team has ball handlers and shooters, so a second post presence to Ailes is a perfect fit. No one fits the bill more than the freshman Rautenberg who scored 14 points and grabbed nearly 10 rebounds an outing.

COACH ‘EM UP. Scott Klein: Handled huge expectations very, very well. The Crusaders took on all comers and came up as the state’s only unbeaten team at 28-0.

CLASS C-2 

Taryn Ottemann, Johnson Brock (Captain): The 6-foot senior was named the nebpreps Class C-2 player-of-the-year after averaging nearly 18 points and nine rebounds per contest for the Eagles, who finished 25-2 on the season.

Sammie Allen, Crofton: Scrappy 5-6 guard led the Warriors, who finished third in Class C-2, with nearly 14 points and four rebounds a contest while also leading the Warriors in steals.

JJ Black, Elkhorn Valley: Averaged a double-double for the Falcons, who won 28 straight before a state finals loss to Oakland-Craig. Score just over 12 points and nine rebounds per contest and was over 90 blocks and 90 steals on the year.

Karlee Broberg, Elkhorn Valley: Senior sharp-shooter was the leading scorer for EV (16.6 points) and made 76 3-point goals while shooting 37% from distance.

Claire Korth, Humphrey-Lindsay: The third-highest average in Class C-2 playing in the loaded East Husker, Korth was a walking bucket most of the season. She finished with an 18.3 points per game average as the Bulldogs lost in the district final to Cross County.

Briar Ray, Oakland-Craig: In the Knights state championship season, Ray spearheaded their pressure defense with over three steals a game while averaging 13.2 points and seven rebounds per game.

Adi Rennerfeldt, Oakland-Craig: Led O-C in scoring at 13.9 points per game, but her steady hand in big moments just as important. Added nearly four rebounds per game and had 70 assists and 49 steals on the season.

Mylee Tichota, Yutan: As complete a player as you may have had in Class C-2. In leading the Chieftains to the state tournament, she had averages of 16 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.3 assists per contest.

GLUE. Lindee Kelley, Cross County: This team might just press and work off of Black and Otteman in the post. So we give them Kelley, who averaged 10 points a contest and was over 100 rebounds, 100 assists and 90 steals.

COACH ‘EM UP. Scott Guzinski, Oakland-Craig: You’ll find Guz at a summer tournament or three this summer anyway. After a first state title, we’ll let him run this bunch too.

CLASS D-1

Maya Dolliver, Pender (Captain): University of Sioux Falls pledge averaged 15 points this year. But, her best season highlighted by career highs in rebounds, assists and steals as the Pendragons won their third straight state title.

Ashley Bauer, Elm Creek: In leading Elm Creek to their best season in two decades, Bauer averaged 14.1 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Buffaloes. The Hastings College signee led the Buffaloes to a 26-2 mark and state championship game appearance.

Mady Dolliver, Pender: Improved her average to 14.1 points per game this year and was second in the state with 111 3-point goals which was a Class D-1 record. Will enter her senior year less than 70 3s away from the state record.

Sheridan Falk, Nebraska Christian: The second leading scorer in Class D-1, averaged 22.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as she lead the Eagles to the round of 16.

Reagan Meyers, Superior: The best paint presence in the class, the 6-2 Meyers averaged 16.1 points and 12.8 rebounds as the Cats went 21-5.

Hadley Walsh, Pender: No one talks enough about Walsh. Simple. In their state title run, the Pendragons suffered both losses without her when she went down early in their game with Elkhorn North. Led the state champs in scoring (15.9/game) and had 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Myleigh Weers, Diller-Odell: The Nebraska-Kearney pledge has all the game to play at the D-II level and enough IQ to be a role player as she adjusts to the move up. But, her offensive game is a show in Class D-1. Filled the stat sheet for the Griffins with 23 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 3.6 assists per game.

Anisten Wortmann, Cedar Catholic: Talented sophomore led Cedar Catholic with 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds as they finished third at the state tournament.

GLUE. Halle Knapp, Elm Creek: This group is about as balanced as we have. So what do we give them? One of the best defenders in the class who has length at 5-9. Knapp and her motor are a perfect fit.

COACH ‘EM UP. Jadyn Ehresman, Elm Creek: Like Kruger, all Jason Dolliver had to do at Pender was not screw it up. (Wink) In guiding Elm Creek to their first state finals appearance in 20+ years, Ehresman and the Buffs had a record-setting season with 26 wins.

CLASS D-2 

Zaili Benish, Leyton (Captain): The leading scorer and leading 3-point maker in the state (112). The only shame is we didn’t get to see her in Lincoln. Benish averaged 29.6 points per game.

Madison Bunger, Wilcox-Hildreth: In a class that had a group of really good post players, Bunger was one of the best. Averaged 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and almost three blocks per game.

Jentry Lechtenberg, Falls City Sacred Heart: The unquestioned leader of the state champion Irish, Lechtenberg took over the second half of Sacred Heart’s state title game win against Dorchester. Averaged just over 15 points per game.

Makenna Miller, Anselmo-Merna: Filled the stat sheet for the state qualifying Coyotes with averages of 14.4 points, 5.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 3.4 steals per contest.

Ellie Morgan, Shelton: Morgan made Shelton go all season as they finished 25-2. She averaged over 17 points per game and had 120 steals.

Isabel Preister, Archangels Catholic: Another of the excellent Class D-2 posts, the 6-1 Preister averaged nearly 12 points and seven rebounds for the Defenders who finished third at the Class D-2 state tournament.

Gabrielle Theis, Dorchester: The ringleader all season for the coolest story in March, Theis averaged 12 points, three rebounds and added 60+ steals and assists on the season.

Gracie Williamson, St. Mary’s: In leading the Cardinals to a 24-3 mark, the St. Mary’s forward averaged 14.5 points and almost eight rebounds a game while contributing over 70 assists and steals each.

GLUE. Erin Gegg, Shelton: This team didn’t necessarily need another post, but if we can add a 5-11 shooter like Gegg, it’s time to take it. The junior averaged nearly 15 points a contest.

COACH ‘EM UP. Brandon Bruha, Dorchester: We end this list with the easiest pick to make. The Longhorns and their town were the coolest thing to happen the first week of March.