SBLive Nebraska Top 25 high school boys basketball ratings (Jan. 31)

By Nathan Charles

The big winner of the week was Lincoln Southeast after three wins that extended the streak to six in a row. Two of those six are revenge from losses earlier this season. It seems the top-five potential many thought the Knights had before the season is starting to become a reality.

1. Bellevue West (16-0, Last Week #1)

Last Week: Won 69-44 vs. Omaha Central

Bell West held Central to fewer than 10 points in each of the three quarters and removed any doubt right away with 21 points of its own in the first eight minutes. Three players scored in double figures, led by Jaden Jackson shooting 7 for 11 and scoring 18 points. It was his highest total since Dec. 30. After a light week the schedule picks up again this week with three games, including a Metro Conference title rematch with Prep.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Sioux City East (18-0), Friday vs. Prep (14-5), Saturday vs. Pius (12-5)

2. Gretna (13-2, Last Week #2)

The Dragons started the week with a second straight win over Millard West by putting together a 20-point second quarter while allowing just six. It was a similar story three nights later when Gretna scored 27 in the first quarter and had 52 at half en route to a blowout of Omaha Northwest. The Dragons shot 52% and hit nine threes in one game then hit a blistering 62% and sank 10 from the perimeter.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Bryan (9-6), Saturday vs. North Star (11-5)

3. Millard North (15-3 Last Week #3)

Last Week: Won 53-47 at Elkhorn South, Won 69-42 vs. Papio

Millard North looked on the verge of putting Elkhorn South away in the third when the Mustangs built a nine-point lead. But the Storm tied it at the end of the quarter and set up an anxious final eight minutes. The Millard North defense then locked down and allowed just six points the rest of the way. Derek Rollins had a double-double on 13 points and 11 rebounds. Home against the Monarchs turned sideways for the visitors when the Mustang D again had a dominant quarter. Up eight at half, Millard North held Papio to just four in the third and suddenly had a 23-point edge.

This Week: Friday at Millard South (4-11)

4. Creighton Prep (14-5, Last Week #4)

Last Week: Won 59-52 vs. Westside, Won 63-56 at Omaha North, Won 64-33 at Omaha South

Joey Riechl scored 25 and helped Prep pull away from Westside for the fourth Junior Jays win in the last five games between the two old rivals. Westside led through much of the first half and to start the fourth but could never locate Riechl. He hit six times from three-point range. It was a similar story Friday at North when Prep eventually took a fourth-quarter lead and finished it at the free throw line. A 30-5 start at Omaha South provided Prep an easy end to the week.

This Week: Friday at No. 1 Bellevue West (16-0), Saturday vs. Lincoln Southeast (11-6)

5. Lincoln Southeast (11-6, Last Week #12)

Last Week: Won 60-41 vs. East, Won 68-29 vs. Fremont, Won 86-60 vs. Omaha Northwest

Southeast continues to be on the rise after another busy week that included three more wins and extended the winning streak to six. Number four in the streak is, thus far, the most impressive win of the season. Southeast downed East by 19 and never left any doubt, racing out to a 24-point lead in the second quarter. It was a 33-point advantage at halftime against Fremont that made it five in a row. The Knights then scored at least 21 in each of the final three quarters for six in a row during the blowout of Northwest.

This Week: Thursday at Norfolk (3-13), Saturday at Prep (14-5)

6. Lincoln East (11-4, Last Week #5)

Last Week: Lost 60-41 at Southeast, Won 75-59 at Southwest, Won 63-55 vs. Elkhorn South

Another week and another upset in the capital city. Since all the programs in Lincoln are as close as it’s ever been, none of these is really an upset. But again, just when it seems like there was a clear front-runner, East loses for the second time in three games. The Knights held the Spartans to just 27% shooting in the loss and 17% from long range. It was a different story at Southwest where four players were in double figures and the offense generated nine threes. Carter Tempelmeyer had 26 in the win over Elkhorn South and East overcame a late Elkhorn South surge after building a 12-point first-half advantage.

This Week: Tuesday at Grand Island (3-13), Friday vs. Norfolk (3-13), Saturday at Omaha Northwest (2-14)

7. Lincoln High (12-5, Last Week #9)

Last Week: Won 70-28 vs. Columbus, Won 53-50 vs. Omaha North

The Links have won three in a row following back-to-back losses. Allowing fewer than 10 points in three of four quarters made the game against Columbus a laugher. The Links shot 49% and had four players in double digits. Lincoln High had a slim lead most of the way against North but needed the heroics of Kui Dui in the final 30 seconds to survive. Dui had just five points but hit a three from the right wing that stood up as the game-winner.

This Week: Friday at Bryan (9-6), Saturday vs. Grand Island (3-13)

8. Omaha Westside (11-5, Last Week #6)

Last Week: Lost 59-52 vs. Prep, Lost 52-43 vs. Papio South

Prep has had the better of Westside for the past four seasons, but Papio South had only beaten Westside three times in the last 13 seasons before Saturday. However, taking a look back just a few weeks ago shows the Titans played the Warriors to within seven a few weeks ago in the Metro Tournament. It was a loss when Papio South couldn’t overcome a 14-point offensive first half. In the rematch, perhaps it was a hangover from the loss to the Junior Jays, but allowing the opponent to shoot 56%, especially against a quality team like Papio South, is a recipe for disaster.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Southwest (9-6), Friday vs. Elkhorn South (10-5)

9. Elkhorn South (10-5, Last Week #7)

Last Week: Won 74-56 vs. Westview, Lost 53-47 vs. Millard North, Lost 63-55 at Lincoln East

A 1-2 week with losses to fellow top-10 teams Millard North and Lincoln East was the most likely outcome for the Storm. There are a few clear tiers of quality in Class A, and while Elkhorn South is in the top 10 of the ratings, the Storm are still a third-tier team compared to the likes of Millard North and East. But there were opportunities. A 19-11 third quarter had Elkhorn South up a point on Millard North to start the fourth. The Storm were down 12 to the Spartans in the first half but had it down to a point in the third and the fourth before East pulled away.

This Week: Friday at Westside (11-5), Saturday at Omaha Central (10-6)

10. Lincoln Southwest (9-6, Last Week #10)

Last Week: Lost 75-59 vs. Lincoln East

The Silver Hawks fell behind East by 10 in the second quarter, chipped away to within four in the third but then couldn’t keep a handle on the ball and dropped their second loss in three games. The defeat included 17 turnovers. Before East, Southwest had suffered a loss to Millard North and had twice been beaten by Pius and Lincoln High. This week doesn’t offer any respite with a pair of top-10 teams on the schedule.

This Week: Tuesday at Westside (10-5), Friday at Northeast (10-7)

11. Omaha Central (10-6, Last Week #13)

Last Week: Lost vs. Bellevue West 69-44, Won at Skutt 66-55

The Eagles were in trouble from the start against Bell West. They trailed 21-9 after the first quarter and hit just 38% on the night. The T-Bird defense held leading scorer Awit Mamer in single digits. He bounced back at Skutt with 24 points, three three-pointers and five assists. Mamer and Central began to pull away from Skutt in the third quarter with two different 11-point leads in the frame.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Papio South (9-6), Saturday vs. Elkhorn South (10-5)

12. Lincoln Northeast (10-7, Last Week #14)

Last Week: Won 73-32 vs. Norfolk

The Rockets snapped a three-game skid and took some frustration out on the Panthers with their second-largest margin of victory this season. Christian Winn and Porter Brazil both had over 20 points while the defense limited Norfolk to 25% shooting.

This Week: Friday vs. Southwest (9-6), Saturday at Kearney (13-4)

13. Lincoln Pius X (12-5, Last Week #15)

Last Week: Won 54-49 vs. Skutt

Pius handed Class B’s best team its first loss of the year thanks mostly to 11 three-pointers. The Thunderbolts shot just 37% overall and were 29% from inside the arc. They hit on 11 of 23 from distance (48%) and maintained a slim lead throughout thanks to threes by four different players. Kellan Humm was 5 of 6 from the perimeter. Pius is on a season-high five-game winning streak.

This Week: Tuesday at Kearney (13-4), Friday vs. North Star (11-5), Saturday at Bellevue West (16-0)

14. Kearney (13-4, Last Week #16)

Last Week: Won 56-51 at North Star, Won 93-64 at Benson

The win at North Star counts as Kearney’s biggest of the season and gives the Bearcats revenge for a loss in the HAC Tournament. Jack Dahlgren scored 26 in the win and hit five times from three-point range on a night Kearney hit 11 times from distance. The Bearcats jumped out to an 11-point first-quarter lead and had the advantage throughout until North Star cut it to single digits in the fourth. Ben Johnson hit a three with under a minute to go for the final dagger. Kearney allowed Benson to shoot 59% but also forced 19 turnovers and hit 14 times more from three.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Pius X (12-5), Saturday vs. Northeast (10-7)

15. Papillion-La Vista South (9-6, Last Week #17)

Last Week: Won 86-10 at Buena Vista, Won 52-43 vs. Westside

That score from the first game last week is correct. Papio South only allowed three Buena Vista players to score and never gave up more than three points in a quarter. Meanwhile, 11 different members of the Titan roster made the scoresheet, they collectively shot 64% and hit 12 threes. That momentum carried over to the year’s best win, a rematch victory against Westside. Clutch threes in the second half turned a one-point lead into four, a five-point lead into an eight and a six-point cushion to nine.

This Week: Tuesday at Omaha Central (10-6), Thursday vs. Westview (5-13)

16. Lincoln North Star (11-5, Last Week #11)

Last Week: Won at Norfolk 84-52, Lost vs. Kearney 56-51, Won vs. Millard West 65-60

North Star shot 61% and had three players in double figures against Norfolk but then hit just 35%, went 6 for 20 from three-point range and gave up 11 threes in the loss to Kearney. Bearcat shooting in the first half had the visitors up 14 in the second quarter. North Star kept cutting into the lead after halftime but never got over the hump. The Navigators were in the opposite scenario against the Wildcat, leading Millard West most of the way then holding off a fourth-quarter surge.

This Week: Tuesday at Fremont (3-12), Friday at Pius X (12-5), Saturday at Gretna (13-2)

17. Skutt Catholic (14-2, Last Week #8)

Last Week: Lost 54-49 at Pius X, Lost 66-55 vs. Omaha Central

The SkyHawks faced their first two Class A opponents of the season and suffered their first two losses. The game at Pius was played within a few possessions all night, and Skutt had a handful of leads, but the Skyhawks allowed 11 three-pointers and 14 offensive rebounds. Pius overcame 37% shooting because of those two statistics. Central pulled away in the second half three nights later and built a 16-point advantage in the third quarter.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Bennington (12-5), Saturday vs. Mount Michael (10-6)

18. Ogallala (19-0, Last Week #18)

Last Week: Won 78-28 vs. Valentine, Won 80-69 vs. Holdrege, Won 60-41 vs. Gothenburg

It was no surprise that the Indians raced through the Southwest Tournament with no trouble. If there’s any concern it was a season-low scoring total in the victory over Gothenburg. But still, Ogallala scored 60 and won by 19. The 80-69 win over Holdrege was also the smallest margin of the year, but again, it was by more than 10. It’s somewhat nit-picky at this point for a team that can finish the regular schedule unbeaten with four more victories.

This Week: Friday vs. McCook (11-5), Saturday at Broken Bow (2-10)

19. Wahoo (15-1, Last Week #19)

Last Week: Won 68-27 vs. Malcolm, Won 65-45 vs. Platteview

Wahoo is another team on this list that claimed a conference title and did it with relative ease. Both results, not so much the outcome, but the margins were rather surprising. Wahoo held Malcolm’s Hayden Frank to 13 points and kept Platteview under 50 for the second time this season. The Warriors have won 10 of the last 11 over the Trojans.

This Week: Tuesday at Logan View/SS (6-10), Friday vs. Crete (16-2), Saturday vs. Beatrice (9-6)

20. Platteview (15-3, Last Week #20)

Last Week: Won vs. Nebraska City 85-57, Won 47-46 vs. Beatrice (OT), Lost 65-45 vs. Wahoo

Platteview’s trip through the Trailblazer Conference started with a 53% shooting night against Nebraska City then had to survive against Beatrice after giving up a seven-point fourth-quarter lead. Platteview forced a turnover in the final possession of the second overtime and Connor Millikan had his fifth 30-point game of the season. In the Trailblazer title game, he was held to 18, and yes, that’s keeping Millikan under wraps considering he scores over 23 on average and had been held to under 20 just three times previously. He and Alex Draper combined for 30 but the rest of the roster had just 15.

This Week: Thursday at Ralston (7-10), Saturday at Hastings (7-7)

21. Ashland-Greenwood (16-1, Last Week #21)

Last Week: Won 62-23 vs. Arlington, Won 65-26 vs. Conestoga, Won 56-47 vs. DC West

The Bluejays were too much for the rest of the Capitol Conference, winning three games by a total of 87 points and making it six wins in a row since a loss to Platteview. AG held Arlington to just 10 points in the first half and none in the third, gave up two in just the first quarter against Conestoga and pulled away against DC West by giving up just two in the third quarter. A three-point lead ballooned to 12 for the final eight minutes.

This Week: Tuesday at Boys Town (6-7), Friday at DC West (14-4)

22. Omaha Bryan (9-6, Last Week #24)

Last Week: Won 60-55 vs. Omaha North, Won 52-42 at Grand Island

Bryan was 1-5 against teams above .500, and that one win came in overtime before the Bears downed Omaha North. It started with defense. Bryan held North to under 10 in the first two quarters and built a 15-point fourth-quarter lead before North closed the gap down the stretch. Bryan overcame 32% shooting and 2 of 19 from three by grabbing 16 offensive rebounds at Grand Island

This Week: Friday vs. Lincoln High (12-5), Saturday at Gretna (13-2)

23. Omaha North (8-8, Last Week #22)

Last Week: Lost at Bryan 60-55, Lost vs. Prep 63-56, Lost at Lincoln High 53-50

Three more losses and three more by single digits for the Vikings who have now suffered all but one of their eight losses by seven points or fewer. North shot 34% against Bryan and went 5 of 19 from long range, was only slightly better at 40% against Prep then went 33% and 4 of 15 from beyond the arc against Lincoln High.

This Week: Friday vs. Bellevue East (7-1), Saturday vs. Bennington (12-5)

24. North Platte (11-6, Last Week #23)

Last Week: Won 84-54 vs. Alliance

After a stretch of six games in 15 days, North Platte had a week off but kept it rolling in a 30-point blowout of Alliance. The Bulldogs have won seven in a row and, other than a four-point win over York, have won them all by 15 or more. River Johnston had 23 and Carter Kelley 22 while North Platte shot 57%.

This Week: Friday at Hastings (7-7)

25. Central City (16-1, Last Week #25)

Last Week: Won 69-55 vs. Boone Central, Won 57-31 vs. David City

The Bison have run the winning streak to 12 in a row and have won by double digits in all of those but one. Ayden Zikmund had 28 on just 10 shots thanks to four threes and eight free throws against Boone Central. Central City gave up just six points in the first and fourth quarters in the win over David City.

This Week: Tuesday vs. Ravenna (10-8), LouPlatte Conference Tournament

Next 5: Crete (16-2), Pierce (14-2), Bennington (12-5), Omaha Concordia (15-2), York (11-5)

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