This Week In Nebraska’s Girls Basketball-February 10th, 2020
THE WEEK THAT WAS: Things are starting to fall into place going into the postseason in Class A. Some heavyweight matchups took place last weekend, with Millard South and Lincoln Pius both passing their stiffest tests of the season thus…
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Continue ReadingTHE WEEK THAT WAS: Things are starting to fall into place going into the postseason in Class A. Some heavyweight matchups took place last weekend, with Millard South and Lincoln Pius both passing their stiffest tests of the season thus far. Omaha Westside and Lincoln East (after losing to Pius the night before) solidified their positions as the jockey for the third and fourth spots in the wildcard standings with big wins on Saturday afternoon over Lincoln Southwest and Papillion LaVista, respectively. Two upstarts in Class A, Elkhorn and North Platte, both lost on Saturday, which opened the door for teams like Fremont and Lincoln High (where Fremont pulled out a tough, 47-45 win over the Links Friday night) to move up the statisical charts.
THREE THINGS I LIKE:
- Crete’s Morgan Maly made another case for her being named the state’s player of the year this year by netting a school record 38 points Saturday night in a convincing 59-33 win over a solid Blair squad. Maly continues to lead Class B in scoring and is in the running for leading the state overall.
- Two big games took place out in the central/western part of the state Saturday night. Sidney, who started out 1-3 but has since gone 15-1, pulled away from rival Scottsbluff, 60-49. In northcentral Nebraska, Broken Bow was able to topple a quality Ogallala squad, 62-51. All four squads are jockeying for position in the wildcard standings and are looking to host a potential district final, so these contests are big in deciding who will be playing in Lincoln in March.
- Congatulations to Weeping Water for winning their conference tournament in an exciting 48-44 overtime victory Saturday in Lincoln over Malcolm. Nebraska-Omaha committ Grace Cave and senior Peyton Barrett both had 20 points for the Indians, who increase their chances of returhing to Lincoln with the victory.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: It is quite the achievement to be named the Gatorade Player of the Year; only one player gets that award. It is much tougher to get that award as a junior and then return better than you did the year before. Jayme Horan of Millard South has done that. Although she is not scoring as much this season (about five points a game less than she did last year), Horan’s game has really become well rounded as a senior. She differs to the fabulous freshman in the Patriot line-up, looking to get them involved early and often, but then attacks when necessary and is an outstanding team defender who rebounds and takes charges with the best of them. Her contributions, including her leadership, has grown tremendously this season. Between Maly and Horan, Jim Flannery at Creighton has perhaps the best in-state haul he has ever gotten.
GAME OF THE WEEK –> LINCOLN-OMAHA CORRIDOR: In another massive matchup in Class A, Millard South and Omaha Westside meet up at Westside Friday night in a rematch of their Metro Conference tournament final from a little more than a month ago. Millard South has gotten better as the season has gone along, with their young freshman who are supporting Maddie Krull and Jayme Horan look more and more at home at the varsity level, while Westside will have the advantage of seeing the Patriot’s full court pressure and now know what to expect. Jasmine Taylor-McGinnis and Ella Wedergren are one of the state’s dynamic duos and will be ready for the rematch Friday night.
GAME OF THE WEEK –> STATE-WIDE: Two western Nebraska powers meet up on Friday night as well, as Sidney makes the trip up to Chadron to take on the Cardinals. Both teams are in the fight to host a district final, but Chadron probably needs this game more than the Raiders. Sidney has been hot, but Chadron has had a quality season and their fans will be ready for the high-stakes match up Friday night.
Honorable Mention: Oakland-Craig at Fremont Bergan (Tuesday, 2/11), Elkhorn at Lincoln Pius X (Tuesday, 2/11), Crete at York (Tuesday, 2/11), Wahoo at Malcolm (Tuesday, 2/11), Hastings St. Cecilia’s at Grand Island Central Catholic (Thursday, 2/13), Kearney Catholic at Lincoln Christian (Thursday, 2/13), Lincoln Northeast at Marian (Thursday, 2/13), Bennington at Elkhorn (Friday, 2/14), Lincoln Southwest at Lincoln East (Friday, 2/14), Fremont at Lincoln Pius X (Friday, 2/14), Oakland-Craig at West Point-Beemer (Friday, 2/14), Omaha Burke at Fremont (Saturday, 2/15), Norris at Lincoln Christian (Saturday, 2/15)
CLASS A ELITE EIGHT: Millard South, Lincoln East, Westside, Papillion LaVista, Lincoln Southwest, Fremont, Lincoln Pius X, North Platte
CLASS B ELITE EIGHT: Grand Island Northwest, Crete, Hastings, Beatrice, Scottsbluff, Bennington, Sidney, York
CLASS C1 ELITE EIGHT: Broken Bow, North Bend-Central, Lincoln Chrisitan, Milford, Ogallala, Malcolm, Syracuse, Chadron
CLASS C2 ELITE EIGHT: Hastings St. Cecilia, Crofton, Ponca, Grand Island Central Catholic, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, Oakland-Craig, BRLD, Superior
CLASS D1 ELITE EIGHT: CWC, Weeping Water, Pleasanton, Dundy County-Stratton, Humphery/ Lindsay Holy Family, Maywood Hayes-Central, Fremont Bergan, Pender
CLASS D2 ELITE EIGHT: Falls City Sacred Heart, Loomis, Humphery St. Francis, Wynot, BDS, Sterling, Lawrence-Nelson, Mullen