As we finish our coverage of the 2019-20 season, and as we wait anxiously to have basketball return, let’s take a look at the seven best players in Nebraska’s Class D2 this past winter.
The Season in Review: Returning champion Wynot brought back a strong squad, but knew that they were going to face challenges from teams like Humphery St. Francis, Falls City Sacred Heart, BDS and Mullen. The top six or seven schools consistently separated themselves from the rest of the pack throughout the season, leading to a top heavy class that which set up the D2 state tournament field.
Recapping the State Tournament: Class D2 was the only class in the state tournament that came close to going chalk, with the only upset occuring in the semi-final, where defending champion Wynot “upset” top-seeded Falls City Sacred Heart. In the other semi-final, the match-up of perhaps the two best individual players in the class (Humphery St. Francis’ Allison Weidner Allison Weidner 5'10" | PG St. Francis Humphrey | 2021 State #97 Nation NE and Mullen’s Samantha Moore) gave the Flyers a convincing 68-38 win. In the final, the depth of Wynot overcame the individual excellence of Weidner, and the Blue Devils pulled away from St. Francis in the fourth quarter, landing an eighth state championship in sixteen years with a 59-51 victory.
Plum’s Predictions: 4-3; I had picked Falls City Sacred Heart over Wynot (by a hair), but I did predict the deeper team would pull away in the final . . . so . . . I was really close to 5-2 or 6-1. Darn it.
THE SUPER SEVEN
Allison Weidner Allison Weidner 5'10" | PG St. Francis Humphrey | 2021 State #97 Nation NE (5’9″ Point Guard, Junior, Humphery St. Francis): The lanky lefthander out of Humphery St. Francis was the most dominant player in the class, and perhaps the state. Weidner averaged 25 points a game, along with six rebounds, six assists and seven steals a game. Weidner showed at the state tournament why the Nebraska coaching staff invested a scholarship in her, and another year of developing her perimeter game will get her ready for the rigors of Big Ten play.
Samantha Moore (6’0″ Forward, Junior, Mullen): Another stat stuffer from the Sandhills region, Moore put together a tremendous season for the Broncos, who finished 26-3 and netted a fourth place finish at state. Moore, a Nebraska-Kearney commit, averaged almost seventeen points and five rebounds a night, to go along with four steals and three assists a game. Moore will have one more crack at that elusive state title next season.
Erison Vonderschmidt (5’9″ Forward, Sophomore, Falls City Sacred Heart): The versatile sophomore nearly led the Irish to another state championship, and her upside will only continue to grow as she matures in her role. Vonderschmidt led the Irish at 13.5 points a night and 6.1 rebounds a night while also playing outstanding defense. One of the most talented underclassmen in the state, Vonderschmidt’s arc points to one of the best careers in the history of the storied Irish program.
Katelyn Heine (5’8″ Forward, Senior, Wynot): Another outstanding senior in the Wynot machine, Heine was one of the keys for the Blue Devils to pull away for their eighth state championship. A wiry, lanky player who has good range from 15-17 feet, Heine averaged 10.8 points a game while also doing an outstanding job in Wynot’s full court pressure system. If a smaller school in the region is looking for a quality player late in the recruiting process, Heine’s winning pedigree might be a great addition to a program.
Shalee Planer (5’7″ Guard, Senior, Wynot): Planer is a strong, physical presence for the Blue Devils, and she was the difference maker in the state championship game. Planer’s counting stats were modest, averaging 8.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a game, but her commitment to team basketball and her overall game at both ends of the floor made her an invaluable player for the Blue Devils.
Regan Alfs (5’11″ Forward, Senior, BDS): Alfs is an outstanding, dual-sport athlete for the Eagles and her performance on the basketball court warranted a Super 7 nomination. Alfs dominated the paint area for BDS, averaging 12.2 points and 9.2 rebounds a game. A player that can play inside or out, Alfs has the opportunity to contribute to a small school on either the basketball or volleyball court.
Macy Kamler (5’10″ Forward, Junior, BDS): Teaming up with Alfs to form a dominant front court, Kamler had an outstanding season for the Eagles. Kamler led the Eagles at 13 points a night, while also tallying 6.7 rebounds a game, and she also blocked shots at a high clip. Kamler is also an outstanding volleyball player, so she has the opportunity to pursue multiple options over the next year.