Class A Power Rankings: Special Edition
Rapper Lil Wayne once said “I don’t take breaks, I just break records”. The Metro feels the same way after ferociously going at it this past week in the Holiday Tournament. But that’s not going to slow them down as week five of the regular season kicks off Friday night. We’ve once again taken the liberty to rank who we believe to be the top ten teams in Class A, and here’s what we came up with.
10. Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks (NR)
After dropping out of our rankings prior to the Heartland Athletic Conference tournament, the Silver Hawks slide back onto the radar at number ten. Alex Bahe’s 7-4 squad, who owns a short three game win streak, have picked up quality wins in the last week over Norfolk, Fremont, and Lincoln Northeast. They’re led by senior JaQuaylon Mays, who averages 17 points and five rebounds a game.
9. Lincoln High Links (9)
The Links remain at number nine for the second week in a row after going 1-2 since the beginning of holiday tournament season. They picked up a loss to both Grand Island and Lincoln East in the midst of a win over Lincoln Southwest. All three of those opponents made our top ten this week. Dan Noble’s 6-4 team is also shooting 47% on the season, and they average 12 assists per game, which means they know how to play as a whole team. That’s a quality they’ll use down the stretch.
8. Kearney Bearcats (NR)
The Bearcats have floated in and out of these rankings all year long, but they’ve proved themselves this week by winning their last ever Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference tournament. The 7-3 Bearcats pulled an average of 21 points a game in that tournament out of Kanon Koster, who averages 24 on the season and is one of the most athletic 6’3”, quarterback type built players you’ll find. They’ve yet to make a “statement win”, but it’s coming.
7. Grand Island Islanders (8)
The Islanders have flirted with the middle parts of these rankings all year, and it’s almost time for them to break out of the shell. This 7-3 Grand Island team went 2-1 in the HAC tournament with a blowout win of Lincoln Southeast to highlight the stretch. They’ve got as much experience as someone can ask for, so they’re bound to go on a run. Don’t be surprised if they continue to climb.
6. Omaha Bryan Bears (6)
For the third week in a row, Bryan finds themselves in the sixth slot. The Bears went 1-1 at Ralston Arena which included an impressive 17 point win over a talented Papillion-La Vista South team. Tre Crawford and Co. have landed at 6-3 headed into 2018, and they’re still improving. When I talked to Coach O’Donnell before the season, he said Javen Udofia and Crawford would be keys to their success and they have been every bit of that.
5. Millard South (5)
Millard South took an unexpected hit on Tuesday when they dropped a game to rival Millard North (4-6). The Patriots still sit at 8-1 as they await Creighton Prep on Saturday, which is a game that should say a lot about both squads. One thing I’m really high on when it comes to them is the way they move the ball in the half court offense. That’s reflected in their ratio of made baskets to assists per game which totals out to 23.6 to 13.2.
4. Omaha Burke Bulldogs (4)
Xavier Watts, Shereef Mitchell, and the rest of the Bulldogs’ roster remain at number four for the third week in a row after a run to the Metro Holiday Tournament final. David Moreano, who shot 41.6% for 46 points in their four games, kept them in it in the clutch late, but it wasn't enough. The depth of this roster is something to fear. They’ll put up a contest no matter the lineup on the floor.
3. Creighton Prep (1)
The Jr. Jays fell in the semifinals, taking their first loss of the year to eventual champions Omaha Central. The Jr. Jays shot ~35% in their three games from beyond the arc, which is not where Josh Leudtke wants his team to sit. Jayden Temme and Kyle Leudtke had to put up 44 of the 58 and Arop added nine in the loss, so Prep proved they don’t have quite as many assets as I thought.
2. Omaha Central Eagles (NR)
Eric Behrens returned to the sideline this year to coach his son Roman, and Central has to be happy with what this team has done thus far. The Eagles have played just one true home game in the first six weeks of the season. Yet, they still head into Friday’s matchup with Sioux City Bishop Heelan with an 8-3 record and a Metro championship under their belt. The Eagles have five players that average 9.4 points per game or more, and that’s how they took Ralston Arena by storm.
1. Lincoln East Spartans (2)
For the first time since week two, we have a new number one! Sam Griesel and Co. rolled through the HAC tournament by a combined score of 203-132 to solidify their spot at the top of our power rankings this week. The Spartans are the lone undefeated team in Class A, and only two of their ten wins came by ten points or less. They’re legit.