Tigers and 'Riders in state top fours; both Bison teams 16th

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Southwest and Dundy County-Stratton girls are both No. 4 in their classes for power points as basketball season really starts “getting serious” this week.

Remember, the top 16 teams based on an NSAA formula advance into state-qualifying district finals.

While there are still many regular-season games ahead, take a look at where the Gazette-area teams rank with games resuming at a rapid pace tonight.

GIRLS

Class B

The McCook girls are rolling at 8-2 yet holding on at 16th (41.5 points) just ahead of No. 17 Plattsmouth (7-3, 41.3).

They host C-1 No. 10 Broken Bow (7-2) tonight and C-1 unbeaten No. 7 Gothenburg (8-0) Friday, so there will be two great chances to add big points.

C-1 No. 1 Minden (8-0) invades McCook High on Saturday, Jan. 18.

The current Class B top four features Omaha Skutt (11-1), Lincoln Pius X (10-1), Bennington (8-1) and Waverly (6-1). Scottsbluff (6-5) is 12th and Gering (5-2) 15th.

Class C-1

Chase County (4-3) is 25th in this tough CLass C-1 class where even Ogallala (6-3) is only 20th. The Longhorns will play several potential “move up” contests.

Class C-2

Maywood-Hayes Center’s sitting at a sweet No. 6 position with a 9-1 record and 45 points.

Crofton (11-0, 48) owns No. 1 ahead of Oakland-Craig (46.4) while Cross County (45.4) clings to No. 5 above MayHay.

Returning state runner-up Southern Valley needs some more “quality” wins with 8-2 record but ranking No. 20 (42.8 points).

Class D-1

Southwest (7-1) is No. 4 (45.125) as only Pender (11-0), Elm Creek (8-1) and Superior (8-1) rank higher.

Arapahoe is 20th after a solid 6-4 start while Wauneta-Palisade (4-4) holds 24th among 55 D-1 teams. Cambridge (3-6) is currently 30th.

Class D-2

Dundy County-Stratton (7-2) Tigers have clawed to No. 4 (45.11) through some early-season injuries. The Tigers have played a strong early-season schedule that includes Southwest among others.

Shelton (45.22), Falls City Sacred Heart (45.78) and Leyton (45.857) top Class D-2.

Hitchcock County (3-4) is 25th and Medicine Valley (1-7) 41st among 55 teams.

BOYS

Class B

Just like those tenacious McCook girls, the Bison boys are currently holding that 16th district finals spot where they’d be matched against No. 1 Scottsbluff (10-1).

The Bison (6-3, 41.33 points) are just behind Northwest (41.778) from Grand Island and Lincoln Pius X (42.2).

Norris (9-1), Omaha Skutt (7-3), Elkhorn North (7-1) and Gretna East (6-3) complete the ‘B’ top five with Aurora (6-2) checking in at No. 6.

The Bison don’t play a loaded next few games like those McCook girls, though C-1 No. 8 Sidney (9-1) on Saturday.

Down the road are C-1 No. 4 Ogallala (9-0), C-1 No. 10 Cozad (8-1), C-1 No. 17 Gothenburg (5-3) and B No. 19 Hastings (5-5) besides Scottsbluff.

Class C-1

Chase County (2-5) needs another New Year’s surge like one year ago. The Longhorns (2-5) are currently 43rd among 53 teams.

Class D-1

D-1’s filled with fun whether it’s No. 7 Dundy County-Stratton (8-1), No. 12 Hitchcock County (6-1) or 2024 state finalist and No. 17 Maywood-Hayes Center (7-3).

The Wolves (41.9) barely trail Bertrand and Central Valley (both 42 points).

Cambridge (3-6) climbs to 29th, getting a boost from beating MayHay Friday night at Hayes Center.

Southern Valley (2-8) is 51st and Arapahoe (1-9) 54th among 55 teams. If you must know, the Burwell Longhorns bave that 55th basement spot while Johnson-Brock (8-0) is No. 1 and Elm Creek (8-1) No. 2.

Class D-2

Medicine Valley (3-5) is No. 10 thanks to a strong early-season schedule. Southwest (3-5) is 37th and Wauneta-Palisade (1-8) 38th among 55 teams.