Spalding Academy's Mathew Bloom nets state's top performance through the Christmas break with unusual triple-double.
Although the 2018-19 Nebraska boys basketball season is just getting under way, several of the Cornhusker State's top talents are playing at a very high level already.
Spalding Academy's Mathew Bloom stands out in this week's Top 10 after he produced the lone Nebraska triple-double that's been posted to MaxPreps' statistics database to date. Bloom roughed up Central Valley for 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocked shots as the Shamrocks claimed a 44-40 triumph in mid-December.
Jaden Rhynalds of Brainard East Butler scored 41 points in a 70-46 win over Cedar Bluffs in late November and added a 27-point, seven rebound, 11 steal performance in a 51-36 loss to Exeter-Milligan to claim the No. 2 spot.
Gordon-Rushville's Dylan Schwarting ripped the cords for 40 points and pulled down six rebounds, dished out six assists and swiped four enemy balls in an 80-53 triumph over Hemingford for the three spot, while Noah Schutte of Laurel-Concord-Coleridge produced the fourth best stat line with 33 points, 21 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a couple of blocked shots in a 100-74 win over Bloomfield.
Paxton's Blake Brewster rounds out the top five after putting up 26 points, 23 rebounds and four blocked shots in a 69-24 win over South Platte. Brewster then poured in 21 points, pulled down 20 rebounds and swatted five enemy shots in a 59-42 win over Mullen just before the Christmas break.
Teammates Seth Miller and Jace Leibhart of Anselmo-Merna sit in the No. seven and nine spots respectively after combining for 33 points, 23 rebounds, 15 assists, four steals and four blocked shots in a 57-44 win over Overton December 11.
Classes C1, C2, D1 and D2 are all represented in this week's Top 10. But plenty of athletes in Nebraska's two largest classifications are off to fast starts as well. Kearney's Shiloh Robinson scored 38 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and added an assist and five steals in an 80-52 win over Papillion-LaVista to lead Class A, while Mason Hiemstra of Alliance was tops in Class B after putting up 22 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, a steal and a blocked shot in a 60-50 win over Scottsbluff.
In order to be considered for this week's Top 10, an athlete had to produce a double-double and compete at a high level in another category, score 20 or more points and pull down 20 or more rebounds or score 40 or more points in a contest.
For those athletes that made the cut with more than one performance, the stat line that was thought to be the better of the two was used in placing that athlete. The statistics used for this week's Top 10 were pulled from MaxPreps' statistics database Thursday afternoon.
Nebraska's Top 10 individual boys basketball performances1. Mathew Bloom, Spalding Academy (Spalding), 6-6, Sr., PF/SF/C19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in a 44-40 win over Central Valley, Dec. 14
2. Jaden Rhynalds, East Butler (Brainard), 5-10, Jr., SG/PG41 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals in a 70-46 win over Cedar Bluffs, Nov. 29
27 points, 7 rebounds and 11 steals in a 51-36 loss to Exeter-Milligan, Dec. 4
3. Dylan Schwarting, Gordon-Rushville (Gordon), 5-9 Sr., G40 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in an 80-53 win over Hemingford, Nov. 30
4. Noah Schutte, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (Laurel), 6-4, Jr., SF/PF33 points, 21 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots in a 100-74 win over Bloomfield, Dec. 18
5. Blake Brewster, Paxton, 6-9, Jr., C/PF26 points, 23 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in a 69-24 win over South Platte, Dec. 15
21 points, 20 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in a 59-42 win over Mullen, Dec. 20
6. Jonathan Pieper, Mitchell, 6-6, Jr., C11 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 9 blocked shots in a 92-52 win over Hemingford, Dec. 8
7. Seth Miller, Anselmo-Merna (Merna), 6-0, Jr., SG/PG19 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals in a 57-44 win over Overton, Dec. 11
8. Blake Hoke, Clearwater/Orchard (Clearwate), 6-0, Sr., Wing20 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 steals in a 50-49 win over O'Neill St. Mary's, Nov. 29
9. Jace Leibhart, Anselmo-Merna, 6-5, Jr., SF/PF14 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 4 blocked shots in a 57-44 win over Overton, Dec. 11
10. Gage Delimont, Ainsworth, 6-1, Sr., PG/SG16 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocked shots in a 56-37 win over Valentine, Dec. 11