Top 10 Nebraska boys basketball games for January-February

Video: O'Neill basketball highlights Highlights vs Pierce
See the Class C1 No. 4 team in action.

The holiday tournament schedule has pretty much come to a conclusion in Nebraska, and now it is time to get serious about the next leg of the Cornhusker State's high school basketball season.

As basketball games were tipping off earlier this week, we were combing through Nebraska's prep round ball schedules in an attempt to select our Top 10 boys basketball games for January-February. And here they are.

1. Kansas Overall No. 1 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) (14-3) vs. Class A No. 3 Papillion-LaVista (Papillion) (6-2), at Heartland Hoops Classic (Grand Island), Feb. 11
Not only does this matchup pit a pair of very good basketball teams against each other – it may be the one time this season basketball fans will get a glimpse of this much individual talent on one basketball court for a regular season game. Sunrise's roster is loaded with Division 1 talent, while the Monarchs are led by returning All-Nebraska and Super-State selectees Ed Chang and Ayo Akinwole (committed to Nebraska-Omaha), who average 16.8 and 19 points a game respectively. The Buffaloes are led by seniors Isaiah Jasey, who signed with Texas A&M in November, and Florida State commit Bryan Trimble.



2. Class A No. 4 Creighton Prep (Omaha) (6-1) at Class A No. 12 Omaha Central (Omaha) (5-3), Jan. 28
These two Nebraska big school powers battled it out at the Nebraska state basketball tournament last March with Creighton Prep coming out on top 58-57. Roman Behrens and Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler will guide the Eagles into this one after averaging 16 points per outing this season. Keondre Spivey adds 13 points for Ben Holling. Akol Arop leads the way for the Junior Jays by scoring more than 18 points a game. Kyle Luedtke and Jayden Temme add about 13 and 11 points, respectively. 3. Class C1 No. 4 O'Neill (7-0) vs. Class C1 No. 1 Scotus (Columbus) (8-0), at Heartland Hoops Classic, Feb. 11
The Shamrocks edged O'Neill 61-55 in Last March's Class C1 state consolation championship game at the state basketball tournament at Lincoln Northeast. Now both teams hope to meet in the state championship game. The 2016 Class C1 state football champion Eagles are led by Tyler Regan's 14.6 scoring average. Alex Thramer adds 11 points. Scotus counters with Cody Mroczek's 10.8 tallies per contest, while Trevor Kaslon rips the cords for just under 10 points.

4. Class D1 No. 2 Lourdes Central Catholic (Nebraska City) (6-2) at Class D2 No. 2 Sacred Heart (Falls City) (6-1), Feb. 18
While the Knights were battling through the Class D1 state tournament bracket, and eventually winning a title last March, Falls City Sacred Heart was forced to watch from the sideline. In 2017, both of these clubs have the talent to duke it out on the state tournament hardcourt. Hayden Miller is scoring right at 20 points a game for the defending champions, while Quinten Vasa chips in 14 points an outing. After conquering the Class D1 football field and winning a state title last fall, the Irish are hoping to get a statement win on their way to a possible football-basketball sweep.

5. Class C1 No. 5 Winnebago (9-1) at Class C2 No. 8 Ponca (8-2), Jan. 17
Winnebago survived Ponca 60-57 on a neutral court in December at the Shootout on the Elkhorn basketball tournament in Wisner. Now Ponca gets Winnebago, who is averaging almost 85 points, a game, on their home court. Winnebago has scored 80 points or more in 10 of their 12 contests in 2016-17, including a season high 101 points in a season opening win over Homer. Ponca was led by Logan Kingsbury's game-high 25 points in the first meeting, while Carter Kingsbury added 12 points. David Wingett and D'von LaPointe led the victors with 19 and 17 points respectively.

6. Class B No. 4 Alliance (8-1) at Class C1 No. 24 Gordon-Rushville (Gordon) (5-1), Jan. 17
Alliance swept Gordon-Rushville in a pair of contests a year ago. The Mustangs would like nothing more than to even that score. The Mustangs are a balanced lot, led by Dylan Schwarting's 10.7 points an outing and nine points a game by Jared Nelson, who has played in three games. Six Mustangs average six or more points an outing. Austin Luger rips the cords for 22.4 points a night for Alliance, while Brody Brennan scores at a 13.8-point clip.

7. Class C1 No. 18 Douglas County West (Valley) (6-2) at Class C1 No. 7 Syracuse (8-1), Jan. 31
Jeffrey Widhelm is having one fantastic senior season averaging 19 points, 12.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 3.1 blocks per game. Syracuse, however does play solid defense, giving up just 46.5 points per contest. Could be a battle of wills in this one. TJ Rivera adds 18.3 points to the scoreboard on a nightly basis for the Falcon. Three Rockets score in double figures, led by Monty Roberts' 16.6 points a game. Ethan Zastera and Ben Nanned average 14.1 and 11.5 points a game.

8. Class D1 No. 4 Elm Creek (7-2) at Class C2 No. 2 Amherst (8-0), Feb. 9
As the Class C2 state basketball tournament was getting ready to tip off last March, Amherst was one of two unbeatens in the eight-team tournament. Instead of playing for a state championship, however, the Broncos and fellow pre-tournament unbeaten Winnebago had to settle their differences in the consolation game with the Indians winning a 74-73 dandy in overtime. Amherst is unbeaten once again and brings a trio of double-digit scorers into this tussle. Trevor Adelung is top scorer for the Broncos with 21.4 points a game. Holden Eckhout and Clay Lucas average 13.8 and 10.4 points respectively. The Buffaloes are led by LeShaun Thornabar, who averages 14.9 points an outing. Jaydn Ford and Brock Miner tally 24.4 points between them.



9. Class D1 No. 7 Paxton (8-1) at Class D2 No. 10 Wauneta-Palisade (Wauneta) (6-2), Jan. 19
Both of these western Nebraska small schools are off to terrific starts this season, and they both hope to keep it that way following this battle. Emmit Rosentrater and Ryan Fox have been bringing it for long time coach Jody Rhodes, scoring 14 and 10 points an outing respectively, while the Broncos are led by Greg Gaston's 18.6 points per battle.

10. Class B No. 3 Platteview (Springfield) (8-0) at Class A No. 2 Pius X (Lincoln) (5-1), Feb. 17
Platteview is off to its fastest start in at least 13 years. Pius X is off to a quick start as well, falling only to Class B unbeaten Aurora, 66-52. Which of these teams will continue that upward trend following this battle? Nate Thayer pours in 22 points a game for the Trojans, while Brady Heiman scores 15.3 points per outing. Joe Burt and Charlie Easley put up 10 points a game for Pius X coach Brian Spicka, while Mike Lewandowski adds 9.3 points an outing.