Nebraska's Top 10 high school girls basketball games for January

Video: Augusta Thramer's highlights vs. Millard North
See the South Sioux City star in action last season.

There is little doubt as to which Nebraska girls basketball game tops the rest of them for the month of January. Heck, for the entire regular season for that matter. Crofton and Pierce have won seven straight state championships collectively, and on Jan. 28 they collide in Pierce.

The Warriors recently suffered a loss, falling 39-35 to unbeaten Guardian Angels Central Catholic on Dec. 12. Pierce, however, still remains among the unbeaten at 7-0. Both of these programs keep reloading and knocking off the opposition. We don't expect that to change too much this year.

However, with its win over the Warriors, Guardian Angels Central Catholic is a team that could easily find itself with the champion's hardware at season's end. The Bluejays claimed the D1 title in 2012, and won four straight C2 championships in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 when the school was still known as West Point Central Catholic.



The Bluejays will have their hands full themselves on Jan. 28, when unbeaten C1 power Kearney Catholic pulls into West Point for our second-ranked January contest.


1. Crofton (5-1) at Pierce (7-0), Jan. 28
Crofton has won the last four Nebraska Class C2 state championships, while Pierce has claimed the last three C1 titles. Earlier this season, Crofton saw its 57-game winning streak halted by Guardian Angels Central Catholic, so Warriors all-stater Monica Arens (13.3 points, 3.1 rebounds) and company are ready to forget and move on. Pierce, however, would like nothing more than to give the Warriors a bitter reminder. Shelby Bretschneider (9.4 points, 4.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds) and Jaci Brahmer (12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) lead the Bluejays. Outside of the state tournament we believe this contest is an offering of some of the best girls basketball Nebraska has to offer.

2. Kearney Catholic (7-0) at Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point) (6-0), Jan. 28
Hot off their 39-35 win over Crofton, the Bluejays host another big name in Kearney Catholic in late January. Lexis Haase leads the way for the Bluejays, while Kylie Thiele (12.2 points, 2.0 steals), a returning all-stater, stars for Kearney Catholic. Anna Squiers (6.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) is set to roll up her sleeves for Kearney Catholic as well.

3. South Sioux City (7-0) at Sioux City West (Sioux City, Iowa) (7-1), Jan. 5
There is nothing like a crosstown rivalry. Except, of course, when it also crosses state lines. The Cardinals have captured 11 state titles since 1995. Sioux City West is off to a 7-1 start. South Sioux City, led by Carissa Powell (19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals) and Augusta Thramer (12.0 points, 5.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 steals), may be playing close to the level of ball that the Cardinals reached while winning six straight state titles from 2000-2005. The Wolverines are led by Brianna Moore (14.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 steals) and Rachel Knutson-Kobold (13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.8 steals).

4. Lincoln Christian (7-0) at St. Cecilia (Hastings) (4-2), Jan. 9
Lincoln Christian, possibly the best girls basketball team in Nebraska, travels to Hastings to tackle one of the Cornhusker State's recent power programs. Super Sophomore Chloe Dworak (16 points, 5.3 assists) leads the way for the Crusaders, while Taytem Coleman (16.3 points, 5.1 rebounds), another all-stater, gives the Crusaders a solid 1-2 punch. Shandra Farmer (18.8 points, 5.6 assists, 5.0 steals) leads St. Cecilia into battle after earning all-state honors of her own a year ago.

5. St. Patrick's (North Platte) (8-0) at Mullen (7-1), Jan. 12
In another small-school tussle, both programs lost opening round state tournament contests a year ago. The best medicine for that disappointment? A crucial win over a state tournament tested program. Mullen is led by Ally Ginkens' nine points, two assists, six rebounds, three steals and four blocked shots a game.



6. St. Mary's (O'Neill) (6-1) at Chambers/Wheeler Central (7-0), Jan. 16
St. Mary's, the defending D1 champion, dropped a 40-38 contest to Pierce earlier this week. CWC is yet to lose. Returning all-staters Sydney Hupp (14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds) and Riley Sibbel (13.1 points, 2.4 rebounds) are combining for 27 points, collectively, for St. Mary's. The Renegades, meanwhile, are led by Dawn Klabenes' 23 points and 14 rebounds. Jacie Laetsch (19.0 points, 4.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 steals) is ready to do battle for CWC as well.

7. Fremont (5-4) at Lincoln East (5-1), Jan. 9
Playing in the rigorous Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona last Friday through Tuesday, Fremont won one game in four tries. Needless to say, the 5-4 Tigers are hungry for a win over a good basketball team. Lincoln East fits that bill, and will offer a ton of resistance. Returning all-stater Rylie Cascio Jensen (20.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and four assists) leads the way for Fremont, while Grace Barry (9.3 points, 6.8 assists, 3.8 steals) will counter for the balanced Spartans.

8. Nebraska Christian (Central City) (6-0) at Fullerton (7-0), Jan. 7
When these two small-school powers get set to battle in early January, both may still be undefeated. Should that be the case, the winner of this slugfest will have hopped into the driver's seat in the chase for the Goldenrod Conference championship, and will build plenty of momentum for the postseason stretch run. Cassidy Ostrand (9.0 points, 4.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds) leads the way for the balanced Eagles. Claire Ostrand offers up five assists and five steals per outing for Nebraska Christian.

9. York (5-0) at Norris (Firth) (4-2), Jan. 19
There is only one tidbit to remember for this game. Norris, Nebraska's defending Class B state tournament runner-up, unabashedly ended York's season a year ago, 46-32, in the Nebraska Class B state quarterfinals. Well, maybe there is something else to recall. York returned everybody from last year's roster and it's doubtful that anybody suiting up for the Dukes has forgotten that double-digit loss. This should be a highly contested game. Returning all-stater Emma Grenfell (12.7 points, 5.7 steals) leads the way for York.

10. Gretna (6-1) at Platteview (Springfield) (5-0), Jan. 8
Except for a fourth-place state tournament finish in 2014, Platteview has struggled to play on in the postseason. But Payton Brotzki and her 26.2 points a game has the Trojans playing at a very high level in 2015-16. Gretna, on the other hand, has made the field of eight every year since 2001, except for 2011 and 2015. A win over a proven program in Gretna would do wonders for Platteview. The Dragons, meanwhile, have their sights set on their own continued success.