Nebraska's Top 10 boys basketball games for January, 2015

As the Nebraska high school basketball season prepares to enter the stretch drive of the 2014-15 season, there are plenty of big-time battles up on the docket in January, beginning with Class A's top-ranked Junior Jays hosting third-ranked Omaha South.

Schools in all six classifications are scheduled to compete in basketball games that could easily fall into the Top 10. In fact, 14 contests have been added to the honorable mention list, and all of them were good enough tussles to be featured here.

Below is a look at the top-ranked basketball games in Nebraska in January.

1. Class A No. 3 Omaha South (7-1) @ Class A No. 1 Creighton Prep (Omaha) (7-0), Jan. 23
Coming off a 51-49 loss to Papillion-LaVista South last week, Omaha South is hoping to get a big-time win over top-ranked Creighton Prep on the road. This game features two of the top three teams in the entire state and could be a preview of what's to come in the state tournament come March. Tommy Pritchard leads a balanced Junior Jay attack, while the Packers will rely on the likes of Makoor Arop and Aguek Arop.



2. Class C2 No. 2 Battle Creek (7-1) @ Class C2 No. 3 Twin River (Genoa) (7-1), Jan. 2
Both of these clubs suffered their first losses of the season recently and are looking to get back in the win column. With both clubs featuring solid defenses, look for points to be at a premium in this battle of C2 juggernauts. The outcome of this contest may clear up the C2 picture. Or will it?

3. Class C2 No. 4 Archbishop Bergan (Fremont) (4-1) @ Class C1 No. 2 Scotus (Columbus) (4-2), Jan. 23
Not only does this contest pit two of the top teams in the Class C ranks, but two of the top players as well. Look for Adam Dykman, who is averaging more than 23 points, 12.7 rebounds and nearly four blocks a contest to lead the way as the C2 Knights attempt to unseat 20-point scorer Grant Lahm and the Shamrocks.

4. Class B No. 7 Scottsbluff (6-1) @ Class B No. 9 Sidney (5-2), Jan. 23
Two of the top western Nebraska power programs as well as two of the Top 10 Class B squads will go head-to-head in this classic rivalry. Seniors Jackson Hinze, Ashley Jones and Trent Harris will lead Scottsbluff into battle, while the Red Raiders are led by Tyler Wintholz, Cody Frerichs and Cutter O'connell.

5. Class A No. 2 Norfolk (9-0) @ Class A No. 6 Bellevue West (5-2), Jan. 24
Tyler Hagedorn, a 6-9 senior, will guide the 9-0 Panthers into a road tussle with the sixth-ranked Thunderbirds. Malik Hluchoweckyj, meanwhile, carries the defending champ Thunderbirds (5-2) into battle against Class A's No. 2 team. Expect to see two great players, a couple powerhouse clubs and a very good basketball game when this contest takes center stage.

6. Class A No. 4 Omaha Central (5-2) @ Class A No. 5 Millard West (Omaha) (5-2), Jan. 13
This is just a great battle between evenly matched Class A basketball teams. You can't go wrong heading out to check out the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in Nebraska's largest classification. Both clubs share identical records as well. The winner here may carry plenty of momentum through January and February and into March.

7. Class B No. 1 Elkhorn South (5-0) @ Class B No. 6 Bennington (4-2), Jan. 9
After settling for a third place finish a year ago, Elkhorn South is Class B's top-ranked team once again. Bennington, however, is hoping to unseat the Storm with a home win over the Class B power Storm. Johnny Trueblood leads the way for Elkhorn South. Bart Hiscock, on the other hand, is the Badger go-to guy.



8. Class B No. 8 Hastings (5-2) @ Class B No. 5 Adams Central (Hastings) (7-0), Jan. 27
This is a classic crosstown rivalry game. Hastings started the season 2-2 before reeling off three straight wins. The Tigers hope to continue that winning trend as they prepare to battle the undefeated Patriots.

9. Class B No. 2 Gretna (4-1) @ Class B No. 10 Plattsmouth (5-1), Jan. 22
These two Eastern Midlands Conference powers will carry their league rivalry onto the Class B stage in January. Not only will this contest go a long way towards determining the league championship, but is important for positioning at the state level as well.

10. Class D2 No. 8 Anselmo-Merna (Merna) (6-1) @ Class D1 No. 4 Amherst (6-0), Jan. 17
This battle between the Broncos and the Coyotes is just a fun basketball game between two very good Class D programs. Breyden Eckhout scores nearly 20 points a game for Amherst. Troy Gilligan tallies 15.9 points but also posts more than three steals an outing and secures more than four caroms a game in leading the Coyotes.

Other games considered:
Jan. 17 Omaha North @ Omaha Central
Jan. 23 Papillion-LaVista @ Omaha North
Jan. 17 Lincoln @ Lincoln Northeast
Jan. 22 Boone Central/Newman Grove (Albion) @ Columbus Scotus
Jan. 24 Battle Creek @ Pierce
Jan. 17 Omaha Creighton Prep @ Papillion-LaVista
Jan. 27 Bellevue West @ Omaha Creighton Prep
Jan. 30 Omaha Central @ Omaha Creighton Prep
Jan. 31 Omaha South @ Omaha Central
Jan. 3 Bennington @ Hastings Adams Central
Jan. 30 Boone Central-Newman Grove @ Battle Creek
Jan. 10 Archbishop Bergan @ Arlington
Jan. 20 High Plains (Polk) @ Heartland (Henderson)
Jan. 23 Exeter-Milligan @ Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (Bruning).