By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The future is bright for girl’s basketball in the great state of Nebraska.
Out of the first team All-State honorees, not one is a senior. The group is led by a pair of Lincoln Southeast juniors, KK Houser and Marissa Kastenek. South Sioux City junior McKayla Knudson, and a pair of sophomores, Crete’s Kate Edwards and Alliance’s Jordan Hooper, round out the first team.
Naming Kastenek on the first team could be deemed as debatable. The North Carolina State recruit played 12 games after being ruled ineligible by the Nebraska School Activities Association following her transfer from Crete. After her family bought a house in Lincoln, the NSAA ruled her eligible and she got right to work. Kastenek averaged 17.2 points per game and helped Southeast to the Class A state championship.
Kastenek, Houser, and senior Katie Birkel, a second team honoree, strolled through the Class A bracket at the state tournament. Southeast’s only loss of the season came to Class B champion South Sioux City.
Hooper led Alliance to the Class B title as a freshman, while Knudson put South Sioux City back on the map by leading the Cardinals to the Class B state title this past season. Edwards helped Kastenek lead Crete to the Class B final in 2007 before falling to Hooper and Alliance.
1st Team All-State
KK Houser, Lincoln Southeast, 5-5, Jr.
Houser averaged 13.4 points per game for the Knights as a junior. As a sophomore, Houser averaged 16.5 as a sophomore before her scoring load dropped with the addition of Kastenek. Houser averaged 4.8 assists per contest and drilled 64 three-point buckets for the Knights.
Marissa Kastenek, Lincoln Southeast, 5-8, Jr.
In just 12 games, Kastenek made a huge splash. Kastenek averaged 17.2 points per game. In the Class A state final victory over Millard West, Kastenek scored 11 of her game-high 23 points in the opening period and added seven steals.
Jordan Hooper, Alliance, 6-3, Soph.
Hooper was the major reason why Alliance won its first title in 2007. Riding a 47-game winning streak heading into the Class B final, Hooper’s dreams of back-to-back titles were shattered by South Sioux City. Hooper averaged 17.5 points and 13.3 rebounds and is considered a major Division I prospect.
McKayla Knudson, South Sioux City, 6-1, Jr.
Knudson did her part to ensure South Sioux City could regain its stranglehold on Class B basketball. Knudson averaged 15 points and 7.7 rebounds per game to lead South Sioux City to its 11th state title with a victory over Alliance. South Sioux City was unbeaten against Nebraska competition en route to a 24-1 record with its only loss coming to Sioux City (Iowa) North.
Kate Edwards, Crete, 5-11, Soph.
Edwards averaged 18.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and four steals per game for Crete. After spending most of the season in the top five in Class B, Crete missed out on the state tournament thanks to a rough and tumble field. Edwards, at 5-11, plays point guard for Crete and could play her way into a major Division I look in the future.
2nd Team All-State
Katie Birkel, Lincoln Southeast, 5-8, Sr.
Birkel is an exceptional athlete. On the basketball floor, Birkel averaged 15.7 points per game. Birkel is also eighth in state history in the 400-meter dash in track.
Nicole Brungardt, Norfolk Catholic, 5-9, Sr.
Brungardt led Norfolk Catholic to the Class C1 state crown and averaged 16.6 points per game. Brungardt helped Norfolk Catholic rally from an 11-point deficit in the state final against Wahoo Neumann.
Heather Pohl, Millard West, 6-0, Sr.
Pohl set a school-record in February by scoring 40 points. Pohl led Millard West to the Class A state final by averaging 17.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
KiLee Edson, Fairbury, 5-7, Sr.
Edson was the leading scorer in Class B with an average of 23.6 points per game. Edson is also a 4.0 student in the classroom and was a four-time All-Conference honoree for Fairbury.
Sarah Nelson, Omaha Westside, 6-0, Soph.
Nelson averaged 14.5 points and 10.1 rebounds as a sophomore for Omaha Westside. In a 98-91 victory over Bellevue West, Nelson showed her potential with 33 points, 21 rebounds, and five assists.
3rd Team All-State
Autumn Boyer, South Sioux City, 5-8, Sr.
Boyer, along with Knudson, was an essential part of South Sioux City returning to the pinnacle of the Class B field. Boyer averaged 14 points per game.
Shelly Martin, Omaha Westside, 5-6, Sr.
Martin averaged 16 points per game for the Class A state qualifier. Martin was also an All-State performer in softball for the Warriors.
Megan Allison, Cross County, 5-11, Sr.
Allison was a stat-stuffer for Cross County. Allison averaged 25.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as a senior.
Mercedees Morgan, Bellevue East, 5-11, Jr.
Morgan was the leader for Bellevue East, which was ranked in the top five all season long despite its brutal schedule. Morgan averaged 11 points per game for the Chieftains.
Sara Wilson, Perkins County, 5-9, Jr.
Wilson led Perkins County to the Class C2 state title and averaged 17 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. In the state final, Wilson scored 16 of her 23 points in the first half.
Who’s Next?
Nebraska has plenty of additional talent to go around in 2009.
Maggie Maher, Kearney, 5-8, Jr.
Maher averaged 12.3 points and two steals per game for the Class A semifinalist this past season.
Nicole Arp, Kearney, 5-6, Soph.
Arp averaged 10.9 points and three steals per game and will join Maher to make Kearney dangerous again next season.
Jasmin Corbin, Millard West, 5-7, Jr.
Corbin averaged 10.8 points per game for the Class A finalist. The scoring load should sky rocket with Pohl graduating.
Emily Hauder, Bellevue West, 5-10, Jr.
Hauder averaged 15.3 points per game for her junior season and is one of the top players in the Metro.
Alyssa Kamphaus, Seward, 6-4, Soph.
Kamphaus averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game for the Bluejays as a sophomore.
Emily Cady, Seward, 6-2, Frosh.
Along with Kamphaus, Cady gives Seward another talented post option for a team that will give the likes of Alliance and South Sioux City all it can handle next season.
Kiley Herold, Millard North, 6-1, Jr.
Herold averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Mustangs as a junior.
Melissa MacFarlane, Millard North, 6-7, Jr.
Along with Herold, Millard North could push Lincoln Southeast in 2009. MacFarlane averaged 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds as a junior.
Clare Tokheim, Omaha Marian, 5-6, Soph.
Tokheim is the floor general for the Crusaders and is one of the most highly-touted players in the Omaha area.
Karyn Bixler, Omaha Roncalli, 5-10, Jr.
Bixler averaged 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Crimson Pride as a junior.
Alex Grant, Lincoln Pius X, 5-9, Soph.
Grant was one of the main contributors for the Class B state qualifier last season.
Natalie Braun, Lincoln Pius X, 5-8, Jr.
Braun averaged 10.5 points per game for the Thunderbolts last season.
Hanna Blum, Gretna, 5-9, Jr.
Blum averaged 15 points and five rebounds per game for the Lady Dragons as a junior.
Kelsie Lliteras, Chadron, 6-4, Jr.
Lliteras is another tall power player in the state and should continue to build on her success in the west.
Sara Reeves, Wahoo Neumann, 5-8, Jr.
Reeves led Neumann to the Class C1 state final and averaged 13.4 points per game for her junior campaign.
Katie Sokolowski, Kearney Catholic, 6-1, Soph.
Sokolowski is a double-double machine and averaged 14 points, 11.6 rebounds, and three blocks for her sophomore season.
Traci Keyser, Cambridge, 5-11, Jr.
Keyser averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds for Cambridge. Cambridge was unbeaten heading into the state tournament before losing in the state semifinals.
Jamie Van Kirk, Sutton, 5-8, Frosh.
Van Kirk led Sutton to an upset over Cambridge in the Class C2 state semifinals and averaged 14.1 points per game in her varsity debut.
Paige Frauendorfer, Humphrey, 6-0, Jr.
Frauendorfer averaged 19.2 points and 10 rebounds per contest in her junior campaign for the Class D1 state semifinalist.
Heather Thorson, Mead, 6-2, Jr.
Thorson averaged 22.3 points and 13 rebounds per game for the Raiders as a junior.
Abbey Schueth, Ewing, 5-11, Jr.
Schueth led Ewing to the state championship in Class D2 and averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per outing.
Ashley Axmann, Pleasanton, 5-8, Jr.
Axmann led Pleasanton to the Class D2 state final and averaged 14 points and 9.6 rebounds.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net
