High school girls basketball: Nebraska's 10 toughest schedules

Aaron Carlson's Wayne squad has faced Cornhusker State's hardest slate this season.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Dean Backes
By
Jan 27, 2023, 8:45am
Some Nebraska high school girls basketball teams have taken to heart the cliché, "You've got to beat the best to be the best." And while some programs have met that theory with plenty of success, most have not.

As we dove into our Nebraska high school girls basketball rankings, and sifted through the strength of schedule data, we discovered that some of the Cornhusker State's premier basketball programs play schedules that match their own level of play.

Wayne, the No. 1 team in this week's Top 10, is the 16th-ranked club in Class C1 and the No. 65 squad in the entire state of Nebraska in the latest MaxPreps girls basketball rankings, which came out Thursday.

The Blue Devils have gone 9-9 against a schedule that features 13 teams with winning records so far this season. Aaron Carlson's squad has fallen victim to North Bend Central (39-27), Guardian Angels Central Catholic (47-33), Crofton (52-40), Pender (57-33), Ponca (54-37), Wahoo (49-35) and Cedar Catholic (56-47), all MaxPreps Nebraska Top 25 clubs.

Sitting second this week is the Cornhusker State's top-ranked squad North Bend Central who sports a 15-1 record. The Tigers have competed against a slate featuring 12 teams with winning records and are 4-0 against teams ranked in the MaxPreps Nebraska Top 25.

Boone Central and Millard West weigh in at Nos. 3 and No. 4 respectively. Ten of Boone Central's 15 foes are on their way to winning seasons while eight of Millard West's opponents have put together above average winning percentages. Class C1 No. 12 Grand Island Central Catholic rounds out the Top 5. The Crusaders have taken the court against nine winning programs.

Three of the school's represented this week are ranked No. 1 in their respective classes while five of this week's Top 10 programs are ranked in their classification's Top 10.

Classes A, C1 and C2 are all represented in this week's Top 10. But that doesn't mean teams in Classes B, D1 and D2 aren't competing against brutal schedules.

Waverly represents Class B after crashing the boards with eight teams that have produced winning records through Waverly's first 13 contests. Norfolk Catholic has played Class D1's toughest slate while Howells-Dodge has gone up against the toughest schedule in all of Class D2.

MaxPreps strength of schedule rating was used as the basis for this week's Top 10. In the case of a tie, the team with the highest opponent winning percentage earned the higher ranking. Each team's power ranking was taken following last weekend's action.

Check out Nebraska's Top 10 toughest girls basketball schedules below. We have listed the school, its record through last weekend, the opponent's combined won-loss record, the team's average scoring differential and MaxPreps' strength of schedule rating for that team as of Tuesday.

Lines two and beyond were reserved for each school's results against teams ranked in the MaxPreps Nebraska Top 25.

Nebraska's Top 10 toughest girls basketball schedules

1. Wayne (9-9) | 194-93 | 40.9-42.2 | 10.9
No. 1 North Bend Central (27-39), No. 3 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (33-47), No. 7 Crofton (40-52), No. 14 Pender (33-57), No. 19 Ponca (37-54), No. 22 Wahoo (35-49), No. 23 Cedar Catholic (47-56).

2. North Bend Central (North Bend) (15-1) | 163-84 | 49.5-34.1 | 10.9
No. 3 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (39-28), No. 14 Pender (44-36), No. 17 Columbus Scotus (40-28), No. 18 Milford (46-40).

3. Boone Central (Albion) (5-10) | 148-87 | 39.8-42.2 | 10.1
No. 3 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (36-60), No. 7 Crofton (32-51), No. 11 Lincoln Christian (30-36), No. 12 Hastings Adams Central (32-64), No. 17 Columbus Scotus (35-46), No. 23 Cedar Catholic (26-33).

4. Millard West (Omaha) (7-6) | 122-57 | 50.2-48.2 | 10.0
No. 4 Millard South (42-60), No. 8 Bellevue West (37-39), No. 10 Millard North (39-65).

5. Grand Island Central Catholic (Grand Island) (10-5) | 140-82 | 44.3-37.0 | 9.4
No. 11 Lincoln Christian (27-40), No. 12 Hastings Adams Central (50-49), No. 17 Columbus Scotus (47-57), No. 20 York (44-49), No. 21 Centura (35-38).

6. Lincoln Lutheran (Lincoln) (7-9) | 133-102 | 39.6-41.1 | 9.4
No. 1 Estherville Lincoln Center (Iowa) (31-76), No. 2 Omaha Skutt Catholic (31-59), No. 11 Lincoln Christian (37-63), No. 18 Milford (30-35), No. 22 Wahoo (25-37).

7. Millard South (Omaha) (15-2) | 147-91 | 70.1-49.7 | 9.2
No. 5 Elkhorn North (63-65, OT), No. 8 Bellevue West (53-55), No. 8 Bellevue West (93-91).

8. Scotus (Columbus) (12-4) | 152-97 | 44.9-32.6 | 9.2
No. 1 North Bend Central (28-40), No. 3 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (26-44), No. 11 Lincoln Christian (32-37).

9. Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point) (15-1) | 148-105 | 51.0-33.9 | 8.9
No. 1 North Bend Central (28-39), No. 7 Crofton (45-31), No. 17 Columbus Scotus (44-26), No. 23 Hartington Cedar Catholic (48-29).

10. Battle Creek (8-8) | 153-95 | 40.9-40.1 | 8.6
No. 1 North Bend Central (31-50), No. 3 Guardian Angels Central Catholic (35-46), No. 7 Crofton (28-47), No. 17 Columbus Scotus (36-46).

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