Putting together a talent-heavy roster generally goes a long way toward producing deep postseason runs and claiming the hardware that goes along with winning high school basketball state championships. However, there are no guarantees.
Sometimes the hardware is attained simply because the champion gets hot at the right time, sneaks up on the rest of the field and steals the show.
While the usual hombres are once again favorites to win it all in Nebraska, so long as they survive the chaos that is the Nebraska boys state basketball tournament, MaxPreps is taking a look at those Cornhusker State teams that are hot at the moment. Some of the names on our Nebraska Top 10 boys basketball winning streaks post won't surprise our readers — but some may.
Class D1 power North Platte St. Patrick's is currently riding the state's longest winning streak of 20 games. But not by much. Ashland-Greenwood and Kearney Catholic have both won 19 straight contests going into next week's Class C1 State Basketball Tournament.
State qualifier Ogallala was the last team to knock off the Irish, claiming a 66-49 triumph December 14. Omaha Roncalli Catholic and Omaha Skutt Catholic are the last teams to upend Ashland-Greenwood and Kearney Catholic respectively. St. Mary's and Bellevue West round out the Top 5 in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots respectively with 18 and 13-game winning streaks.
Subdistrict action ruffled the feathers of several Nebraska teams this year. Fortunately, they all played in district finals and won. Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family went into its C2-5 bout with Norfolk Catholic sporting a state-leading streak of 28 wins in a row. Norfolk Catholic came away with a 39-36 win over Joe Hesse's Bulldogs. Should both clubs escape first round action at next week's state tournament, they will meet up in the semifinals.
Clinging to a 21-game winning streak, Omaha Skutt Catholic dropped a 57-54 decision to rival Omaha Roncalli Catholic in Class B-3 Subdistrict action. Grand Island Central Catholic upended Amherst 47-38 in C2-10 action to snap Amherst's 14-game win streak while Hyannis saw its 11-game streak of triumphs fall at the hands of Mullen, 47-35.
All six classifications are represented in this week's Top 10.
Twelve boys basketball programs have won nine straight games, or more, to find a spot in our latest Nebraska Top 10 — and they are ready for the rip-roaring postseason basketball fun coming their way at the Nebraska State Basketball Tournament which tips off Monday, Mar. 7 and runs through Saturday's state championship contests.
On the first line we have provided the school with its won-loss record and the winning streak the school is currently on through district action. The second line lists each school's MaxPreps Rankings as of Tuesday and the third line and beyond informs the reader which school handed the hot team its last loss and when.
Bellevue West is riding a 13-game win streak heading into state tournament play.
Photo by Samuel Mfinanga
1. St. Patrick's (North Platte) (23-2) — 20 straight winsClass D1 No. 1 | Nebraska No. 45
Last loss: Ogallala 66-49, Dec. 14.
2. (tie) Ashland-Greenwood (Ashland) (24-1) — 19 straight winsClass C1 No. 2 | Nebraska No. 7
Last loss: Omaha Roncalli Catholic 72-70 in overtime in the Ashland-Greenwood Holiday Tournament, Dec. 28.
2. (tie) Kearney Catholic (Kearney) (25-1) — 19 straight winsClass C1 No. 3 | Nebraska No. 8
Last loss: Omaha Skutt Catholic 35-31, Dec. 18.
4. St. Mary's (O'Neill) (24-2) — 18 straight winsClass D2 No. 2 | Nebraska No. 47
Last loss: Grand Island Central Catholic 58-50 in the Grand Island Central Catholic Holiday Tournament , Dec. 29.
5. Bellevue West (Bellevue) (23-2) — 13 straight winsClass A No. 1 | Nebraska No. 2
Last loss: Gretna 60-49, Jan. 7.
6. Sacred Heart (Falls City) (22-5) — 12 straight winsClass D2 No. 1 | Nebraska No. 33
Last loss: Auburn 55-49, Jan. 18.
7. (tie) Burwell (23-3) — 10 straight winsClass D1 No. 4 | Nebraska No. 92
Last loss: Riverside 58-51 in the Goldenrod Conference Tournament, Jan. 21.
7. (tie) Roncalli Catholic (Omaha) (19-4) — 10 straight winsClass B No. 2 | Nebraska No. 5
Last loss: Omaha Skutt Catholic 57-43 in the River Cities Conference Tournament, Jan. 22.
9. (tie) Grand Island Central Catholic (Grand Island) (22-3) — 9 straight winsClass C2 No. 2 | Nebraska No. 16
Last loss: Hastings St. Cecilia 58-42 in the Centennial Conference Tournament, Jan. 28.
9. (tie) Millard North (Omaha) (23-2) — 9 straight winsClass A No. 2 | Nebraska No. 3
Last loss: Bellevue West 73-64, Jan. 27.
9. (tie) Shelton (19-7) — 9 straight winsClass D2 No. 11 | Nebraska No. 131
Last loss: Blue Hill 53-39, Jan. 28.
9. (tie) Wahoo (23-2) — 9 straight winsClass C1 No. 1 | Nebraska No. 4
Last loss: Wayne 53-50, Jan. 24.
