Nebraska's Top 10 girls high school basketball turnarounds

Walking on cloud nine may take up a lot of Donnie Johnson's time this winter. Following a season in which Omaha Northwest posted a 3-20 mark, the first year coach has been on the plus side in the win column this year.

Sitting 9-5 through last weekend's contests, Johnson and company have reversed Husky fortunes from a year ago, and are playing at a high level in 2015-16, earning Northwest this week's top spot in the Nebraska Top 10 for girls basketball turnarounds.

Following the Huskies, and rounding out the top five are Auburn, Kenesaw, Anselmo-Merna and Kimball. Class B McCook and Class D-2 Bloomfield, meanwhile, are on their heels.


1. Omaha Northwest
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 26th (3-20)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 12th (9-5)

The Huskies have tripled their win total from a year ago, already, and are looking for more. De'Arya Davis leads the way for Johnson, scoring 11.2 points, ripping down 3.2 rebounds and swiping 2.1 steals per game.

2. Auburn
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 45th (9-15)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class C1 Rating (Record): 22nd (13-3)

After beginning the season with three wins in six contests, Holly Rieschick's club has now won 10 straight. Freshman Ashley Teten averages 11.3 points an outing to lead the Bulldogs.

3. Kenesaw
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 39th (8-12)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D1 Rating (Record): 15th (13-4)

Winners of eight of their last 10 games, the Blue Devils are almost 10 games above .500 after posting an 8-12 mark a year ago. Senior Brielle Schneider has a solid stat line after scoring 15.6 points, pulling down 4.8 rebounds and stealing 4.6 enemy balls an outing.

4. Anselmo-Merna (Merna)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 34th (8-14)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D2 Rating (Record): 16th (11-4)

Following a 3-2 start, the Coyotes have reeled off six straight wins and eight triumphs in their last 10 contests. Renae Finney, a 5-11 senior post, leads the way with 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and a blocked shot per game.

5. Kimball
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 25th (11-13)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class C1 Rating (Record): 14th (13-2)

Chauncey Pedersen's club won six straight contests to open the season before losing back-to-back road battles to Sidney (52-47) and Mitchell (44-42). The Longhorns have now won seven straight. Senior Danika Daum, a 6-foot post, is putting together one of the state's top stat lines of 19.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and a blocked shot an outing.

6. McCook
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 30th (6-18)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class B Rating (Record): 21st (10-8)

Despite winning just three of their first eight games, the Bison have turned their season around, reeling off seven wins in their last 10 tries. McCook should be favored in it's final six regular season games and could head into postseason play sporting a 16-8 mark, or 10 wins more than they secured all of last year.

7. Bloomfield
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 38th (8-15)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D2 Rating (Record): 21st (10-6)

Recent struggles don't take anything away from this Bees turnaround. Bloomfield may have won two of their last five, but they've already won more games than they did a year ago. Junior Sarah Casteneda leads the way for Terri Mlady's club with 17.5 points, an assist, 8.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and close to a blocked shot per game.

8. Cedar Catholic (Hartington)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 17th (9-13)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class C2 Rating (Record): 10th (12-5)

Back-to-back losses to Pender (38-32) and Louisville (66-52) in late December may have put a damper on Hartington Cedar Catholic's 6-1 start to the 2015-16 season. But the slow down was only temporary, as the Trojans have won six of eight contests since. Mallorie Steffen leads a balanced attack with 10 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

9. Lawrence-Nelson (Nelson)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 24th (10-15)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D1 Rating (Record): 20th (11-5)

Following a so-so 5-4 start, the Raiders are building momentum after winning six of their last seven contests. No one averages double-digits for Raiders head coach Cathy Biltoft. But Cherokee Frahm-Thayer does post 8.3 points, 2.1 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 3.1 steals per outing.

10. Heartland (Henderson)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 40th (9-15)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D1 Rating (Record): 14th (10-6)

With just four regular season games and the Southern Nebraska Conference tournament remaining Greg Veerhusen‘s club is looking to turn three losses in four games into plenty of Sub-District momentum. Sophomore Taylor Quiring, who scored a season high 24 points January 7 in a 67-40 win over Riverside, leads the way for the Huskies averaging 13.7 points per game.