Nebraska's Top 10 boys basketball turnarounds

Video: Highlights of Lewiston's Emilio Gonzales

Ryan Thomas has got to be all smiles this winter. After watching his Lewiston boys basketball program struggle through an 0-22 campaign a year ago, Thomas has masterminded one of the great basketball turnarounds in Nebraska prep sports history.

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

Following the Tigers, and rounding out this week's Top 5 are Wauneta-Palisade, North Bend Central, Gordon-Rushville and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge at Nos. 2-3-4-5. Class A Fremont and C1 Syracuse, meanwhile, are on their heels.


1. Lewiston
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 39th (0-22)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D2 Rating (Record): 15th (9-5)

After going winless a year ago, Lewiston has bounced back nicely in 2015-16, moving up to 15th in the latest Class D2 MaxPreps rankings. The Tigers have won four of their last five contests, including two of three in the always-tough MUDECAS Conference tournament. Dalton Anderson leads the way with 13.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The 6-1 senior also produces 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals a contest.

2. Wauneta-Palisade (Wauneta)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 50th (5-17)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D2 Rating (Record): 12th (9-3)

Greg Gaston is averaging 19.6 points an outing, while also dishing out 4.3 assists, swiping 4.5 enemy balls and pulling in four rebounds per contest. After dropping close contests to Dundy County-Stratton and Arapahoe in mid-December to fall to 3-2, the Broncos have responded by winning six of their last seven contests.

3. North Bend Central
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 40th (7-15)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class C1 Rating (Record): 12th (11-1)

Led by Jake Wieftfeld's 23.7 points per game and 86 percent shooting from the stripe, The Tigers are off to a fast start this winter. After falling to Twin River 59-46 on the road in the opener, the Tigers have come out victorious in each of their last 11 contests.

4. Gordon-Rushville (Gordon)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 53rd (4-16)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class C1 Rating (Record): 22nd (8-3)

Ryan Schwarting's 14.3 scoring average leads the way for a roster that carries four players averaging seven or more points per outing. The 5-9 senior has also been credited with four assists, a couple of steals and more than a pair of rebounds per contest. After holding their head above water at 4-3 in late December, the Mustangs have won four contests in a row.

5. Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (Laurel)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 28th (9-16)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class C2 Rating (Record): 15th (11-2)

The highest scoring team on this list, the Bears have rebounded from last year's 9-16 mark. After beginning the season with four straight wins, before losing two of three, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge is now in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and sits 15th in the latest Class C2 MaxPreps ratings. Dillan Wolfgram leads the way with his 25.6 points per game as well as two assists, a pair of steals and nearly five rebounds per contest.

6. Fremont
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 17th (10-14)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 2nd (12-1)

The lone blemish for the Tigers is a 71-58 setback to Lincoln East last month. Mark Williams' club opened with eight wins, and now has been triumphant in four straight contests. Ryan Williams is almost an instant double-double for the Tigers with his 19.8 points and 11.2 rebounds a game. The 6-8 senior post is also responsible for 2.5 assists, a steal and 1.2 blocked shots per outing.

7. Syracuse
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 33rd (8-15)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class C1 Rating (Record): 6th (10-3)

Following a 5-3 start, Syracuse blasted off and now sits in the midst of a five game winning streak. Through 11 games, Tanner Harsin has been rough on Rocket opposition as his 13.5 points per contest illustrates. The 5-11 shooting guard is also good for 2.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals an outing.

8. Sterling
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 29th (10-11)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D2 Rating (Record): 5th (14-2)

Narrow losses to Falls City Sacred Heart and Parkview Christian by a combined 10 points is all that stands in the way of a Jets clean slate. Sterling has won seven straight contests to start the new year. Dylan Benson is the top gun for Sterling this winter, at least on the offensive end of his stat line, at 13.7 points per game. Benson is also willing to crash the boards, clearing six rebounds an outing.

9. Lyons-Decatur Northeast (Lyons)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 24th (8-14)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class D1 Rating (Record): 15th (9-2)

Class D2 powers Bancroft-Rosalie and Mead took wins from Lyons-Decatur Northeast so far this season. But everybody else? They've faltered. The Cougars have come out victorious in nine of their last 10 contests. At just a shade below 21 points a game, Alec Anderson is one of the top scorers in the Cornhusker State. But his game doesn't stop there. The 6-3 senior also gets to nearly nine boards, blocks a couple of shots and swipes 1.2 enemy balls per contest.

10. Pius X (Lincoln)
Final 2014-15 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 20th (8-14)
2015-16 MaxPreps Class A Rating (Record): 5th (8-2)

Playing mostly a Class B schedule, the Thunderbolts are off to a fast start so far, losing only to Elkhorn South and Gretna through 10 games. The Thunderbolts struggled in Class B a year ago, but are doing well following a jump to Class A this winter.