Nebraska's Top 10 girls basketball games for December

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While many of Nebraska's girls basketball programs are sure to ease into their 2016-17 schedules, produce chemistry and then build momentum down the stretch in an attempt to be playing their best basketball in February and March, plenty of the Cornhusker State's girls basketball programs will be going full steam ahead in the winter sports season's first month.

We have spent the last few days looking over many of the Nebraska girls basketball schedules and came up with our Top 10 girls basketball games for December.

While its true that Fremont, Omaha Northwest and Lincoln Christian will more than likely be competing in some of the month's top games in Phoenix at the Nike Tournament of Champions, we opted not to include the juggernaut tournament in this Top 10 since seedings and pairings won't be available until Dec. 18. However, all three schools do have the talent and experience that could allow for Nebraska to put on a good showing in Phoenix.

Fremont lost four seniors, including Super-State, All-Nebraska performer Rylie Cascio Jensen, who put up 22 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals an outing as a senior. However, Tony Weinandt does return Samantha Shepard, the younger sister of the University of Nebraska's own Jessica Shepard, and four other players that competed in at least 20 contests each a year ago.

Omaha Northwest will take an experienced roster into the national tournament, which will pit 84 teams from 19 states and Canada. The Huskies return their entire roster for coach Donnie Johnson after his program produced a solid 15-9 mark in Nebraska's largest classification a year ago.

Lincoln Christian, last year's Class C1 state tournament runner-up, brings back nearly its entire roster, including all five starters from 2015-16, and added Michelle Gaislerova, a 5-foot, 11-inch senior shooting guard from the Czech Republic who played on her country's national teams. Yeesh, Nick Orduna's club looks to be scary good this season. Now let's take a look at Nebraska's top girls basketball games for the upcoming month.


1. Crofton @ Wynot, Dec. 30
Wynot should be plenty motivated in this game after falling 82-43 to the eventual Class C2 state champion Trojans last year. Cortney Arkfeld, a first team all state selection by the Omaha World Herald a year ago, and her Class D2 state champion teammates have not forgotten. Crofton returns first team all-state selectees Monica Arens and Kelsey Sanger as they prepare for their title defense. Crofton has won five straight Class C2 state championships, while Wynot has also won state titles in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and finished runner-up to Falls City Sacred Heart in 2015.

2. Waverly @ Elkhorn, Dec. 2
The defending Class B runners-up Vikings hired Sterling coach John Cockerill in the offseason. Along with their new headman, Waverly gains the services of his daughter Taylor Cockerill, a 2016 Class D2 all-state selection as a junior, who averaged 18 points a game. Over the summer Taylor Cockerill teamed with Elkhorn's Brooke Carlson on the girls basketball select team Nebraska Lasers. In this battle, Cockerill will oppose Carlson. This early season tussle should be a fun one indeed.

3. Wray (Colo.) @ Dundy County-Stratton (Benkelman), Dec. 20
When the Eagles come calling, Dundy County-Stratton will be hosting one of Colorado's top girls basketball programs when it comes to winning state championships. Wray and Highlands Ranch have both won seven girls state basketball titles in Colorado, second to Eads' nine state championships. Nathan Behlke's club, who fell to Howells-Dodge 54-40 in the Class D1 state quarterfinals last March, won't be intimidated as long as 2016 first team all-state selection Aubrey Frederick is running the show. The Eagles will bring Morgan Smith and Maddie Soehner to this epic state line tussle.

4. Omaha Northwest (Omaha) @ Millard South (Omaha), Dec. 9
As Millard South was dropping a 57-47 semifinal decision to eventual Class A state champion Lincoln East in the second overtime, Omaha Northwest was watching state tournament action from the sideline following a 15-9 campaign. Northwest returns its entire roster, including De'Arya Davis and Jaden Wrightsell, while the Patriots will be led by 2016 second-team All-State selection Grace Rasmussen.

5. Platteview (Springfield) @ Louisville, Dec. 3
Platteview and Louisville fell short of their state championship goals last March when they lost in Class B and Class C1 semifinal contests respectively. In 2016, both clubs are hoping to go one step further and play for state championships. In this game? They just want to win. The Trojans return All-Nebraska and Super-State selectee Payton Brotzki and premier shot blocker Brandis Bridwell, who averaged 2.4 swats a year ago. The Lions are set to go with the return of Maggie Hiatt and Jamie Winkler.

6. Diller-Odell (Odell, Neb.) @ Hanover (Hanover, Kan.), Dec. 17
The Griffin travel across the Kansas state line to battle Sunflower State Class 1A-Division 1 state qualifier Hanover, who dropped a 59-46 decision to Hoxie in one of Kansas' quarterfinal contests. Diller-Odell, meanwhile failed to punch its ticket to Nebraska's March Madness. Madison Jurgensreturns to guide the Griffin again this season following last winter's all-state performance, as does Madison Hajek, who dished out nearly five assists a game in 2016. Hanover will counter with returning all-state selection Ashton Jueneman.

7. Kearney Catholic (Kearney) @ Elm Creek, Dec. 16
The Buffaloe season fell short of state tournament play last March, while Kearney Catholic was bumping Lincoln Christian 39-37 in the Class C1 state title game. Elm Creek, who will be led by the return of Claire Cornell, Kenzie Deyo and Allison Bauer, has the roster to go after the defending champions. The Stars have a fully loaded roster as well with the return of All-Nebraska selectee Kylie Thiele and just about everybody else.

8. Hampton @ Heartland (Henderson), Dec. 10
Hampton dropped a 76-64 affair to the Huskies at home a year ago and would love nothing more than to flip the score on the road in 2016. Both clubs produced winning seasons last winter but failed to play into March. The Hawks return a pair of double-digit scorers, in all-state performer Tristin Mason and Tayler Klassen as well as Madison VanHousen, who came up huge on the boards a year ago. Heartland returns three double figure scorers in Taylor Quiring, Kate Bergen and Bailey Peters.

9. Oakland-Craig (Oakland) @ Howells-Dodge (Howells), Dec. 10
Both of these clubs concluded terrific basketball seasons last winter with state tournament appearances. The Knights fell 57-44 to Hastings St. Cecilia in a Class C2 state quarterfinal, while Howells-Dodge battled its way into the Class D1 state title contest before falling to Emerson-Hubbard 41-38. Oakland-Craig returns second team all-state selection Dacey Nelson. The Jaguars will counter with first team all-stater Sam Brester as well as Kalli Brester.

10. Pender @ Bancroft-Rosalie/Lyons-Decatur Northeast (Bancroft), Dec. 20
While Bancroft-Rosalie was struggling to a 7-14 mark a year ago, Lyons-Decatur Northeast was winning 16 of their 24 contests. Now these two northeast Nebraska schools are merging, and they both bring plenty of talent to the table. Bancroft-Rosalie brings back Paige Peters and Vicki Gatzemeyer, both of whom averaged about 10 points a contest a year ago. Lyons-Decatur standout Lexie Bacon brings back the new basketball program's highest scoring average of 13.3 points a night. With 2016 double figure scorers Kam Anderson, Hallie Ballinger and Amber English in tow, the Pendragons will be a great litmus test as to what kind of season BRLD's inaugural campaign could produce.