After pouring through oodles of statistics, all-state, all-conference and all-area teams, last year's state tournament bracket and plenty of postseason rankings, we have uncovered our LouPlatte Conference projections for 2025-26.
Daniel Negus' 2024-25 Central City Bison fell short of the Class C1 State Basketball Tournament a year ago despite going 23-4 on the year. But 2025-26 may have a completely different ending. Back to dial up another huge season for the Bison are senior Reagan Fousek, juniors Sydni Homolka and Hope Paup and sophomore Journi Schindler.
Fousek and Homolka ripped the cords for about 11 points each while Schindler and Paup scored right around eight points a contest each a year ago.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls LouPlatte Conference
Central City (23-4)
Ord (15-10)
Centura (15-12)
Arcadia-Loup City (15-10)
St. Paul (7-14)
Wood River (7-18)
Ravenna (4-19)
Doniphan-Trumbull (3-19)
Gibbon (2-21)
Central City
2024-25 Record: 23-4
Record Over Past Decade: 109-129
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Daniel Negus
Top Returning Players:
Senior Reagan Fousek | 5-foot-10 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
11.1 Points | 2.4 Rebounds | 88 Assists | 101 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Sydni Homolka | 5-foot-9 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
11.0 Points | 6.3 Rebounds | 69 Assists | 72 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Sophomore Journi Schindler
8.9 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 90 Assists | 91 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Fourth Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Hope Paup | 6-foot-2 | Center
8.8 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 5 Assists | 21 Steals | 22 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Ord
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 168-80
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Ryan Callan
Top Returning Players:
Junior Olivia Lange
7.8 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 14 Assists | 64 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | Hm Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Lillie Shoemaker | 5-foot-8
8.7 Points | 5.1 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 21 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Centura
2024-25 Record: 15-12
Record Over Past Decade: 125-115
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Laethion Brown
Top Returning Players:
Junior Kennedy Davis | 6-foot | Power Forward | Small Forward
11.7 Points | 6.6 Rebounds | 55 Assists | 53 Steals | 114 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Sophomore Taya Taukiuvea | Center | Power Forward
11.2 Points | 6.6 Rebounds | 41 Assists | 71 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Arcadia-Loup City
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 85-137
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Caitlin Orton
Top Returning Players:
Junior Tayler Obermiller | 5-foot-8 | Guard
6.8 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 42 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
St. Paul
2024-25 Record: 7-14
Record Over Past Decade: 117-118
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kevin Brandt
Top Returning Players:
Junior Zaya Lewis | 5-foot-7
4.2 Points | 7.0 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 64 Steals | 17 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Aubree Fitzgerald | 5-foot-10 | Shooting Guard
9.4 Points | 4.4 Rebounds | 14 Assists | 29 Steals | 54 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Wood River
2024-25 Record: 7-18
Record Over Past Decade: 129-116
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Phil Smith
Top Returning Players:
Junior Lainey Paulk | 5-foot-9
12.6 Points | 5.9 Rebounds | 90 Assists | 85 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Ravenna
2024-25 Record: 4-19
Record Over Past Decade: 159-90
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Eric Miller
Top Returning Players:
Senior Breckyn Wick | 5-foot-8
6.5 Points | 5.7 Rebounds | 49 Assists | 39 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Doniphan-Trumbull
2024-25 Record: 3-19
Record Over Past Decade: 84-134
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Carrie Kuhlmann
Top Returning Players:
Senior Charlee Richter | 5-foot-10
13.2 Points | 8.4 Rebounds | 42 Assists | 49 Steals | 17 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | Third Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Gibbon
2024-25 Record: 2-21
Record Over Past Decade: 33-184
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Klesha Miller
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kassandra Trevino | 5-foot-6
9.4 Points | 5.9 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 55 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Junior Claire Clark | 5-foot-2 | Shooting Guard
7.0 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 36 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
