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 made our East Central Nebraska Conference projections for 2025-26.
Paul Dwyer's Elmwood-Murdock Knights are our pick to claim the East Central Nebraska Conference this winter. After going 18-8 a year ago, Elmwood-Murdock returns four players that received Class C2 honorable mention All-State honors in both major newspapers in Nebraska.
Freeman, who split with the Knights a year ago, returns plenty of talent as well and could claim the top spot after posting a 16-9 record in 2024-25. Johnson County Central should make a serious push for the top spot as should Weeping Water.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls East Central Nebraska Conference
Elmwood-Murdock (18-8)
Freeman (16-9)
Johnson County Central (14-9)
Weeping Water (15-10)
Palmyra (11-11)
Falls City (7-17)
Auburn (4-19)
Mead (2-20)
Elmwood-Murdock
2024-25 Record: 18-8
Record Over Past Decade: 164-87
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Paul Dwyer
Top Returning Players:
Senior Brooklyn Mans 5-foot-9 Point Guard
13.8 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 70 Assists | 43 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-KMALand | Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Senior Brooke Goudie 5-foot-8
10.0 Points | 5.6 Rebounds | 69 Assists | 49 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-KMALand
Senior Annie Backemeyer 5-foot-9
8.7 Points | 3.9 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 38 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-KMALand | Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Senior Zoe Zierott 5-foot-6
4.6 Points | 3.1 Rebounds | 59 Assists | 37 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Freeman
2024-25 Record: 16-9
Record Over Past Decade: 133-109
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Travis Andreasen
Top Returning Players:
Junior Savannah Mahler 5-foot-10 Guard
10.7 Points | 4.1 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 25 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Senior Brooklynn Veerhusen 5-foot-6 Guard
11.1 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 54 Assists | 61 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Senior Alicia Johansen 5-foot-11 Forward
5.7 Points | 5.0 Rebounds | 26 Assists | 23 Steals | 17 Blocked Shots
Junior Shiloh Wallman 5-foot-6 Guard
7.6 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 48 Assists | 34 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Johnson County Central
2024-25 Record: 14-9
Record Over Past Decade: 67-153
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Garrett Collin
Top Returning Players:
Senior Harley Lubben 6-foot Small Forward
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-KMALand
Senior Ashley Beethe 6-foot-2 Power Forward
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Molly Weber 5-foot-9
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Sophomore Sophia Schmid 5-foot-7
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Weeping Water
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 157-97
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Marcy Clausen
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kallie Brack 5-foot-2 Point Guard
5.2 Points | 5.8 Rebounds | 82 Assists | 62 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | Honorable Mention All-KMALand
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Senior Taylor Brack 5-foot-7 Guard, Point Guard
5.0 Points | 1.5 Rebounds | 16 Assists | 24 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Palmyra
2024-25 Record: 11-11
Record Over Past Decade: 49-161
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Braston Maibaum
Top Returning Players:
Senior Grace Green Point Guard
6.9 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 38 Assists | 22 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Sophomore Xylie Badertscher 5-foot-3 Point Guard
5.3 Points | 2.4 Rebounds | 12 Assists | 22 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Falls City
2024-25 Record: 7-17
Record Over Past Decade: 95-135
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Don Hogue
Top Returning Players:
Senior Carlea Dunkhas 5-foot-8
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Auburn
2024-25 Record: 4-19
Record Over Past Decade: 145-94
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Grant Cole
Top Returning Players:
Senior Addison Darnell
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-KMALand
Senior Ariale Franke
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Mead
2024-25 Record: 2-20
Record Over Past Decade: 76-145
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Lyle Havelka
Top Returning Players:
Senior Beth Brennan 5-foot-5 Power Forward
5.2 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 15 Assists | 21 Steals | 14 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Sophomore Jersey O'Brien 5-foot-5 Guard
3.4 Points | 3.5 Rebounds | 14 Assists | 24 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
