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.
With Second Team Class C2 All-State Honoree Easton Buss, Keegan White and Owen Buss leading the way, Freeman appears to be the team to beat in the ECNC.
Not to be overlooked, however, is Auburn and Johnson County Central who will have something to say about the ECNC race before sub-district play begins in February. Mead is no slouch either.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Boys East Central Nebraska Conference
Freeman (24-2)
Auburn (20-5)
Johnson County Central (16-9)
Mead (14-10)
Elmwood-Murdock (14-12)
Palmyra (5-18)
Weeping Water (8-16)
Falls City (0-23)
Freeman
2024-25 Record: 24-2
Record Over Past Decade: 195-60
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in C2 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Jim McLaughlin
Top Returning Players:
Senior Eaton Buss | 6-foot | Guard
13.1 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 63 Assists | 49 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Second Team Class C2 Omaha World Herald | First Team Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-East Central Nebraska Conference
Senior Keegan White | 6-foot-7 | Forward
8.4 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 4 Assists | 6 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-East Central Nebraska Conference
Senior Owen Buss | 5-foot-10 | Guard
5.1 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 75 Assists | 24 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Auburn
2024-25 Record: 20-5
Record Over Past Decade: 210-56
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jim Weeks
Top Returning Players:
Brenton Wenzl | Point Guard
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-East Central Nebraska Conference | HM All-KMALand
Johnson County Central
2024-25 Record: 16-9
Record Over Past Decade: 124-109
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kirk Faris
Top Returning Players:
Senior Wes Swanson | Point Guard
16.3 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 66 Assists | 31 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-East Central Nebraska Conference | Second Team All-KMALand
Senior Jack Waring
6.4 Points | 2.9 Rebounds | 52 Assists | 22 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-East Central Nebraska Conference
Mead
2024-25 Record: 14-10
Record Over Past Decade: 155-91
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Josh Luth
Top Returning Players:
Senior Isaac Crouch | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard
17.5 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 63 Assists | 45 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | Second Team All-East Central Nebraska Conference
Senior Brady Gartner | 6-foot-4 | Small Forward
11.4 Points | 7.0 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 24 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area
Elmwood-Murdock
2024-25 Record: 14-12
Record Over Past Decade: 145-108
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class D1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Lance Steffen
Top Returning Players:
Senior Dashiell Coleman | 6-foot
8.5 Points | 7.2 Rebounds | 191 Assists | 35 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All Omaha-Area | Third Team All-East Central Nebraska Conference
Honorable Mention All-KMALand
Junior Carson Towle | 6-foot-2
5.0 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 20 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Junior Clayton Fletcher | 6-foot-2
8.5 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 34 Assists | 13 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area | HM All-East Central Nebraska Conference
Palmyra
2024-25 Record: 5-18
Record Over Past Decade: 100-123
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Zach Wemhoff
Top Returning Players:
Senior Harrison Boyte
12.4 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 42 Assists | 35 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-East Central Nebraska Conference | HM All-KMALand
Junior Kobee Martin | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
7.4 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 33 Steals | 14 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-KMALand
Sophomore Kade Kassebaum | 6-foot
5.1 Points | 1.8 Rebounds | 21 Assists | 10 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Weeping Water
2024-25 Record: 8-16
Record Over Past Decade: 63-170
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Brent Smith
Top Returning Players:
Junior Keegan Wipf-Dieter | 6-foot
2.9 Points | 1.5 Rebounds | 8 Assists | 2 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Jace McGill | 5-foot-10
1.7 Points | 0.7 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 8 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Falls City
2024-25 Record: 0-23
Record Over Past Decade: 89-140
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jaxson Balm
Top Returning Players:
Junior Paxton Armbruster | 5-foot-9
7.4 Points | 1.3 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 15 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
