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 Goldenrod Conference projections for 2025-26.
Going into last season's Class D1-6 District Final against Hartington Cedar Catholic, Nebraska Christian had won six straight basketball games and hadn't lost in nearly a month. The Trojans ruined the party, however, and extended the Eagles' state basketball tournament drought to three seasons.
But don't feel sorry for Nebraska Christian as they head into the 2025-26 season. Erin Mankin returns plenty of talent from last season's club as the Eagles prepare to move up to Class C2. Senior Sheridan Falk put on a show as a junior a year ago, scoring 22.2 points and ripping down 7.4 rebounds a game for the 19-7 Eagles.
The Second Team Class D1 All-State honoree in both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star was also credited with 27 assists, 87 steals and eight blocked shots on the year. Falk also earned First Team All-Goldenrod Conference honors and claimed a spot on the First Team All-Heartland Super Squad.
Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference honoree Taytum Perdew, a senior, also returns for Mankin after scoring nearly six points and pulling down 3.5 rebounds a night last winter. Perdew dished out 87 assists, stole 58 enemy balls and blocked a shot in 2024-25.
Ready to make another deep postseason run is Archangels Catholic who will be competing for their eighth straight trip to Nebraska's version of March Madness (as Humphrey St. Francis and Archangels Catholic). Leading the way for Bryan Reichmuth's Defenders are seniors Kali Jarosz and Jayda Krings.
Jarosz scored 7.1 points and ripped down 4.2 boards a night to earn Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference honors while Krings battled for 6.8 points and 2.2 boards. The duo combined for 114 assists and 148 steals and Krings blocked five shots.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls Goldenrod Conference
Nebraska Christian (19-7)
Archangels Catholic (21-7)
Grand Island Lutheran (11-13)
Burwell (13-10)
Central Valley (7-18)
Fullerton (9-15)
Newman Grove/St. Edward (2-20)
Elba (5-18)
Riverside (6-17)
Palmer (6-14)
Nebraska Christian
2024-25 Record: 19-7
Record Over Past Decade: 154-86
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Erin Mankin
Top Returning Players:
Senior Sheridan Falk
22.2 Points | 7.4 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 87 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
Second Team Class D1 Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Goldenrod Conference | First Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Taytum Perdew
5.9 Points | 3.5 Rebounds | 87 Assists | 58 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Archangels Catholic
2024-25 Record: 21-7
Record Over Past Decade: 208-64
2024-25 Postseason: 2-1 | Third Place Class D2
Head Coach: Bryan Reichmuth
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kali Jarosz | 5-foot-7 | Forward
7.1 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 61 Assists | 69 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference
Senior Jayda Krings | 5-foot-6 | Guard
6.8 Points | 2.2 Rebounds | 53 Assists | 79 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Grand Island Lutheran
2024-25 Record: 11-13
Record Over Past Decade: 73-146
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jaydon Owen
Top Returning Players:
Junior Ella Francl
8.3 Points | 8.2 Rebounds | 35 Assists | 49 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Abigail Uden
7.5 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 33 Assists | 66 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Emma Koch
8.9 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 34 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Abby VanBibber
5.8 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 6 Assists | 24 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Burwell
2024-25 Record: 13-10
Record Over Past Decade: 127-104
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Garrett Mann
Top Returning Players:
Senior Brookelyn Gideon
5.7 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 60 Assists | 35 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Sophomore Laurel Mann
9.3 Points | 5.1 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 31 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Goldenrod Conference
Senior Karsyn Bower
5.7 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 67 Assists | 46 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Central Valley
2024-25 Record: 7-18
Record Over Past Decade: 99-123
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Devon Beck
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Bentleigh Dugan
12.3 Points | 6.4 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 42 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Annaka Wood
9.7 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 82 Assists | 88 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Sophomore Maggie Kriewald
5.4 Points | 5.1 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 28 Rebounds | 3 Blocked Shots
HM All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Taylor McIntyre
5.3 Points | 3.6 Rebounds | 37 Assists | 25 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Fullerton
2024-25 Record: 9-15
Record Over Past Decade: 139-91
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jason Maxfield
Top Returning Players:
Senior Georgia Bridger
5.3 Points | 6.8 Rebounds | 46 Assists | 53 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Newman Grove/St. Edward
2024-25 Record: 2-20
Record Over Past Decade: 82-310
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Brett Miller
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kailey Patzel
15.6 points | 17.5 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 42 Steals | 36 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Goldenrod Conference
Junior Allyx Forre
6.6 Points | 7.6 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 33 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Elba
2024-25 Record: 5-18
Record Over Past Decade: 34-164
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Justin Morrow
Top Returning Players:
Junior Addison Wysocki
13.7 Points | 6.9 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 50 Steals | 22 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior JarahLynn Morrow
8.1 Points | 6.7 Rebounds | 89 Assists | 59 Steals | 19 Blocked Shots
HM All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Valeria Lastra
2.8 Points | 4.9 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 33 Steals | 31 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Riverside
2024-25 Record: 6-17
Record Over Past Decade: 69-150
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kurt Banzhaf
Top Returning Players:
Senior Grace Mahony
8.7 Points | 7.9 Rebounds | 64 Assists | 120 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Tessa Weltruski
6.7 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 21 Assists | 26 Steals | 18 Blocked Shots
Palmer
2024-25 Record: 6-14
Record Over Past Decade: 65-135
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kayla Dobson
Top Returning Players:
Senior Marlea Donahey
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Senior Rose Mamot
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
