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 Nebraska Capitol Conference projections for 2025-26.
After winning 45 basketball games over the last two seasons, and going 0-2 at the state basketball tournament, Douglas County West has the look of a team that's ready for a strong postseason run. Falcon head coach Chip Daehling returns three players that earned postseason honors and averaged at least 8.5 points a game.
It all starts with senior Nolan Asher who was named to the Nebraska Capitol Conference's First Team All-Conference squad. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard/small forward averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds a game while posting 70 assists, 44 steals and 18 blocked shots a year ago when Douglas County West went 22-5.
Seniors Trey Schieber and Zane Wohlers are back after scoring 9.0 and 8.5 points a night for the Falcons as juniors respectively and combined for 6.6 boards a contest. Schieber contributed 49 assists and 24 steals on the year while Wohlers buried opponents with 48 assists, 20 steals and 13 blocked shots.
Head coach Jesse Gardner returns a solid quartet as Yutan looks to improve on its 19-6 record from a year ago. Junior Ryan McGuire returns after averaging 11.2 points and 3.9 rebounds a game to earn First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference honors. The 6-foot guard also produced 58 assists and 21 steals.
Seniors Carson Jury and Maddox Wentworth and junior Nathan Daniell combined for nearly 20 points a contest last winter. Fort Calhoun returns a ton of experience as well after going 13-11 in 2024-25.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Nebraska Capitol Conference
Douglas County West (22-5)
Yutan (19-6)
Fort Calhoun (13-11)
Arlington (13-11)
Syracuse (15-10)
Louisville (10-14)
Conestoga (9-14)
Logan View-Scribner-Snyder (6-17)
Raymond Central (5-18)
Douglas County West
2024-25 Record: 22-5
Record Over Past Decade: 152-90
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class B Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Chip Daehling
Top Returning Players:
Senior Nolan Asher | 6-foot-4 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
13.1 Points | 7.3 Rebounds | 70 Assists | 44 Steals | 18 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference
Senior Trey Schieber | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
9.0 Points | 1.8 Rebounds | 49 Assists | 24 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Senior Zane Wohlers | 6-foot-5 | Power Forward | Shooting Guard
8.5 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 48 Assists | 20 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Yutan
2024-25 Record: 19-6
Record Over Past Decade: 182-75
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class C2 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Jesse Gardner
Top Returning Players:
Junior Ryan Maguire | 6-foot | Guard
11.2 Points | 3.9 Rebounds | 58 Assists | 21 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference
Senior Carson Jury | 5-foot-10 | Guard
8.9 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 60 Assists | 18 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Senior Maddox Wentworth | 5-foot-10 | Guard
5.5 Points | 3.5 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 19 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Junior Nathan Daniell | 5-foot-11 | Forward
5.3 Points | 4.4 Rebounds | 35 Assists | 19 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Fort Calhoun
2024-25 Record: 13-11
Record Over Past Decade: 136-103
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Beau Schwenka
Top Returning Players:
Senior Adam Elofson | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
8.4 Points | 5.0 Rebounds | 94 Assists | 30 Steals | 16 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | Second Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference
Senior Kade Foy | 6-foot
9.5 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 31 Assists | 19 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | HM All-Nebraska Capitol Conference
Senior Eli Tinkham | 5-foot-10 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
7.1 Points | 3.5 Rebounds | 43 Assists | 39 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Senior Blake Welchert | 5-foot-9
5.3 Points | 2.1 Rebounds | 67 Assists | 32 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Senior Colby Bentley | 6-foot-3 | Power Forward | Center
7.1 Points | 5.1 Rebounds | 4 Assists | 8 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Senior Dylan Keyser | 6-foot-1 | Center
6.1 Points | 4.7 Rebounds | 4 Assists | 11 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Arlington
2024-25 Record: 13-11
Record Over Past Decade: 86-148
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jake Polk
Top Returning Players:
Senior Oliver Ladehoff | 5-foot-11 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
14.3 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 81 Assists | 16 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | Second Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference
Syracuse
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 109-132
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Phil Janssen
Top Returning Players:
Senior Will Janssen | 5-foot-10
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference | Third Team All-KMALand
Senior Maxwell Parde | 6-foot-3
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-KMALand
Louisville
2024-25 Record: 10-14
Record Over Past Decade: 114-129
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Tyler Weatherholt
Top Returning Players:
Senior Jase Ostblom | 6-foot-4 | Power Forward
14.5 Points | 7.4 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 22 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference
Third Team All-KMALand
Junior Keegan Witte | 6-foot-3 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
9.0 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 66 Assists | 28 Steals | 11 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area | HM All-KMALand
Senior Brady Abbott | 5-foot-10 | Point Guard
5.5 Points | 1.3 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 16 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Conestoga
2024-25 Record: 9-14
Record Over Past Decade: 115-123
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jason Ahrens
Top Returning Players:
Senior Cole Merwald | 6-foot-1 | Guard
8.2 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 16 Assists | 25 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM All-KMALand
Senior Mason Merwald | 6-foot-1 | Guard
7.4 Points | 2.2 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 29 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM All-KMALand
Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
2024-25 Record: 6-17
Record Over Past Decade: 132-111
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jake Scheef
Top Returning Players:
Junior Grayson Kraus | 6-foot
18.0 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 12 Assists | 26 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference
Raymond Central
2024-25 Record: 5-18
Record Over Past Decade: 38-190
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Ben Svehla
Top Returning Players:
Senior Tavion Johnson | 6-foot-3
7.4 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 15 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
