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 Niobrara Valley Conference projections for 2025-26.
Led by First Team All-State forward Gracie Williamson, St. Mary's head coach Traci Berg returns three players that carried scoring averages in double figures during a 24-3 run through its 2024-25 schedule that ended in the Class D2 State Basketball Tournament quarterfinals.
A 5-foot-8 senior, Williamson averaged 14.6 points and 7.0 rebounds a game last season to go along with 70 assists, 74 steals and eight blocked shots for the year. Junior Adyson Peterson contributed 12.8 points and 4.6 boards a game while Pyper Ickes, also a junior, added 11.5 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Ickes also hit St. Mary's foes for 169 assists, 99 steals and eight blocked shots on the year while Peterson was credited with 41 assists and 53 steals. Senior Emerson Mlnarik produced a 2024-25 stat line that read 5.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 24 assists, 46 steals and 38 blocked shots.
Elgin Public/Pope John went 18-6 a year ago and could give St. Mary's a run with the return of juniors Braelyn Martinsen and Madelyn Kurpgeweit and senior Kayton Zwingman. Martinsen leads the way after averaging 12.0 points a contest a year ago. Kurpgeweit and Zwingman added 11.0 and 6.1 points a contest respectively.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls Niobrara Valley Conference
St. Mary's (24-3)
Elgin Public/Pope John (18-6)
Santee (13-8)
Niobrara-Verdigre (17-9)
North Central (14-12)
Ainsworth (4-16)
Stuart (16-9)
Chambers/Wheeler Central (11-13)
Boyd County (0-22)
St. Mary's
2024-25 Record: 24-3
Record Over Past Decade: 154-87
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class D2 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Traci Berg
Top Returning Players:
Senior Gracie Williamson | 5-foot-8 | Forward
14.6 Points | 7.0 Rebounds | 70 Assists | 74 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
First Team Class D2 Omaha World Herald | First Team Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Adyson Peterson | 5-foot-5 | Guard
12.8 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 41 Assists | 53 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Pyper Ickes | 5-foot-7 | Guard
11.5 Points | 5.4 Rebounds | 169 Assists | 99 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Emerson Mlnarik | 5-foot-9 | Small Forward
5.6 Points | 5.4 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 46 Steals | 38 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Elgin Public/Pope John
2024-25 Record: 18-6
Record Over Past Decade: 178-65
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Randy Eisenhauer
Top Returning Players:
Junior Braelyn Martinsen
12.0 Points
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Madelyn Kurpgeweit
11.0 Points
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Kayton Zwingman | 5-foot-7
6.1 Points
Santee
2024-25 Record: 13-8
Record Over Past Decade: 80-116
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Byron Tuttle
Top Returning Players:
Senior Miley Pike | 5-foot-8 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
21.5 Points | 7.6 Rebounds | 28 Assists | 68 Steals | 23 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Talia Saunsoci | 5-foot-7 | Small Forward
10.8 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 44 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Aubrinee Tuttle | 5-foot-7 | Shooting Guard
10.5 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 74 Assists | 100 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Alexiah RedOwl | 5-foot-2 | Shooting Guard
5.5 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 37 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Niobrara-Verdigre
2024-25 Record: 17-9
Record Over Past Decade: 110-124
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Todd Runnels
Top Returning Players:
Junior Delani Runnels | 5-foot-6 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
14.6 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 56 Assists | 83 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class C2 Omaha World Herald
Senior Taylen Stark | 5-foot-10 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
11.2 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 41 Assists | 91 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class C2 Omaha World Herald
North Central
2024-25 Record: 14-12
Record Over Past Decade: 177-68
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: John Klosterman
Top Returning Players:
Senior Reece Taylor | 5-foot-7 | Guard
5.9 Points | 2.2 Rebounds | 43 Assists | 38 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Junior Mya Lewis | 5-foot-8 | Small Forward
14.5 Points | 7.9 Rebounds | 51 Assists | 102 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
Senior Karlene Kepler | 5-foot-10 | Power Forward
9.8 Points | 6.8 Rebounds | 17 Assists | 19 Steals | 15 Blocked Shots
Ainsworth
2024-25 Record: 4-16
Record Over Past Decade: 82-142
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Sandi Nelson
Top Returning Players:
Junior Willa Flynn | 5-foot-7
7.2 Points | 8.0 Rebounds | 11 Assists | 10 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class C2 Omaha World Herald
Junior Gracyn Painter | 5-foot-6 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
17.2 Points | 11.0 Rebounds | 68 Assists | 37 Steals | 24 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Stuart
2024-25 Record: 16-9
Record Over Past Decade: 111-112
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Colin Schurman
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Annie Ludwig
6.4 Points | 6.1 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 15 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Kyra Tubbs | 5-foot-5
9.1 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 30 Assists | 32 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Chambers/Wheeler Central
2024-25 Record: 11-13
Record Over Past Decade: 152-90
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Andrea Pelster
Top Returning Players:
Junior Rose Woeppel | 5-foot-9 | Forward
2.7 Points | 6.8 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 19 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
Senior Paige Wolinski | 5-foot-2 | Guard
3.9 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 42 Assists | 33 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Senior Savannah Hansen | 5-foot-8 | Forward | Center
2.1 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 12 Assists | 19 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
Boyd County
2024-25 Record: 0-22
Record Over Past Decade: 98-124
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: D. Russell Lechtenberg
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Elly Zeisler | 5-foot-10 | Power Forward
4.9 Points | 7.2 Rebounds | 11 Assists | 17 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
Junior Jaylee Lechtenberg | 5-foot-8 | Power Forward
3.0 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 24 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
