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 Eastern Midlands Conference projections for 2025-26.
With the return of First Team All-State honoree Chris Garner, Jr. and First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference selectee Evan Greenfield, Norris, who went 25-3 and exited the Class B State Basketball Tournament in the semifinals a year ago, looks like the team to beat again in the Eastern Midlands Conference.
But it won't be easy!
Elkhorn North returns First Team All-Stater Sutton Piatkowski, Kellen Murphy and Nike Orgilbold from a 19-6 squad that also bowed out of the Class B State Tournament field in the semifinals while Drayke Brown is back for Gretna East who tallied a 17-8 record a year ago following a loss in the Class B State Tournament quarterfinals.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Boys Eastern Midlands Conference
Norris (25-3)
Elkhorn North (19-6)
Gretna East (17-8)
Bennington (16-9)
Elkhorn (11-11)
Hastings (12-11)
Blair (10-13)
Gretna (11-15)
Lincoln Standing Bear (6-16)
Waverly (5-18)
Lincoln Northwest (3-19)
Norris
2024-25 Record: 25-3
Record Over Past Decade: 160-90
2024-25 Postseason: 1-1 | Lost in Class B Semifinals
Head Coach: Jimmy Motz
Top Returning Players:
Senior Chris Garner, Jr. | 6-foot-3 | Small Forward | Power Forward
14.7 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 51 Assists | 21 Steals | 24 Blocked Shots
First Team Class B Omaha World Herald | First Team Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Junior Alec Small | 6-foot
5.0 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 107 Assists | 32 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Evan Greenfield | 6-foot-2
9.6 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 99 Assists | 64 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Senior Macoy Folkerts | 6-foot | Point Guard
6.1 Points | 2.0 Rebounds | 70 Assists | 26 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Elkhorn North
2024-25 Record: 19-6
Record Over Past Decade: 54-59
2024-25 Postseason: 1-1 | Lost in Class B Semifinals
Head Coach: Andy King
Top Returning Players:
Senior Nike Orgilbold | 6-foot-3 | Guard | Small Forward
12.2 Points | 4.7 Rebounds | 55 Assists | 14 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Junior Kellen Murphy | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard
14.4 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 52 Assists | 22 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Senior Sutton Piatkowski | 6-foot-6 | Forward
19.4 Points | 8.8 Rebounds | 40 Assists | 18 Steals | 10 Blocked Shots
First Team Class B Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Gretna East
2024-25 Record: 17-8
Record Over Past Decade: 24-25
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class B Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Cooper Anthony
Top Returning Players:
Junior Drayke Brown | 5-foot-10
11.8 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 58 Assists | 20 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Junior Jake Hawley | 6-foot-1
5.2 Points | 3.6 Rebounds | 71 Assists | 33 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class B Omaha World Herald
Junior Connor Levinson | 6-foot-1
6.0 Points | 2.5 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 20 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Bennington
2024-25 Record: 16-9
Record Over Past Decade: 175-80
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Luke Olson
Top Returning Players:
Junior Blaize Jung | 6-foot-3
6.8 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 26 Assists | 21 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Elkhorn
2024-25 Record: 11-11
Record Over Past Decade: 132-101
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Nicholas Thompson
Top Returning Players:
Senior Nixon Farmer | 6-foot-2 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
11.2 Points | 2.5 Rebounds | 69 Assists | 19 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Junior Peter Howard | Point Guard
10.9 Points | 2.1 Rebounds | 40 Assists | 31 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Hastings
2024-25 Record: 12-11
Record Over Past Decade: 111-116
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Dylan Flinn
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Braylon Esch | 5-foot-9
Junior Creighton Sidlo | 5-foot-11
Junior Paxton Rhodes | 6-foot-2
Junior John Wilbanks | 6-foot-3
Blair
2024-25 Record: 10-13
Record Over Past Decade: 91-139
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Chris Whitwer
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Kalan Steinbeck | 6-foot-3 | Shooting Guard
13.0 Points | 7.1 Rebounds | 66 Assists | 27 Steals | 15 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Sophomore Brevin Leggott | 5-foot-11 | Point Guard
12.6 Points | 3.6 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 31 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
HM All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Senior Bo Meier | 6-foot-5 | Center
11.3 Points | 4.1 Rebounds | 34 Assists | 22 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Gretna
2024-25 Record: 11-15
Record Over Past Decade: 181-70
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Nick Schram | Brad Feeken
Top Returning Players:
Senior Treven Wilkins | 6-foot-3 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Brantley Hack | 6-foot-1 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Lincoln Standing Bear
2024-25 Record: 6-16
Record Over Past Decade: 6-16
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Matt Wrenholt
Top Returning Players:
Junior Carlos Risueno | 6-foot-2
11.6 Points | 7.0 Rebounds | 32 Assists | 38 Steals | 17 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Sophomore Paul Hart | 6-foot-5
11.0 Points | 5.8 Rebounds | 32 Assists | 13 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area | First Team All-Eastern Midlands Conference
Junior Parker Fellers | 5-foot-11
8.6 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 63 Assists | 30 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Junior Coen Lambie | 6-foot-2
7.0 Points | 2.3 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 16 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Junior Sawyer Osborn | 5-foot-8
6.5 Points | 1.8 Rebounds | 43 Assists | 29 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Waverly
2024-25 Record: 5-18
Record Over Past Decade: 108-120
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Garrett Borcher
Top Returning Players:
Senior Brady Schieffer | 6-foot-5 | Forward
5.8 Rebounds | 5.8 Rebounds | 33 Assists | 13 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Junior Brockston Teply | 6-foot-4 | Forward
17.3 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 4 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Lincoln Northwest
2024-25 Record: 3-19
Record Over Past Decade: 4-40
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Ferrell McGhee
Top Returning Players:
Junior Myles Parker | 6-foot-6 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
0.5 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 58 Assists | 16 Steals | 19 Blocked Shots
Senior Roman Stepanyuk | 6-foot-2 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
8.7 Points | 5.2 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 19 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
