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 Husker Conference projections for 2025-26.
Winners of their final 11 contests last year, Pender took home state championship hardware for the third straight year. This season Jason Dolliver's club looks to make another deep postseason run with the return of seniors Hadley Walsh and Madalyn Dolliver, both First Team All-Staters a year ago. Sophomore Myra Hansen returns as well.
The Pendragons will have some stiff competition once again. Oakland-Craig made it to the Class C2 state championship contest for the second time in three years last March and took home the champion's hardware. Scott Guzinski returns seniors Briar Ray and Sonya Guzinski as well as sophomore Hilary Ray.
Perennial power North Bend Central tosses its hat into the East Husker Conference championship ring with the return of Second Team All-East Husker Conference honoree Lauren Sterup, senior Reese Petersen and junior Mia Beebe. Howells-Dodge brings back senior Kenadie Throener and juniors Kylie Brichacek and Peyten Becker from a 17-10 season in 2024-25.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls East Husker Conference
Pender (28-2)
Oakland-Craig (26-3)
North Bend Central (20-8)
Howells-Dodge (17-10)
Stanton (15-9)
Humphrey-Lindsay Academy (19-7)
West Point-Beemer (18-9)
Clarkson-Leigh (13-12)
Bancroft-Rosalie (12-13)
Wisner-Pilger (9-13)
Logan View-Scribner-Snyder (11-13)
Lyons-Decatur Northeast (9-14)
Madison (8-16)
Wakefield (4-16)
Tekamah-Herman (2-21)
Pender
2024-25 Record: 28-2
Record Over Past Decade: 190-79
2024-25 Postseason: 3-0 | Class D1 State Champion
Head Coach: Jason Dolliver
Top Returning Players:
Senior Hadley Walsh | 5-foot-11 | Guard
15.9 Points | 7.5 Rebounds | 79 Assists | 34 Steals | 19 Blocked Shots
First Team Class D1 Omaha World Herald | First Team Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All- East Husker Conference
Senior Madalyn Dolliver | 5-foot-8 | Guard
14.1 Points | 3.6 Rebounds | 51 Assists | 64 Steals | 15 Blocked Shots
First Team Class D1 Omaha World Herald | First Team Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-East Husker Conference
Sophomore Myra Hansen | 5-foot-11 | Guard | Forward
5.5 Points | 2.6 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 36 Steals | 16 Blocked Shots
Oakland-Craig
2024-25 Record: 26-3
Record Over Past Decade: 191-66
2024-25 Postseason: 3-0 | Class C2 State Champion
Head Coach: Scott Guzinski
Top Returning Players:
Senior Briar Ray | 5-foot-8 | Guard
13.2 Points | 6.9 Rebounds | 89 Assists | 91 Steals | 14 Blocked Shots
Second Team Class C2 Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-East Husker Conference
Senior Sonya Guzinski | 5-foot-8 | Guard
10.9 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 65 Assists | 34 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-East Husker Conference
Sophomore Hilary Ray | 5-foot-9 | Forward
8.6 Points | 5.8 Rebounds | 58 Assists | 57 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-East Husker Conference
North Bend Central
2024-25 Record: 20-8
Record Over Past Decade: 213-48
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class C1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Aaron Sterup
Top Returning Players:
Senior Lauren Sterup | 5-foot-6 | Guard
14.9 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 45 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Reese Petersen | 5-foot-7 | Forward
5.4 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 35 Assists | 27 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Junior Mia Beebe | 5-foot-7 | Forward
6.0 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 17 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Howells-Dodge
2024-25 Record: 17-10
Record Over Past Decade: 142-111
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class D1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Scott Polacek
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kenadie Throener | 5-foot-10 | Center
8.9 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 20 Assists | 22 Steals | 19 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journals Star
Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Junior Kylie Brichacek | 5-foot-9 | Guard
8.9 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 62 Assists | 35 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Junior Peyten Becker | 5-foot-8 | Guard
6.3 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 61 Assists | 49 Steals | 19 Blocked Shots
Stanton
2024-25 Record: 15-9
Record Over Past Decade: 133-110
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Greg Wegner
Top Returning Players:
Senior Skyler Siebrandt | 6-foot-1 | Power Forward
6.3 Points | 5.8 Rebounds | 16 Assists | 27 Steals | 82 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Junior Hayden Dixon | 5-foot-9
6.2 Points | 5.9 Rebounds | 23 Assists | 42 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Sophomore Bergan Pohlman | 5-foot-4
7.1 Points | 2.7 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 49 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Humphrey-Lindsay Academy
2024-25 Record: 19-7
Record Over Past Decade: 174-76
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kandee Hanzel
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Autumn Fittje | 5-foot-4 | Point Guard
5.2 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 62 Assists | 54 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class C2 Omaha World Herald
West Point-Beemer
2024-25 Record: 18-9
Record Over Past Decade: 167-91
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jordan Miller
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kenna Hughes | 5-foot-7 | Shooting Guard
2.3 Points | 1.8 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 19 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Jadyn Doggett | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
2.2 Points | 1.1 Rebounds | 7 Assists | 17 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
Clarkson/Leigh
2024-25 Record: 13-12
Record Over Past Decade: 156-88
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Rebecca Hiatt
Top Returning Players:
Senior Ava Kasik | 5-foot-7 | Guard
7.3 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 38 Assists | 45 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Bancroft-Rosalie
2024-25 Record: 12-13
Record Over Past Decade: 162-85
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Rod Peters
Top Returning Players:
Junior Bailey Murphy | 5-foot-9 | Small Forward
7.4 Points | 5.0 Rebounds | 30 Assists | 90 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Junior Brooklyn Monroy | 5-foot-4 | Point Guard
6.2 Points | 2.3 Rebounds | 43 Assists | 47 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Wisner-Pilger
2024-25 Record: 9-13
Record Over Past Decade: 95-134
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Brooke Scheitel
Top Returning Players:
Senior Emerson Bellar | 5-foot-8 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-East Husker Conference
Junior Ramsey Arduser | Point Guard
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
2024-25 Record: 11-13
Record Over Past Decade: 70-163
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Adam Wright
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Jayde Kreifels
8.0 Points | 7.5 Rebounds | 28 Assists | 35 Steals | 65 Blocked Shots
Lyons-Decatur Northeast
2024-25 Record: 9-14
Record Over Past Decade: 148-97
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Lexi Ronnfeldt
Top Returning Players:
Senior Tavyanna Parker | 5-foot-10 Post | Power Forward
9.2 Points | 5.5 Rebounds | 16 Assists | 22 Steals | 63 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Senior Avery Bacon | 5-foot-6 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
7.6 Points | 3.5 Rebounds | 33 Assists | 35 Steals | 15 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Lexus Petersen | 5-foot-9 | Forward
5.7 Points | 4.7 Rebounds | 17 Assists | 17 Steals | 11 Blocked Shots
Madison
2024-25 Record: 8-16
Record Over Past Decade: 43-179
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Joe Crilly
Top Returning Players:
Senior Salena Duinkerken | 5-foot-3 | Guard
9.9 Points | 4.9 Rebounds | 33 Assists | 54 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Wakefield
2024-25 Record: 4-16
Record Over Past Decade: 90-130
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Cory Brown
Top Returning Players:
Junior Boston Brown | 5-foot-6 | Point Guard
Honorable Mention All-East Husker Conference
Tekamah-Herman
2024-25 Record: 2-21
Record Over Past Decade: 68-160
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Taylor Klein
Top Returning Players:
Senior Emily Stansberry | 5-foot-10 | Power Forward
4.0 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 9 Assists | 12 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Junior Brooklynn Olson | 5-foot-6 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
3.8 Points | 1.7 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 17 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
