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 Pioneer Conference projections for 2025-26.
One of the most consistent girls basketball programs in the Cornhusker State, Falls City Sacred Heart is once again the preseason favorite to rule the Pioneer Conference. After dipping to fourth place in 2023-24, Luke Santo's Irish bounced back to upend Dorchester 52-25 and claim the school's third Girl's Class D2 State Basketball title in four years.
Back to lead the way is senior Daycee Witt who averaged 11.2 points and 5.1 rebounds a game while chalking up 93 assists, 58 steals and 18 blocked shots as the Irish finished the season 25-4.
Not only did the 5-foot-6 guard claim Second Team Class D2 All-State honors with the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star, Witt found a spot on the Pioneer Conference's Second Team. Witt played her way onto KMALand's Second Team as well.
Senior Avery Santo ripped the cords for 9.8 points and latched onto 3.2 boards a game while posting 56 assists, 54 steals and 17 blocked shots to earn Second Team Class D2 All-State honors from the Lincoln Journal Star, Second Team honors from the Pioneer Conference and landed on KMALand's Third Team
Junior Hallie Jones was solid a year ago after scoring 6.1 points and ripping down 7.1 boards a game while producing 10 assists, 17 steals and six blocked shots on the year.
Johnson-Brock finished the 2024-25 season 25-2, the league's top record. Jeff Ottemann lost a lot of talent from his roster a year ago. However, he returns Junior Daley Pelican. The 5-foot-6 point guard averaged 8.7 points and 2.9 rebounds while posting 43 assists, 75 steals and six blocked shots to earn Second Team All-Pioneer Conference honors last winter.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls Pioneer Conference
Falls City Sacred Heart (25-4)
Johnson-Brock (25-2)
Lourdes Central Catholic (18-5)
Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer (13-11)
Exeter-Milligan/Friend (8-15)
Diller-Odell (18-8)
Pawnee City (7-16)
Southern (8-16)
Sterling (5-17)
Lewiston (2-17)
Falls City Sacred Heart
2024-25 Record: 25-4
Record Over Past Decade: 258-31
2024-25 Postseason: 3-0 | Class D2 State Champion
Head Coach: Luke Santo
Top Returning Players:
Senior Avery Santo | 5-foot-5 | Guard
9.8 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 56 Assists | 54 Steals | 17 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Pioneer Conference | Third Team All-KMALand
Senior Daycee Witt | 5-foot-6 | Guard
11.2 Points | 5.1 Rebounds | 93 Assists | 58 Steals | 18 Blocked Shots
Second Team Class D2 Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Pioneer Conference | Second Team All-KMALand
Junior Hallie Jones | 5-foot-9 | Center
6.1 Points | 7.1 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 17 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Conference
Johnson-Brock
2024-25 Record: 25-2
Record Over Past Decade: 154-89
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class C2 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Jeff Ottemann
Top Returning Players:
Junior Daley Pelican | 5-foot-6 | Point Guard
8.7 Points | 2.9 Rebounds | 43 Assists | 75 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Pioneer Conference
Lourdes Central Catholic
2024-25 Record: 18-5
Record Over Past Decade: 165-80
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Mark Madison
Top Returning Players:
Senior Amelia White
Senior Brooklyn Borer
Senior Mikena Haag
Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer
2024-25 Record: 13-11
Record Over Past Decade: 88-150
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Schuyler Kuhlmann
Top Returning Players:
Senior Lillian Bowen | 5-foot-9 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
15.2 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 44 Assists | 81 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Pioneer Conference | Third Team All-KMALand
Senior Elie Bstandig | 5-foot-10 | Center
13.5 Points | 14.4 Rebounds | 31 Assists | 60 Steals | 40 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Pioneer Conference | Second Team All-KMALand
Exeter-Milligan/Friend
2024-25 Record: 8-15
Record Over Past Decade: 226-209
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Josiee Sobotka
Top Returning Players:
Junior Aniston Meints | 6-foot
9.3 Points | 6.0 Rebounds | 34 Assists | 42 Steals | 19 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Pioneer Conference
Senior Taylin Schluter
7.5 Points | 2.5 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 65 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Conference
Senior Kiley Oldehoeft | 6-foot-1
7.6 Points | 5.2 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 36 Steals | 14 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class D1 Omaha World Herald
Diller-Odell
2024-25 Record: 18-8
Record Over Past Decade: 143-93
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class D1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: John Mohr
Top Returning Players:
Senior Aidan McKinney | 5-foot-9 | Power Forward | Small Forward
4.9 Points | 3.9 Rebounds | 16 Assists | 31 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Senior Madisyn Rosebaugh | 5-foot-5 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
2.2 Points | 1.4 Rebounds | 7 Assists | 13 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Pawnee City
2024-25 Record: 7-16
Record Over Past Decade: 64-155
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Tim Kluck
Top Returning Players:
Junior Emalyse Gottula | 5-foot-7 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
5.9 Points | 6.6 Rebounds | 48 Assists | 44 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
Junior Kinsley Benson | 5-foot-5 | Point Guard
9.7 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 34 Assists | 33 Steals | 10 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Conference
Senior Madelyn Osborne | 5-foot-9 | Small Forward
7.1 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 6 Assists | 13 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Southern
2024-25 Record: 8-16
Record Over Past Decade: 116-116
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Hanah Baumgartner
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Hadlee Maxson | 5-foot-6 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
Third Team All-Pioneer Conference
Sophomore Jaylin Klover | 5-foot-9 | Center | Power Forward
Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Conference
Sterling
2024-25 Record: 5-17
Record Over Past Decade: 150-101
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Josh Pfeiffer
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Kynli Portwood | 5-foot-8
9.8 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 8 Assists | 15 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Lewiston
2024-25 Record: 2-17
Record Over Past Decade: 56-167
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Allison Nissen | Tracie Wehrbein
Top Returning Players:
Junior Justice Currie | 5-foot-3 | Point Guard
6.2 Points | 0.8 Rebounds | 6 Assists | 13 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Pioneer Conference
Senior Maddie Janssen | 5-foot-7 | Power Forward | Center
5.7 Points | 2.1 Rebounds | 2 Assists | 4 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Sophomore Bryleigh Crouse
5.6 Points | 1.1 Rebounds | 3 Assists | 9 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
