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 Republican Plains Activities Conference projections for 2025-26.
The RPAC race is as tight as any in the Cornhusker State with Alma and Dundy County Stratton being named the front runners. Alma upended the Tigers 61-52 last February. But DCS punched its ticket to the Class D1 State Basketball Tournament, earning valuable experience for a deep postseason run in March.
We're siding with state tournament experience here and giving Dundy County Stratton the early nod.
It doesn't hurt either that Kris Freeland returns senior Lane Bybee who averaged 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds a game to go with 21 assists, 32 steals and 35 blocked shots. Bybee earned Second Team Class D1 All-State honors in both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star and the 6-foot-4 power forward was named to the All-Republican Plains Activities Conference First Team.
Senior Ethan Latta bullied Tiger foes with 15.1 points and 6.0 rebounds an outing while chalking up 105 assists, 69 steals and six blocked shots on the year. Senior August Shaw's stat line included 11.3 points and 3.5 boards a game and 68 assists, 52 steals and a pair of blocked shots. Latta earned First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference honors and Shaw landed on the Second Team.
Junior Dante Horner and sophomore Breck Horner combined for 12.9 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. Dante Horner, a 5-foot-9 point guard, added 78 assists, 52 steals and two blocked shots to his stat line while 6-foot forward Breck Horner contributed 33 assists, 37 steals and 10 blocked shots.
Seniors Zavier Mitchell and Tucker Biskup return for Alma head coach Mike Ford after earning First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference honors a year ago. Mitchell scored 14.8 points and pulled down 11.0 rebounds a game while adding 65 assists, 43 steals and 21 blocked shots.
Biskup contributed 14.0 points and 4.3 boards a night while getting credit for 69 assists, 48 steals and five blocked shots. Junior Grady Faimon and senior Isaiah Neal combined for 17.0 points and 10.8 boards an outing.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Boys Republican Plains Activities Conference
Dundy County Stratton (19-6)
Alma (22-4)
Bertrand (20-7)
Hitchcock County (16-7)
Cambridge (11-12)
Maywood-Hayes Center (15-10)
Wallace (15-10)
Paxton (15-9)
Southwest (10-13)
Hi-Line (8-15)
Medicine Valley (14-11)
Maxwell (5-18)
Wauneta-Palisade (4-18)
Southern Valley (4-20)
Sutherland (2-18)
Arapahoe (2-22)
Dundy County Stratton
2024-25 Record: 19-6
Record Over Past Decade: 201-55
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class D1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Kris Freeland
Top Returning Players:
Senior Lane Bybee | 6-foot-4 | Power Forward
16.7 Points | 8.3 Rebounds | 21 Assists | 32 Steals | 35 Blocked Shots
Second Team Class D1 Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Ethan Latta | 5-foot-11 | Point Guard
15.1 Points | 6.0 Rebounds | 105 Assists | 69 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior August Shaw | 5-foot-9 | Shooting Guard
11.3 Points | 3.5 Rebounds | 68 Assists | 52 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Junior Dante Horner | 5-foot-9 | Point Guard
5.5 Points | 2.5 Rebounds | 78 Assists | 52 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Sophomore Breck Horner | 6-foot | Power Forward
7.4 Points | 5.1 Rebounds | 33 Assists | 37 Steals | 10 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | Hm Class D1 Lincoln journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Alma
2024-25 Record: 22-4
Record Over Past Decade: 118-106
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Mike Ford
Top Returning Players:
Senior Zavier Mitchell | 6-foot-5 | Small Forward | Point Guard
14.8 Points | 11.0 Rebounds | 65 Assists | 43 Steals | 21 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Tucker Biskup | 6-foot-3 | Point guard | Shooting Guard
14.0 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 69 Assists | 48 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Junior Grady Faimon | 6-foot-4 | Center | Power Forward
7.5 Points | 6.3 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 33 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Isaiah Neal | 6-foot-1 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
9.5 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 41 Assists | 65 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Bertrand
2024-25 Record: 20-7
Record Over Past Decade: 116-107
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Craig Newcomb
Top Returning Players:
Senior Thunder Nelson | 5-foot-11
17.6 Points | 7.6 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 75 Steals | 14 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Sophomore Hunter Nelson | 5-foot-8
9.7 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 47 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Hitchcock County
2024-25 Record: 16-7
Record Over Past Decade: 119-113
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Randall Rath
Top Returning Players:
Senior Jayce Hauxwell | 6-foot | Forward
18.0 Points | 13.9 Rebounds | 44 Assists | 81 Steals | 47 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Adam Kisker | 6-foot | Small Forward
14.9 Points | 9.9 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 82 Steals | 45 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Jack Baker
6.6 Points | 5.1 Rebounds | 67 Assists | 47 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Cambridge
2024-25 Record: 11-12
Record Over Past Decade: 132-108
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: TJ Vacura
Top Returning Players:
Senior Brady Ahlemeyer | 5-foot-8 | Point guard | Shooting Guard
14.4 Points | 4.9 Rebounds | 56 Assists | 51 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Hodge Raburn | 6-foot-2 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
12.6 Points | 6.6 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 39 Steals | 16 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Krayton Ruggles | 6-foot | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
10.9 Points | 5.6 Rebounds | 56 Assists | 40 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Maverick Webb | 5-foot-9 | Shooting Guard
8.1 Points | 2.4 Rebounds | 75 Assists | 36 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Maywood-Hayes Center
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 118-131
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kolby Hamilton
Top Returning Players:
Junior Keenan Richards | 6-foot-4 | Forward
9.6 Points | 6.5 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 19 Steals | 4 Blocked Shohts
HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star | HM All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Junior Kade Broz | 5-foot-10 | Guard
9.4 Points | 6.3 Rebounds | 86 Assists | 57 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Second Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Senior Charlie Callis | 6-foot-1 | Small Forward
5.4 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 28 Assists | 31 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Senior Grady Erickson | 5-foot-10
6.0 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 54 Assists | 31 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Wallace
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 119-106
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Bob Braithwait
Top Returning Players:
Junior Max Hanson | 5-foot-10
HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star | HM All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Junior Colt Franklin | 6-foot-1
Honorable Mention Class D2 Lincoln journal Star
Paxton
2024-25 Record: 15-9
Record Over Past Decade: 181-64
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Justin Hardin
Top Returning Players:
Senior Maddex McConnell | 6-foot-5
8.9 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 17 Steals | 21 Blocked Shots
Second Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Southwest
2024-25 Record: 10-13
Record Over Past Decade: 80-141
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Christian Arterburn
Top Returning Players:
Senior Houston Billeter | 6-foot-1
23.3 Points | 7.6 Rebounds | 77 Assists | 43 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | Second Team Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Junior Deric Kelley
10.4 Points | 10.0 Rebounds | 31 Assists | 34 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Junior Jacob Barber | 5-foot-7
6.9 Points | 4.7 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 60 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HI-Line
2024-25 Record: 8-15
Record Over Past Decade: 67-243
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Ben Edgecombe
Top Returning Players:
Senior Brody Diefenbaugh | 6-foot-1
10.5 Points | 4.9 Rebounds | 21 Assists | 29 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Medicine Valley
2024-25 Record: 14-11
Record Over Past Decade: 108-117
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jason Maier
Top Returning Players:
Junior Lucas Einspahr | 5-foot-8
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Maxwell
2024-25 Record: 5-18
Record Over Past Decade: 87-152
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Bryce Byrn
Top Returning Players:
Senior Jesse Reyes | 6-foot-2
11.8 Points | 5.8 Rebounds | 40 Assists | 42 Steals | 29 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Wauneta-Palisade
2024-25 Record: 4-18
Record Over Past Decade: 99-137
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Gale Bly
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Nathan Hiett
6.4 Points | 1.6 Rebounds | 28 Assists | 5 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Southern Valley
2024-25 Record: 4-20
Record Over Past Decade: 129-114
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Ashley Huerta
Top Returning Players:
Senior Isaac Hamilton | 6-foot-2
Second Team All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Sutherland
2024-25 Record: 2-18
Record Over Past Decade: 64-141
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Daniel Wolken | Jessica Saner
Top Returning Players:
Senior Mason Mortimer| 5-foot-11 | Small Forward
7.7 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 23 Assists | 37 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Jason Saner
Honorable Mention Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Jackson Saner
6.9 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 30 Assists | 29 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Republican Plains Activities Conference
Arapahoe
2024-25 Record: 2-22
Record Over Past Decade: 85-154
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: John Strand
Top Returning Players:
Senior Hayden Sich | 6-foot | Forward
4.3 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 5 Assists | 6 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Junior Aiden Roush | 5-foot-10 | Guard
1.8 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 5 Assists | 2 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
