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 Southwest Conference projections for 2025-26.
Ogalla fell victim to upset minded Doniphan-Trumbull 57-45 in the quarterfinals of the Class C1 State Basketball Tournament to end 2024-25 with plenty of disappointment despite a brilliant 24-2 record. In just a few short days, however, the Indians will put last year behind them and focus on a deep postseason run.
First-year head coach Carter Brown welcomes back the conference's top player Sawyer Smith who tormented Indian foes with averages of 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds a contest to go with 172 assists, 98 steals and eight blocked shots on the year.
The 6-foot-3 guard earned First Team Class C1 All-State honors in both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. Smith also found a spot on the First Team All-Southwest Conference squad.
Seniors Edan Cain and Rylan Gilmore were named to the all-conference first and second teams respectively after combining for 25.5 points and 9.4 boards a game. Juniors Tanner DeCastro, who was honored on the Southwest Conference's third team, and Lincoln Gillen averaged 17.9 points and 8.1 rebounds a contest collectively.
Seniors Olliver Davis, Chayden Hoffmaster and Gage Strauss and junior Kellen Shoemaker return for Cozad head coach Nick Broz as the Haymakers attempt to take Ogallala down a notch and improve on last tear's 24-4 campaign.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Boys Southwest Conference
Ogallala (24-2)
Cozad (24-4)
Holdrege (21-4)
Valentine (12-11)
Minden (10-14)
Gothenburg (10-13)
McCook (16-10)
Broken Bow (8-15)
Ogallala
2024-25 Record: 24-2
Record Over Past Decade: 203-64
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class C1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Carter Brown
Top Returning Players:
Senior Sawyer Smith | 6-foot-3 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
22.8 Points | 9.5 Rebounds | 172 Assists | 98 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
First Team Class C1 Omaha World Herald | First Team Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Southwest Conference
Senior Edan Cain | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
13.6 Points | 5.2 Rebounds | 82 Assists | 58 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Southwest Conference
Senior Rylan Gilmore | 6-foot-4 | Point Guard
11.9 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 91 Assists | 59 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Southwest Conference
Junior Tanner DeCastro | 6-foot-8 | Forward
8.9 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 26 Assists | 15 Steals | 30 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Southwest Conference
Junior Lincoln Gillen | 5-foot-10 | Guard
9.0 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 26 Assists | 29 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Cozad
2024-25 Record: 24-4
Record Over Past Decade: 148-101
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class C1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Nick Broz
Top Returning Players:
Senior Olliver Davis | 6-foot-1 | Small Forward
11.8 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 36 Steals | 10 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Southwest Conference
Junior Kellen Shoemaker | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
9.9 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 69 Assists | 42 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Southwest Conference
Senior Chayden Hoffmaster | 6-foot-2 | Power Forward | Small Forward
9.8 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 45 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Southwest Conference
Senior Gage Strauss | 5-foot-11 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
6.1 Points | 2.0 Rebounds | 21 Assists | 15 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Holdrege
2024-25 Record: 21-4
Record Over Past Decade: 106-130
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Brandt Runge
Top Returning Players:
Senior Baron Medina | 6-foot | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
16.4 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 94 Assists | 49 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Southwest Conference
Junior Brycen Samuelson | 6-foot-4
6.8 Points | 2.2 Rebounds | 32 Assists | 9 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
Valentine
2024-25 Record: 12-11
Record Over Past Decade: 46-165
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Randy Kluender
Top Returning Players:
Senior Isaac Cronin | 6-foot-5
14.6 Points | 7.5 Rebounds | 21 Assists | 44 Steals | 36 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star | Third Team All-Southwest Conference
Junior Dominic Beebout | 5-foot-10
13.7 Points | 3.5 Rebounds | 71 Assists | 39 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Junior Trystan Beebout | 5-foot-8
7.5 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 65 Assists | 29 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Minden
2024-25 Record: 10-14
Record Over Past Decade: 89-140
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Carson Blum
Top Returning Players:
Senior Luke Grollmes | 6-foot-2
10.4 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 37 Assists | 24 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Landon Bules | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
8.9 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 92 Assists | 33 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Junior Traelin Christensen | 6-foot-2 | Power Forward | Center
5.9 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 16 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Gothenburg
2024-25 Record: 10-13
Record Over Past Decade: 116-119
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kent Koehn
Top Returning Players:
Junior Braden Michel | 5-foot-10 | Point Guard
9.9 Points | 2.6 Rebounds | 49 Assists | 41 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention Class C1 Lincoln journal Star
Sophomore Kingston Koehn | 6-foot | Point Guard
5.2 Points | 2.2 Rebounds | 29 Assists | 17 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Senior Landon Mroczek | 6-foot-3 | Point Guard
8.3 Points | 3.0 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 20 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Kash Koehn | 6-foot | Point Guard
5.9 Points | 3.1 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 14 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
McCook
2024-25 Record: 16-10
Record Over Past Decade: 125-116
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Joe Imus
Top Returning Players:
Junior Tripp Raile | 6-foot-1 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Southwest Conference
Broken Bow
2024-25 Record: 8-15
Record Over Past Decade: 97-133
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Keaton Klimek
Top Returning Players:
Senior Dominic Nowak | 6-foot | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
13.8 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 53 Assists | 51 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Zachary Jackson | 5-foot-8
9.4 Points | 4.9 Rebounds | 97 Assists | 33 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
