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 Western Conference projections for 2025-26.
Playing in its first Class B state championship game since 2017, Scottsbluff gave Omaha Skutt Catholic everything it could handle through three quarters before eventually succumbing to the SkyHawks 64-49. By returning the majority of his roster, Bearcat head coach Scott Gullion and the Bearcats could be raking in championship hardware of their own in 2025-26.
Gullion returns three players that earned First Team All-Western Conference honors last season including seniors Nate Kelley and Rylee Meininger and junior Tre Boswell who all averaged double figures.
Kelley, a 6-foot guard, led the Bearcats with 16.7 points a contest a year ago and pulled down 5.2 rebounds to go with 147 assists, 60 steals and four blocked shots to earn First Team Class B All-State honors with the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star.
Meininger, a 6-foot guard, added 12.9 points and 2.9 boards while posting 58 assists, 45 steals and six blocked shots to his stat line. Boswell contributed 11.6 points and 4.6 boards a game, 57 assists, 41 steals and four blocked shots. Senior Keon Delgado and junior Caleb Burda combined for 13.9 points and reeled in 8.2 rebounds between them.
Sidney went 18-9 a year ago and has the look of the No. 2 squad in the balanced Western Conference. Senior Alek Doty leads the way for Austin Lewis after averaging 16.4 points and 5.4 rebounds a year ago. Senior Keian Kaiser ripped the cords for 13.8 points and 9.3 boards while senior Lance Holly added 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds a contest a year ago.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Boys Western Conference
Scottsbluff (25-4)
Sidney (18-9)
Gering (9-13)
Alliance (13-11)
Chadron (14-11)
Scottsbluff
2024-25 Record: 25-4
Record Over Past Decade: 203-67
2024-25 Postseason: 2-1 | Class B Runner-Up
Head Coach: Scott Gullion
Top Returning Players:
Senior Nate Kelley | 6-foot | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
16.7 Points | 5.2 Rebounds | 147 Assists | 60 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
First Team Class B Omaha World Herald | First Team Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Senior Rylee Meininger | 6-foot | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
12.9 Points | 2.9 Rebounds | 58 Assists | 45 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Junior Tre Boswell | 6-foot-3 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
11.6 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 57 Assists | 41 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Senior Keon Delgado | 6-foot-4 | Center | Power Forward
8.7 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 25 Steals | 21 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Junior Caleb Burda
5.2 Points | 2.9 Rebounds | 15 Assists | 11 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Sidney
2024-25 Record: 18-9
Record Over Past Decade: 148-103
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class C1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Austin Lewis
Top Returning Players:
Senior Alek Doty | 6-foot-2 | Guard
16.4 Points | 5.4 Rebounds | 55 Assists | 41 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Senior Keian Kaiser | 6-foot-3 | Forward
13.8 Points | 9.3 Rebounds | 120 Assists | 54 Steals | 22 Blocked Shots
HM Class C1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C1 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Senior Lance Holly | 6-foot-2 | Guard
4.7 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 16 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Chadron
2024-25 Record: 14-11
Record Over Past Decade: 111-120
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kyle Sanders
Top Returning Players:
Junior Tobin Landen | 6-foot-1
7.5 Points | 3.9 Rebounds | 30 Assists | 17 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Junior Derek Bissonette | 5-foot-11 | Point Guard
7.3 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 52 Assists | 39 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Gering
2024-25 Record: 9-13
Record Over Past Decade: 103-133
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Trey Winkler
Top Returning Players:
Junior Ryland Ray | 6-foot-3 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
12.7 Points | 5.6 Rebounds | 11 Assists | 20 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star | HM All-Western Conference
Senior Gage Ruzicka | 5-foot-11 | Point Guard
12.0 Points | 2.7 Rebounds | 47 Assists | 21 Steals | 0 Blocked Shhots
First Team All-Western Conference
Junior Max Judy | 6-foot-2 | Small Forward | Shooting Guard
8.4 Points | 4.7 Rebounds | 11 Assists | 13 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Alliance
2024-25 Record: 13-11
Record Over Past Decade: 138-103
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jordan Mills
Top Returning Players:
Senior Espen Lanik | 5-foot-9 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
17.5 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 58 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Senior Trevor Zurn | 5-foot-9 | Guard
6.9 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 16 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
