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.
One of the consistent winners in Nebraska girls high school basketball, Sidney dropped a 64-48 decision to Bennington in one of last year's Class B Quarterfinals at the Nebraska Girls State Basketball Tournament to finish the year 22-5.
The Red Raiders, however, are one of those programs that just seem to reload and find their way to Pinnacle Bank Arena come March.
Tyler Shaw – whose program has qualified for the last three state tournaments and posted a 209-53 record over the past 10 seasons – will rely on seniors Kierra Schrader and Lilee Wieser and junior Reagan Nesbitt to make a run to its fourth straight trip to Nebraska's version of March Madness.
Schrader, a First Team All-Western Conference honoree is Shaw's top returning scorer after the 5-foot-10 guard went off on Red Raider foes for 11.4 points and 3.4 rebounds a contest to go with 19 assists, 56 steals and seven blocked shots on the year
Wieser posted a 2024-25 stat line of 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds a contest and added 27 assists, 27 steals and 13 blocked shots while Nesbitt averaged 5.2 points and 5.5 boards while contributing 16 assists, 31 steals and a blocked shot in 2024-25.
Gering is in great position to improve on its 13-10 record from a year ago. Juniors Jacey Cochran and Aubrey Anderson and senior Jacelyn Brown combined for 26.6 points and 16.8 rebounds a year ago.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls Western Conference
Sidney (22-5)
Gering (13-10)
Chadron (11-13)
Scottsbluff (13-13)
Alliance (4-20)
Sidney
2024-25 Record: 22-5
Record Over Past Decade: 209-53
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class B Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Tyler Shaw
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kierra Schrader | 5-foot-10 | Guard
11.4 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 56 Steals | 7 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Junior Reagan Nesbitt | 5-foot-11 | Forward
5.2 Points | 5.5 Rebounds | 16 Assists | 31 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Senior Lilee Wieser | 5-foot-11 | Forward
4.7 Points | 2.9 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 27 Steals | 13 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Gering
2024-25 Record: 13-10
Record Over Past Decade: 100-133
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kalli Winkler | Bob Cochran
Top Returning Players:
Junior Jacey Cochran | 6-foot
11.6 Points | 8.1 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 39 Steals | 15 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Conference
Senior Jacelyn Brown | 5-foot-5 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
8.0 Points | 4.7 Rebounds | 106 Assists | 66 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | First Team All-Western Conference
Junior Aubrey Anderson | 5-foot-7 | Point Guard
7.0 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 44 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Chadron
2024-25 Record: 11-13
Record Over Past Decade: 138-96
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kelsey Scott
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Jezy Alcorn | 5-foot-11 | Power Forward
9.0 Points | 7.5 Rebounds | 35 Assists | 58 Steals | 27 Blocked Shots
First Team All-Western Conference
Sophomore Gracie Calkins | 5-foot-4 | Point Guard
4.8 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 69 Assists | 34 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Senior Reese Ritterbush | 5-foot-7 | Small Forward
5.9 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 18 Assists | 36 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Junior Sophie Watson | 5-foot-7 | Power Forward | Small Forward
4.7 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 25 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Scottsbluff
2024-25 Record: 13-13
Record Over Past Decade: 145-110
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Hattie Burford
Top Returning Players:
Senior Ava Reed | 5-foot-10 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star | First Team All-Western Conference
Junior Mia Bowles | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Alliance
2024-25 Record: 4-20
Record Over Past Decade: 75-159
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Mickenzie Foster
Top Returning Players:
Senior Addison Weber | 5-foot-9 | Point Guard
4.1 Points | 5.4 Rebounds | 20 Assists | 27 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
Junior Brooke Bailey
4.9 Points | 2.7 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 29 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Western Conference
