It was a busy week of hoops in northeast Nebraska last week. As we approach conference tournaments, teams are busy with scheduled and re-scheduled contests stacking up. Lots of time on the hardwood makes for some great performances as we…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inIt was a busy week of hoops in northeast Nebraska last week. As we approach conference tournaments, teams are busy with scheduled and re-scheduled contests stacking up. Lots of time on the hardwood makes for some great performances as we dive into a senior-heavy list of last week’s top performances in the area.
2023s
Landon Classen
Landon
Classen
6'1" | CG
O'Neill | 2023
State
NE
(2023) | 6-2 PG | O’Neill
32 points, 9 rebounds, 7 steals, 6 assists, 8-9 3pt in 76-56 win over GACC
19 points, 13 rebounds in a 58-45 win over Neligh-Oakdale
19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists in an 84-46 win over Wagner
It was a huge week for one for the top guards in northeast Nebraska. Three lopsided wins and three dominant performances for O’Neill guard
Landon Classen
Landon
Classen
6'1" | CG
O'Neill | 2023
State
NE
. He has shown his ability to do it all on the court this season and can play multiple roles. If he draws multiple defenders he can fill it up with assists, or if his team needs buckets, he has no problem with that either. An elite shooter and great finisher, Classen has been putting on a show this season averaging 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
Brendyn Ollendick Brendyn Ollendick 6'2" | PG Elkhorn Valley | 2023 State NE (2023) | 6-2 PG | Elkhorn Valley
24 points, 6 rebounds in a 76-36 win over Wausa
24 points, 8 assists in a 68-43 win over Creighton
23 points in a 52-39 win over Boyd County
Brednyn Ollendick has his Elkhorn Valley team rolling. Boasting a 13-1 record with 7 straight wins, Ollendick has been a huge reason for all the success. His performances were especially impressive last week in blowout wins competing against other top guards in the class – Wausa’s
Jaxon Claussen
Jaxon
Claussen
5'11" | PG
Wausa | 2023
State
NE
and Creighton’s
John Mitchell III
John
Mitchell III
5'11" | SG
Creighton | 2023
State
NE
. Ollendick is an athletic guard who can score anyway he wants. With great vision, he’s also one of the top passers in the class. Keep an eye on Ollendick and the Falcons as we get into the back half of the season.
Jake Rath Jake Rath 6'2" | PF Laurel-Concord-Coleridge | 2023 State NE (2023) | 6-2 PF | Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
23 points, 16 rebounds in a 56-33 win over Plainview
20 points, 13 rebounds in a 51-26 win over Hartington-Newcastle
16 points, 10 rebounds in a 44-36 win over Battle Creek
Another senior standout led his team to three wins last week. Jake Rath Jake Rath 6'2" | PF Laurel-Concord-Coleridge | 2023 State NE has been posting video game-like numbers all season. The 6’2 post player is a savvy, talented forward who can score inside and out and is a menace on the boards. Three double-doubles last week unsurprisingly led to three LCC wins. Great footwork and a high basketball IQ are a few of many traits that make Rath so tough to defend.
John Mitchell III
John
Mitchell III
5'11" | SG
Creighton | 2023
State
NE
(2023) | 5’11 GG | Creighton
33 points in a 55-58 loss to Wynot
In a matchup of two of the top rated teams in Class D-2,
John Mitchell III
John
Mitchell III
5'11" | SG
Creighton | 2023
State
NE
did all he could to try and lead Creighton past Wynot. The senior guard uses his strength and athletiscm to make his presence felt for the Bulldogs. Scoring has never been a problem for Mitchell III, who is one of the states all-time leading scorers. Creighton and Mitchell had a tough week last week with three losses to top tier teams (O’Neill, Wynot, Elkhorn Valley), but keep an eye on how they respond in the weeks to come.
Simon McFarland (2023) | 5’10 GG | Crofton
26 points in a 45-41 win over Hartington-Newcastle
McFarland had another breakout performance on Friday night to lead his team to a narrow win over Hartington-Newcastle. The 5’10 guard has been the bright spot for a young Crofton team this season. A solid shooter and strong driver, McFarland can fill it up with points if the matchup is right. He averages 15 points and has scored 20+ five times this season.
Triston Hoesing (2023) | 5’10 GG | Norfolk Catholic
20 points, 6-9 3pt in a 51-35 win over Pierce
In one of the biggest games of the week, senior guard Triston Hoesing had his best performance of the season. It was a clash of two of the top boys’ basketball programs in the area on Tuesday and Hoesing’s six three-pointers were the difference maker. A balanced Norfolk Catholic team that can have a number of player’s go off, Tuesday night it was Hoesing’s time to shine in the victory over Pierce.
Braylon Snyder (2023) | 6’6 C | Bancroft-Rosalie
24 points in a 75-62 win over HLHF
Long and lengthy on the inside, Braylon Snyder has been a big reason for Bancroft-Rosalie’s success this season. Defensively, Snyder is a great shot blocker and shot changer. He can be a huge difference maker on both ends of the floor with his athleticism and length. Heading into conference tournament play, Snyder has helped lead his team to 7-of-8 wins and a 10-5 record
2024s
Drew Morrow (2024) | 6’2 SG | O’Neill
34 points, 8-12 3pt in an 84-46 win over Wagner
Drew Morrow had one of the best shooting performances in the state last week. When the lengthy guard is on, like he was last Tuesday against Wagner, watch out. Morrow has had no problem getting buckets this season for a high-scoring O’Neill team. The 6’2 junior averages 16.8 points per game and nearly 3 made threes per contest.
2025s
Braylon Anderson Braylon Anderson 6'3" | SG Oakland-Craig | 2025 State NE (2025) | 6’3 CG | Oakland-Craig
20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists in a 71-41 win over Tekamah-Herman
Oakland-Craig’s Braylon Anderson Braylon Anderson 6'3" | SG Oakland-Craig | 2025 State NE is a smart, complete player. The young sophomore guard has developed into one of the more all-around players in his class, filling the entire stat sheet each night. Anderson has been on triple-double watch several times this year and averages 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6 assists per game. If this is the first you’re hearing about the young Oakland-Craig guard, it wont be the last. With a big frame and high basketball-IQ, Anderson has the potential for an outstanding prep career and beyond.