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 River Cities Conference projections for 2025-26.
Omaha Skutt Catholic is one of those basketball programs you just never pick against. Yes. Graduation hit the SkyHawks hard in May, but the defending Class B State Champion will win basketball games again this year. They've won 193 in the past 10 seasons. Kip Colony's program is 129-12 over the past five seasons.
After falling to Elkhorn North in the Class B state title game from 2022-24, the SkyHawks broke through and won state championship hardware for the first time for SkyHawk Nation last March. Omaha Skutt Catholic has competed in the last four Class B finals. Something tells me they just might do it again.
Colony does return senior Laini Michaelis who averaged 6.0 points and 4.4 rebounds a contest a year ago and was credited with 36 assists, 30 steals and a blocked shot to earn Honorable Mention Class B All-State honors in both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star last winter.
Omaha Gross Catholic has the makeup to take the conference should the SkyHawks falter. Head coach Linda Walker has a handful of ballers returning with the experience and talent to take the next step after the Cougars went 18-6 a year ago. Junior Lilly Riha is Walker's top returning scorer after she poured in 13.2 points and pulled down 7.2 rebounds a game last winter.
Junior Peyton Yarpe ripped the cords for 11.5 points and reeled in 3.3 rebounds a game while seniors Brooklyn Donaldson and Sienna Miller each averaged 6.9 points a game. Senior Alyssa Cap averaged 4.0 points and 2.4 boards a contest in 2024-25.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls River Cities Conference
Omaha Skutt Catholic (28-1)
Omaha Gross Catholic (18-6)
South Sioux City (9-15)
Omaha Duchesne Academy (7-16)
Omaha Roncalli Catholic (7-16)
Omaha Mercy (10-13)
Omaha Skutt Catholic
2024-25 Record: 28-1
Record Over Past Decade: 193-69
2024-25 Postseason: 3-0 | Class B State Champion
Head Coach: Kip Colony
Top Returning Players:
Senior Laini Michaelis | 5-foot-8 | Forward
6.0 Points | 4.4 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 30 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Star
Omaha Gross Catholic
2024-25 Record: 18-6
Record Over Past Decade: 122-121
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Linda Walker
Top Returning Players:
Junior Lilly Riha | Center
13.2 Points | 7.2 Rebounds | 36 Assists | 18 Steals | 31 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Junior Peyton Yarpe | Shooting Guard
11.5 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 20 Assists | 41 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Senior Brooklyn Donaldson | Forward
6.9 Points | 6.0 Rebounds | 44 Assists | 33 Steals | 34 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM All-Omaha Area
Senior Sienna Miller | Point Guard
6.9 Points | 4.9 Rebounds | 63 Assists | 16 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM Class B Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All-Omaha Area
Senior Alyssa Cap | Guard
4.0 Points | 2.4 Rebounds | 49 Assists | 35 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM All-Omaha Area
South Sioux City
2024-25 Record: 9-15
Record Over Past Decade: 157-97
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Steve Selk
Top Returning Players:
Senior Bailee Durant | 5-foot-9 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
11.5 Points | 5.9 Rebounds | 30 Assists | 69 Steals | 23 Blocked Shots
HM Class A Omaha World Herald | HM Class A Lincoln Journal Star
Senior Bryleigh Robinette | 5-foot-11 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
6.5 Points | 3.8 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 34 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
Senior Keyana Weaver | 5-foot-5 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
6.5 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 23 Assists | 45 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
Omaha Duchesne
2024-25 Record: 7-16
Record Over Past Decade: 96-138
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Ryan Reese
Top Returning Players:
Junior Jada James | 5-foot-9 | Guard
14.0 Points | 4.4 Rebounds | 48 Assists | 43 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class B Omaha World Herald | HM All-Omaha Area
Sophomore Evelynne Ward | Guard
6.4 Points | 3.1 Rebounds | 30 Assists | 19 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Miriam Samuelson | 5-foot-9 | Guard
6.1 Points | 3.9 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 16 Steals | 11 Blocked Shots
Omaha Roncalli Catholic
2024-25 Record: 7-16
Record Over Past Decade: 106-133
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Joseph Nash
Top Returning Players:
Senior Jaiden Wageman | Shooting Guard
5.5 Points | 1.4 Rebounds | 17 Assists | 14 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Junior MaKenna Anthofer | 5-foot-7 | Power Forward
5.2 Points | 3.9 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 12 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Omaha Mercy
2024-25 Record: 10-13
Record Over Past Decade: 74-152
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Nicole Lenczowski
Top Returning Players:
Senior Soledad Peralta | 5-foot-6 | Guard
9.2 Points | 3.2 Rebounds | 39 Assists | 43 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM All-Omaha Area
Senior Madisyn Grzebielski | 5-foot-9 | Guard | Forward
7.8 Points | 5.2 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 23 Steals | 9 Blocked Shots
HM Class B Omaha World Herald | HM All-Omaha Area
