It all seems to be coming together for Millard North first-year coach Chris Paulson.
His Mustangs are peaking at the right time and have jumped into the Class A ratings this week at No. 7. Millard North has gone 7-1 since Jan. 23 and will ride that momentum into district play Tuesday night.
“I’m very pleased with where we’re at,” Paulson said. “We’ve been steadily improving and we’re trending in the right direction.”
The Mustangs, just two years removed from a state championship, have adjusted to life under the guidance of Paulson. The former Fremont Bergan boys basketball coach and Millard North boys assistant had never coached girls basketball at the varsity level.
“I’ve enjoyed the transition,” he said. “I’ve got three daughters and I’ve coached them growing up, so I had a pretty good feel for the girls game.”
Paulson, who guided Bergan to two state championships and two runner-up finishes in 15 seasons, also has a strong support group. Longtime Millard North head coach Jeff Ritz is an assistant and Dave Diehl, the Mustangs’ previous head coach, also has had some input.
“Between Jeff and I we’ve got more than 700 wins, girls and boys,” Paulson said. “Dave and I also have known each other awhile and enjoyed bouncing ideas off each other.”
The coach did have work to do before the season because the number of girls interested in playing basketball was low.
“I made the rounds and talked some girls who had played in the past into coming back out,” he said. “We also got some athletes who had been playing other sports, so it’s been a little bit of a hodgepodge.”
The season was a little hodgepodge at the halfway point when Millard North was 7-7. That’s when Paulson sat down and had a talk with his team.
“We talked about goals that we wanted to reach this year,” he said. “The state tournament was mentioned and since that time we’ve been focused on trying to get there.”
The Mustangs have no big scorer but rely on team offense. Four players — Kaylee Kessler, Megan Chambers, Kayla Preston and Darian Winkelbauer — all average between seven and nine points.
The team’s defense and its length also have fueled the late-season surge. Millard North usually employs a 1-3-1 zone and has the height — five starters at 5-foot-9 or taller — to give opponents problems.
“One of the things I try to do is to keep our team’s confidence up,” Paulson said. “You need the right attitude and that’s something I brought over from the boys game.”
The Mustangs will play visiting Bellevue East in a first-round district game Tuesday night. Millard North is seeded second in that A-6 district and even with a win might need to hit the road for Thursday night’s district final.
“The only thing we’re focused on is that game Tuesday night,” he said. “We’ve been a good team at home this year so we need to take care of business.”
Ratings update
While the top teams in Class A remain unchanged, Class B is a different story.
For the sixth straight week there’s a new team atop the Class B ratings. Norris moves back to the top after previous No. 1 Elkhorn North lost to unranked Elkhorn in subdistrict play.
The Class B field for the state tournament is set, so that’s where we’ll be able to settle this ratings business once and for all.
Markowski sets mark
Lincoln Pius X senior center Alexis Markowski has added another accomplishment, becoming the school’s career scoring leader.
The Nebraska signee recently broke the Thunderbolts’ mark set by Maddie Simon, who also went on to play with the Huskers. She broke Simon’s total of 1,378 points in a victory at Grand Island.
Hacker hits 1,000
Congratulations to Omaha Marian’s CeCe Hacker, who recently scored her 1,000th career point.
The senior guard averages 14 points a game and has signed with Lake Superior State.
Coach nets milestone
Added congratulations to CWC coach Laurel O’Malley, who recently picked up career victory No. 200.
She knows about success from her playing days, helping Sutton capture the Class C-1 state title in 1991. O’Malley has been coaching for 11 years and has had six seasons of 20 wins or more.
Laurel’s assistant coach is her husband, Chuck.
Postseason
Class A district play began with play-in games Monday and resumes Tuesday with semifinals.
The Class A district finals will be played Thursday.
District finals in Class C and Class D will be contested Friday.
Past All-Nebraska basketball teams
2020: The Legion of All-Nebraska

Listed alphabetically by last name: Tyson Gordon, Omaha Skutt; Chucky Hepburn, Bellevue West; Jayme Horan, Millard South; Morgan Maly, Crete; Alexis Markowski, Lincoln Pius X; Taylor McCabe, Fremont; Hunter Sallis, Millard North; Allison Weidner, Humphrey St. Francis; Donovan Williams, Lincoln North Star; Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Omaha Central.
2019: Masterpiece

Front row, from left: Whitney Brown, Grand Island Northwest; Lauren West, Millard North; Jayme Horan, Millard South; McKenna Sims, South Sioux City; Morgan Maly, Crete. Back row, from left: Chucky Hepburn, Bellevue West; Charlie Easley, Lincoln Pius X; Akol Arop, Omaha Creighton Prep; Baylor Scheierman, Aurora; John Tonje, Omaha Central.
2018: Monumental

From left: Shereef Mitchell, Omaha Burke; Payton Brotzki, Platteview; Kanon Koster, Kearney; McKenna Sims, South Sioux City; Brady Heiman, Platteview; Dariauna Lewis, Omaha North; Akol Arop, Omaha Creighton Prep; Brooke Carlson, Elkhorn; Sam Griesel, Lincoln East; and Quinn Weidemann, Omaha Westside.
2017: Royal Court

Sitting, from left: Jaden Wrightsell, Omaha Northwest; McKenna Minter, Lincoln Northeast; Teddy Allen, Boys Town. Standing, from left: Chloe Dworak, Lincoln Christian; Quinn Weidemann, Omaha Westside; McKenna Simms, South Sioux City; Aguek Arop, Omaha South; Ed Chang, Papillion-La Vista; Kanon Koster, Kearney; Ayo Akinwole, Papillion-La Vista.
2016: Hang Time

Front from left: Quinn Weidemann, Omaha Westide; Aguek Arop, Omaha South; Grace Berry, Lincoln East; Caleal Walker, Omaha South; and Skyler Snider, Kearney. Back from left: Ed Chang, Papillion-La Vista; Rylie Cascio Jensen, Fremont; Nate Schimonitz, Omaha Creighton Prep; Ryan Williams, Fremont; and Chloe Akin-Otiko, Bellevue West.
2015: Shooting Stars

Front from left: Jay Bridgeman, Omaha Westside; Kianna Ibis, Omaha Benson; Jessica Shepard, Fremont; Maddie Simon, Lincoln Pius X; Jaycee Bradley, Norfolk. Back from left: Tyler Hagedorn, Norfolk; Adam Dykman, Fremont Bergan; Justin Patton, Omaha North; Drew Homa, Omaha Creighton Prep; Malik Hluchoweckyj, Bellevue West.
2014: Full-court Press

Top from left: Chatrice White, Shelby-Rising City; Khyri Thomas, Omaha Benson; Jessica Shepard, Fremont. Front from left: Mitchell Hahn, Fremont; Malik Hluchoweckyj, Bellevue West; McKenzie Brown, Grand Island Northwest; Tre'Shawn Thurman, Omaha Central; Maddie Simon, Lincoln Pius X; Kevin Metoyer, Omaha Westside; Kianna Ibis, Omaha Benson.
2013: All-Shake

Front from left: Alexa Kastanek, Lincoln Southeast (wearing rainbow hat); Tra-Deon Hollins, Omaha Central (holding book); Lauren Works, Lincoln Southwest (wearing fedora); McKenzie Brown, Grand Island Northwest (holding basketball and balloon). Middle from left: Brett Dougherty, Papillion-La Vista (wearing marching band hat); Jessica Shepard, Lincoln Southeast (holding bear); Akoy Agau, Omaha Central (holding trophy); Kianna Ibis, Omaha Benson (waving towel). Back from left: Cam Williams, Omaha South (holding pom poms); Connor Lusso, Millard West (wearing birthday cake hat).
2012: Old School

Front from left: Akoy Agau, Omaha Central; Jessica Shepard, Lincoln Southeast; Josiah Gustafson, Millard North; Brianna Rollerson, Omaha Central; Beth Bohuslavsky, Seward; Mike Gesell, South Sioux City. Back from left: Chelsea Mason, Bellevue West; Dylan Travis, Omaha Gross; Jalen Bradley, Norfolk; Brianna Craig, Lincoln Northeast.
2011: Showstoppers

Front from left: Hailey Mandelko, Lexington; Galen Gullie, Omaha Bryan; Emily Cady, Seward; Mike Gesell, South Sioux City. Middle from left: Akoy Agau, Omaha Central; Chelsea Mason, Bellevue West; Jalen Bradley, Norfolk; Alexis Akin-Otiko, Bellevue West. Back from left: Jayla Hobza, Bellevue East; CJ Carter, Omaha Benson.
2010: Good to the End

Clockwise from top left: Alexis Akin-Otiko, Bellevue West; Jordan Hooper, Alliance; Deverell Biggs, Omaha Central; Dwight Smith, Ralston; Elliott Eliason, Chadron; Austin Kaczor, Ewing; Mike Gesell, South Sioux City; Nicole Arp; Kearney; Sarah Nelson, Omaha Westside; Emily Cady, Seward.
2009: From All Directions

Bottom from left: Austin Kaczor, Ewing; Isiah Gandy, Boys Town; Elliott Eliason, Chadron; Jarrell Crayton, Bellevue East; Greg Smith, Ralston. Top from left of page: Marissa Kastanek, Lincoln Southeast; Emily Hauder, Bellevue West; Jordan Hooper, Alliance; KK Houser, Lincoln Southeast; Sarah Nelson, Omaha Westside.
2008: Rare Collection

From left: Antoine Young, Bellevue West; Jordan Hooper, Alliance; Josh Jones, Omaha Central; Marissa Kastanek, Lincoln Southeast; Wes Eikmeier, Fremont Bergan; KK Houser, Lincoln Southeast; Jarell Crayton, Bellevue East; McKayla Knudson, South Sioux City; Jesse Carr, Ainsworth; Nicole Brungardt, Norfolk Catholic.
2007: Big Game

Clockwise from top left: Kellie Nelson, Omaha Westside; Dominique Kelley, Lincoln Northeast; Kelsey Woodard, Bellevue West; Amber Hegge, Crofton; Jesse Carr, Ainsworth; Josh Jones, Omaha Central; Wes Eikmeier, Fremont Bergan; Antoine Young, Bellevue West; Mitch Albers, Papillion-La Vista; Jasmine Johnson, Omaha Central.
2006: A Cut Above

From left: Antoine Young, Bellevue West; Brooke Delano, Bellevue West; Matt Hill, Lincoln Southeast; Dominique Kelly, Lincoln Northeast; Yvonne Turner, Bellevue East; Andrew Bridger, Lincoln Northeast; Tyler Bullock, Lincoln North Star; Katie Frank, South Sioux City; Samantha Schuett, Millard West; Avery Tyler, Omaha Bryan.
2005: All-State Oasis

From left: Samantha Schuett, Millard West; Katie Frank, South Sioux City; Matt Culliver, Omaha Bryan; Andrew Bridger, Lincoln Northeast; Matt Hill, Lincoln Southeast; Katie Smith, Omaha Skutt; Zach Potter, Omaha Creighton Prep; Yvonne Turner, Bellevue East; Megan Neuvirth, West Point GACC, Josh Dotzler, Bellevue West.