Right now, it's no contest. Omaha Creighton Prep is playing the best defense in Class A.
Omaha Central had been under 50 points only once all season, but because it was a win over Gretna that comes with an asterisk. Gretna still has Moe Iba’s playbook from Nebraska.
The No. 5 Eagles couldn’t get to 40 against Prep. A night after they made half of their 20 3-point attempts in an overtime loss at No. 1 Bellevue West, they were 3-of-19 in Saturday night’s 49-39 loss at No. 3 Prep.
Prep had no letdown following its 76-75 win Thursday night at No. 2 Millard North, in which it rallied from 11 down by holding the state’s highest scoring team to 13 points in the final 9½ minutes.
“Our guys came to guard,’’ Prep coach Josh Luedtke said. “Anytime you’re playing the talent of Millard North and then a couple days later a team like Central with just as much talent is tough. Central is averaging 69 points, I think, and we held them to 39. I’m really proud of our defense.
Luedtke said he thought his team was physically tired from the Millard North game and Central’s pressure was bothersome.
“We exerted a lot of energy defensively and I think that hurt us offensively,’’ he said.
Central (19-5) had lengthy scoring droughts at the end of each of the first three quarters. The Eagles trailed by 11 at the half but by only 35-31 on Fai Germany’s basket with 2:34 left in the third quarter.
They went more than nine minutes without another made field goal.
“We obviously shot the ball better last night,’’ Central coach Eric Behrens said. “Prep and Bellevue West played very different styles. We probably attacked West a little bit better than we did Prep.”
Marshall had 11 and PJ Davis 10 for Central, whose season scoring leader — Denim Johnson — was held to five while going against the likes of AJ Rollins and Luke Jungers inside.
On Senior Night, Justin Sitti, who’s signed with Morningside, led Prep with 13 points. Five of Prep’s seven seniors scored, with Rollins getting 11, twins Brendan (8) and Conor (4) Buckley combining for 12 and Mai’jhe Wiley scoring seven. Tony Tubrick and Alex Bullock entered the game in the final minute.
Omaha Central (19-5).......................9 9 13 8—39
At Omaha Creighton Prep (20-2)...13 16 10 10—49
OC: Jaren Marshall 11, PJ Davis 10, Fai Germany 7, Jayden Dawson 6, Denim Johnson 5.
CP: Justin Sitti 13, AJ Rollins 9, Brendan Buckley 8, Mai’jhe Wiley 8, Luke Jungers 7, Conor Buckley 4.
History of Nebraska prep basketball state championship covers
2020 boys
Class A: Bellevue West 64, Millard North 62
Class B: Omaha Skutt 59, Omaha Roncalli 31
Class C-1: Auburn 58, Ogallala 34
Class C-2: BRLD 61, Grand Island CC 47
Class D-1: Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 76, Southern Valley 31
Class D-2: Falls City Sacred Heart 45, Humphrey St. Francis 33
2020 girls
Class A: Lincoln Pius X 45, Lincoln East 37
Class B: Crete 53, Beatrice 26
Class C-1: North Bend 48, Lincoln Christian 32
Class C-2: Hastings St. Cecilia 41, Ponca 37
Class D-1: Pleasanton 47, Fremont Bergan 38
Class D-2: Wynot 59, Humphrey St. Francis 51
2019 boys
Class A: Omaha South 58, Omaha Central 56
Class B: Lincoln Pius X 71, Omaha Roncalli 59 (2OT)
Class C-1: Auburn 30, North Bend Central 29
Class C-2: BRLD 53, Yutan 42
Class D-1: Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 61, Fremont Bergan 46
Class D-2: Johnson-Brock 67, Osmond 54
2019 girls
Class A: Millard North 62, Lincoln Southwest 52
Class B: Grand Island Northwest 49, Crete 43
Class C-1: Wahoo Neumann 45, Lincoln Christian 29
Class C-2: Hastings St. Cecilia 63, Crofton 45
Class D-1: Fremont Bergan 36, Dundy County-Stratton 27
Class D-2: Wynot 39, Falls City Sacred Heart 38
2018 boys
Class A: Omaha Creighton Prep 56, Bellevue West 46
Class B: York 61, Omaha Skutt 56, 2OT
Class C-1: Wahoo 70, Winnebago 66, OT
Class C-2: Ponca 50, Hastings St. Cecilia 40
Class D-1: Nebraska City Lourdes 32, Kenesaw 25
Class D-2: Falls City Sacred Heart 59, Riverside 42
2018 girls
Class A: Omaha Westside 55, Millard South 44
Class B: Elkhorn 67, South Sioux City 60
Class C-1: Columbus Scotus 40, Wahoo Neumann 37, OT
Class C-2: Superior 42, Ravenna 39
Class D-1: North Central 54, BDS 35
Class D-2: Falls City Sacred Heart 57, Humphrey St. Francis 51
2017 boys
Class A: Norfolk 68, Papillion-La Vista 49
Class B: Gretna 55, Scottsbluff 53
Class C-1: Wahoo Neumann 80, Wahoo 57
Class C-2: Ponca 52, Neligh-Oakdale 45
Class D-1: Nebraska City Lourdes 47, West Point GACC 44
Class D-2: Mullen 29, Mead 29
2017 girls
Class A: Lincoln Southwest 56, Millard South 51
Class B: South Sioux City 48, Norris 44
Class C-1: Lincoln Christian 45, Kearney Catholic 41
Class C-2: Howells-Dodge 39, Diller-Odell 30
Class D-1: West Point GACC 53, Dundy County-Stratton 50
Class D-2: Falls City Sacred Heart 48, Wynot 36
2016 boys
Class A: Omaha South 59, Fremont 50
Class B: Gretna 52, Scottsbluff 33
Class C-1: Wahoo Neumann 63, Adams Central 54
Class C-2: Hastings St. Cecilia 57, Elmwood-Murdock 38
Class D-1: Nebraska City Lourdes 61, Walthill 50
Class D-2: Humphrey St. Francis 33, Mead 31
2016 girls
Class A: Lincoln East 48, Millard West 46
Class B: Elkhorn South 43, Waverly 33
Class C-1: Kearney Catholic 39, Lincoln Christian 37
Class C-2: Crofton 46, West Point GACC 43
Class D-1: Emerson-Hubbard 41, Howells-Dodge 38
Class D-2: Wynot 41, St. Mary's 40
2015 boys
Class A: Omaha Creighton Prep 46, Omaha South 41
Class B: Elkhorn South 60, Sidney 51
Class C-1: Winnebago 66, Columbus Scotus 51
Class C-2: Hastings St. Cecilia 60, Freeman 36
Class D-1: High Plains 64, Humphrey St. Francis 61
Class D-2: Exeter-Milligan 67, Bancroft-Rosalie 62 (2OT)
2015 girls
Class A: Omaha Westside 53, Norfolk 40
Class B: Lincoln Pius X 41, Norris 33
Class C-1: Pierce 38, Kearney Catholic 35
Class C-2: Crofton 48, Hastings St. Cecilia 39
Class D-1: St. Mary's 52, Dundy County-Stratton 33
Class D-2: Falls City Sacred Heart 44, Wynot 39
2014 boys
Class A: Bellevue West 56, Omaha Westside 50 (OT)
Class B: Omaha Skutt 59, Beatrice 45
Class C-1: Wahoo Neumann 68, Wahoo 47
Class C-2: Fremont Bergan 71, Ainsworth 69 (OT)
Class D-1: Randolph 54, Overton 42
Class D-2: Bancroft-Rosalie 62, High Plains 47
2014 girls
Class A: Omaha Benson 47, Bellevue West 43
Class B: Grand Island Northwest 66, Lincoln Pius X 58
Class C-1: Pierce 69, Minden 60
Class C-2: Crofton 62, Hastings St. Cecilia 40
Class D-1: Friend 44, Humphrey St. Francis 43
Class D-2: Wynot 53, Sterling 38
2013 boys
Class A: Omaha Central 69, Papillion-La Vista 44
Class B: South Sioux City 55, Scottsbluff 53
Class C-1: Wahoo 45, Boone Central/Newman Grove 42
Class C-2: Southern Valley 38, Sutton 34 (OT)
Class D-1: Howells-Dodge 49, Paxton 34
Class D-2: Wynot 57, Spalding/Spalding Academy 56 (2OT)
2013 girls
Class A: Lincoln Southeast 65, Bellevue West 57
Class B: Grand Island Northwest 62, Norris 51 (2OT)
Class C-1: Pierce 51, Kearney Catholic 34
Class C-2: Crofton 43, Hastings St. Cecilia 31
Class D-1: Pender 42, St. Mary's 36
Class D-2: Wynot 60, Osmond 52
2012 boys
Class A: Omaha Central 55, Omaha South 38
Class B: Scottsbluff 64, South Sioux City 61
Class C-1: Boys Town 58, Wahoo 55
Class C-2: Ravenna 61, Norfolk Lutheran 51
Class D-1: St. Mary's 56, Pawnee City 54
Class D-2: Giltner 52, Howells 41 (2OT)
2012 girls
Class A: Omaha Central 36, Lincoln Southeast 35
Class B: Seward 46, Beatrice 35
Class C-1: Sandy Creek 51, Minden 45
Class C-2: Crofton 41, Norfolk Lutheran 28
Class D-1: West Point GACC 49, Humphrey 43
Class D-2: Wynot 50, Howells 47 (OT)
2011 boys
Class A: Omaha Central 52, Omaha Bryan 48
Class B: South Sioux City 69, Gretna 56
Class C-1: Norfolk Catholic 56, Minden 45
Class C-2: Lincoln Christian 46, Fremont Bergman 43
Class D-1: West Point GACC 73, Howells 63
Class D-2: Giltner 57, Wauneta-Palisade 54
2011 girls
Class A: Bellevue East 52, Bellevue West 49
Class B: Seward 70, Elkhorn 54
Class C-1: Hastings St. Cecilia 65, Wahoo 61
Class C-2: Homer 49, Crofton 45
Class D-1: Howells 46, Pender 36
Class D-2: Wynot 45, Hay Springs 33
2010 boys
Class A: Omaha Central 71, Norfolk 58
Class B: South Sioux City 60, Omaha Skutt 56 (OT)
Class C-1: Hastings St. Cecilia 46, Chadron 40
Class C-2: Ravenna 57, Fremont Bergan 51
Class D-1: Freeman 52, Overton 38
Class D-2: Ewing 41, Hampton 33
2010 girls
Class A: Bellevue West 51, Millard West 38
Class B: Seward 68, Gretna 45
Class C-1: Wahoo Neumann 58, Wahoo 55 (OT)
Class C-2: Sandy Creek 49, Hartington Cedar Catholic 44
Class D-1: Elkhorn Valley 57, East Butler 52
Class D-2: Lindsay Holy Family 40, Wynot 37
2009 boys
Class A: Omaha Creighton Prep 34, Lincoln Southwest 31
Class B: Ralston 61, Beatrice 49
Class C-1: Hastings St. Cecilia 61, Chadron 58
Class C-2: Ravenna 57, Freeman 51
Class D-1: Mead 55, Humphrey St. Francis 43
Class D-2: Sterling 49, Ewing 48
2009 girls
Class A: Bellevue West 71, Lincoln Southeast 60
Class B: Seward 39, Lincoln Pius X 35
Class C-1: Wahoo Neumann 49, Bennington 38
Class C-2: Ravenna 45, David City Aquinas 40
Class D-1: Bancroft-Rosalie 56, Silver Lake 43
Class D-2: Ewing 51, Chambers 48 (OT)
2008 boys
Class A: Omaha Central 59, Bellevue East 58
Class B: Beatrice 39, Elkhorn 36
Class C-1: Hastings St. Cecilia 50, Bennington 43
Class C-2: Elmwood-Murdock 59, Grand Island Central Catholic 48
Class D-1: Fremont Bergan 56, Humphrey St. Francis 43
Class D-2: Falls City Sacred Heart 66, Pleasanton 54
2008 girls
Class A: Lincoln Southeast 60, Millard West 44
Class B: South Sioux City 53, Alliance 48
Class C-1: Norfolk Catholic 52, Wahoo Neumann 50
Class C-2: Perkins County 62, Sutton 49
Class D-1: Bancroft-Rosalie 68, Pope John 35
Class D-2: Ewing 45, Pleasanton 44
2007 boys
Class A: Omaha Central 93, Bellevue West 85 (OT)
Class B: Omaha Skutt 59, Beatrice 52
Class C-1: Ainsworth 63, Chadron 59
Class C-2: Ponca 56, Oakland-Craig 48
Class D-1: Wauneta-Palisade 71, Leigh 60
Class D-2: St. Edward 48, Spencer-Naper 42
2007 girls
Class A: Bellevue West 54, Omaha Westside 51
Class B: Alliance 55, Crete 40
Class C-1: Crofton 47, Norfolk Catholic 46
Class C-2: Kearney Catholic 60, Perkins County 56 (OT)
Class D-1: Humphrey St. Francis 77, Freeman 27
Class D-2: Ewing 56, Falls City Sacred Heart 46
2006 boys
Class A: Omaha Central 84, Bellevue West 79 (OT)
Class B: Omaha Skutt 66, Holdrege 62 (OT)
Class C-1: Boys Town 68, Louisville 62
Class C-2: David City Aquinas 60, Ravenna 55
Class D-1: Humphrey St. Francis 70, Axtell 34
Class D-2: Ewing 48, Spencer-Naper 44
2006 girls
Class A: Bellevue East 55, Lincoln Northeast 45
Class B: Gretna 52, Beatrice 46
Class C-1: Crofton 48, Ashland-Greenwood 39
Class C-2: Ravenna 55, West Point GACC 44
Class D-1: Humphrey St. Francis 56, Cross County 50
Class D-2: Newcastle 46, Shickley 26
2005 boys
Class A: Bellevue West 67, Omaha Creighton Prep 49
Class B: Beatrice 54, Elkhorn Mt. Michael 49
Class C-1: Syracuse 55, Wahoo Neumann 46
Class C-2: Ravenna 66, Wakefield 28
Class D-1: Pleasanton 70, Humphrey St. Francis 48
Class D-2: Lindsay Holy Family 56, Loomis 53
2005 girls
Class A: Lincoln Northeast 52, Bellevue East 45
Class B: South Sioux City 57, Beatrice 45
Class C-1: Crofton 54, Fort Calhoun 42
Class C-2: West Point GACC 72, Exeter-Milligan 44
Class D-1: Humphrey St. Francis 62, Freeman 48
Class D-2: Wynot 53, Clearwater 49
Stu Pospisil
Reporter - High school sports
Stu is The World-Herald's lead writer for high school sports and for golf. Follow him on Twitter @stuOWH. Email stu.pospisil@owh.com
