Broncos break into final D-2 Top 10

OMAHA, Neb. — Wauneta-Palisade represented the Gazette area with a final Top 10 state basketball ranking in Sunday’s Nebraska Prep Zone.

The Broncos (16-8 record) finish No. 10 among all D-2 girls teams after reaching state tournament play last week as one of two wildcards.

They gained the wildcard spot by playing a schedule featuring numerous Class D-1 and C-2 teams this season.

Wauneta-Palisade played Thursday morning at Lincoln North Star but dropped a 64-36 quarterfinal to the Hyannis Longhorns (21-4), who finished No. 4 in these rankings.

Champion Falls City Sacred Heart (27-1) earned the top spot as expected over finalist Humphrey St. Francis and consolation champ Exeter-Milligan.

Not many other southwest Nebraska teams cracked the top 10 beyond North Platte St. Patrick’s at No. 7 in Class C-2.

Pleasnaton finished No. 5 among D-1 teams after rallying past Hitchcock County in a quarterfinal on Thursday.