There are no unbeaten teams remaining in the area and there are just six state wide: Pierce (19-0), Bennington (19-0) and Wisner-Pilger (19-0 in Class C-1; Fremont Bergan (20-0) in Class D-1 and Ewing (20-0) and Cody-Kilgore (19-0) in D-2.

But there are a number of solid teams in the area getting ready for subdistrict play who are capable of causing some problems for opponents. That list starts with three tough Class C-1 teams that are all in the same district.

No. 7 Hastings St. Cecilia (16-2) and St. Paul (15-3) are both in the Class C-1, Subdistrict 8 tournament at Grand Island Senior High.

The other half of the district is just as tough.

Boone Central (15-3) will play in the Class C-1, Subdistrict 7 at Columbus High. Two of the Cardinals' three losses have come to C-1 No. 1-rated Pierce.

Boone Central doesn't have an easy subdsitrict either. Central City (11-8) is capable of pulling a surprise although the Cardinals did beat the Bison 57-31 last week and Columbus Lakeview (12-6) is a dangerous team that won the Central Conference Tournament in January.

There are three powerful Class C-2 teams in the area. All have a shot at a wild card if needed, but none has an easy road to a district championship. No. 1-rated Ravenna (19-1) is in the Class C-2, Subdistrict 9 at Kearney High along with No. 4 Grand Island Central Catholic (13-6).

No. 2 Heartland High (18-1) is in the Class C-2, Subdistrict 2 along with No. 2 Deshler (18-1) with No. 8 Southern (15-3) in the other half of the district.

Class D-1 No. 6 Palmer has put together a strong season with a 17-2 record. The Tigers are in the Class D-1, Subdistrict 5 tournament along with Heartland Lutheran (9-8) and Osceola (13-5), a team that handed Palmer one of its two losses this season.

There are some dangerous teams in Class D-2 as well. Litchfield is 14-2 heading into the Class D-2, Subdistrict 9 play that includes No. 2 Pleasanton (18-1).

No. 8 Hampton (16-3) is in the Class D-2, Subdistrict 2 along with No. 3 Bruning-Davenport (18-4). No. 4 Falls City Sacred Heart (20-1) is waiting on the other side of the district.

D-2 No. 10 St. Edward (16-3), the defending state champions, appears to have the clearest shot to advance to the state tournament with Cedar Rapids (8-9), Elba (1-17) Greeley-Wolbach (4-13) and North Loup-Scotia (6-11) in their subdistrict.

The other half of the district consists of Leigh (12-6), Lindsay Holy Family (7-10), Dodge (6-12) and Prague (5-12).

We'll see some interesting games when the Class A districts fire up later in February. Grand Island (15-4) and Kearney (15-5) are both quality teams, but both play in the Class A, District 7 tournament at Hastings High and would have to have everything go just right to be in wild card contention.

Bluehawks still rolling

Hastings St. Cecilia has managed to put the distractions aside in rolling to a 16-2 record.

Trent Blackwell began the season as a co-head coach with former Hastings College coach Mike Trader, but Blackwell was suspended and later dismissed from his duties.

Trader has stayed on in his role as scout and has led the practices while former assistant Rob Kober is now calling the shots during games.

Bob Hamar is the boys prep basketball writer for The Independent.