Each week the Columbus Telegram will be highlighting five boys basketball players from across the area for their performances each week.
The efforts may not always be the greatest statistically, but are notable.
Caelan Olson, David City
The Scouts entered the year without two of its top scorers from last year, leaving a big hole in their offensive production.
David City's Caelan Olson attempts a shot in the second half of the Scouts 47-35 win over Schuyler Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025.
Through three games, Olson has stepped up to fill that gap, averaging nine points and reaching a career-high 14 points in a 47-35 win over Schuyler Tuesday.
“Not only did he shoot the ball well, he guarded,” said David City coach Chad Wiseman.
David City jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the opening minutes against the Warriors and rode that advantage the rest of the night to pick up their first win of the season after losses to Centennial (35-30) and Sandy Creek (56-11).
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“Sometimes at the beginning of the year, when you don’t play well it can carry over, but I think our kids knew that the Sandy Creek game was going to help us get better,” Wiseman said.
Olson reached double-digits as well against Centennial, tallying 10 points to pace David City.
David City travels to Elmwood-Murdock Saturday before hosting Henderson-Hamton Tuesday and making the short trip to Columbus to face Lakeview Friday.
Jaxson Vasicek, Columbus
The six-foot-four sophomore gained the attention of Class A with his opening night performance, going off for a career-high 22 points to lead the Discoverers to an opening round win over Burke, 58-47, in the OPS Invitational.
While he struggled against Westview in an overtime loss, Vasicek quickly bounced back to post a 16-point effort against Omaha North and a near double-double in a 57-45 win over Buena Vista, 14 points, eight rebounds.
Columbus travels to South Sioux City on Dec. 16 for its next game then closes the week with a home game against North Platte on Dec. 19.
Caleb Sloup, Lakeview
The Vikings six-foot-one guard is off to a hot start to his senior season, scoring career-highs in back-to-back games.
Sloup started with a modest 10 points in the Vikings 62-51 win over Boone Central, the first time in his career he broke the double-digit barrier.
That was just a warm-up act for his performance against Arlington when he went off against for 26 points to lead Lakeview past the Eagles 56-50.
Lakeview travels to Wayne Saturday then is back on the road Dec. 18 for a trip to North Bend Central. A home game against David City closes the week on Dec. 19.
Corbin Rodriguez, Twin River
A 30-point performance gets a nod into this week’s list, which is just what the senior guard did against Shelby-Rising City to start the year.
Rodriguez poured in 30 points - a career-high - on 10 of 17 shooting with just two three’s mixed in and left some meat on the bone as well with an 8 of 15 performance at the free throw line.
He followed it up with a 16-point effort against Nebraska Lutheran in a losing effort, 51-45.
Twin River travels to Henderson-Hampton at 5 p.m. Saturday then closes the pre-winter break slate with home games against McCool Junction (Dec. 16) and Fullerton (Dec. 18).
Chase Luther, Howells-Dodge
Another 30-piece graces the page as the Jaguars junior was on fire in a 79-48 thumping of Wakefield.
The junior was 11 of 18 from the field, the majority coming from behind the three-point line, where he went 8 of 14. Howells-Dodge as a team shot 14 of 32 from three
Luther also chipped in 10 points in the No. 1 Jaguars 73-22 win over Stanton.
Howells-Dodge travels to Oakland-Craig Saturday. The following week the Jaguars travel to Lyons-Decatur Northeast (Dec. 19) then host Clarkson/Leigh the following night.
