GRC Girls Basketball 2024-25 Season Preview

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

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Two-time defending GRC Champion South Harrison received seven first-place votes and is the coaches' pick to win the GRC Girls Basketball Championship for the 2024-25 season. Marceline received two first-place votes and was picked second, tied with Trenton.

South Harrison

South Harrison Lady Bulldogs will be replacing a very talented graduating class. The Lady Bulldogs won two consecutive GRC championships. Although Hannah Carter (15.5 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, All-State, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), Megan Norris (3.8 ppg), Hallee Chamberlin (6.7 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast), and Emma Chamberlin (5.7 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast) have departed, South Harrison is picked to win their 3^rd consecutive title.

Abigail Molloy (11.2 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), Lexi Hunter (5.2 ppg), Abby Owens (0.2 ppg), Ambrey Hunter (0.4 ppg), Brylee Sherrill (0.9 ppg), and Aubrey Cannon (1.8 ppg) return.

Coach Kale Watson said, "We will be looking to fill some big roles with the players that we lost from last year's team. Early on, we will be really keying in on player roles both offensively and defensively. We have a tough non-conference schedule that will test us right from the jump, so it will be about figuring out how those roles mesh together on both sides of the ball as we start to define our identity. I think this year's crew is very excited to step into those new roles and have high expectations for not only themselves but the team as a whole. I have been pleasantly surprised at how quickly they have embraced their roles, our offensive/defensive systems, and, more importantly, our team culture. I think they will be a crew that just keeps getting better and better as the season wears along as most of them have played a lot of basketball together."

Marceline

Marceline Lady Tigers will join the GRC this season after finishing 10-13 overall and 4-4 in the Lewis & Clark Conference. They look to improve on that record in their new conference.

Marceline must replace Avery Gillman, Brailey Niemeier, and Ireland Bloss. The top returning players for the Lady Tigers are senior Natalee Pennington (2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, KMZU Dream Team, 2^nd Team NEMO Media All-District) and sophomore Whitney Pennington (3^rd Team All-Conference, KMZU Dream Team). They were the leading scorers on last year's team.

Newcomers include Ella Mosely and Emery Dodd. Mosely is an incoming freshman with some length and should provide additional scoring. Dodd came off the bench last season but will step into a starting role. 

Coach Jerad Best said, "As always, I have high expectations for this team coming into the season. We lost a lot of experience at the varsity level, but this is a very competitive and hard-working group of girls who will surprise a lot of teams this year if they can stick with it and play as a team." He added, "I am excited to be a part of the GRC, and hopefully, we can come into the conference and be able to compete night in and night out. Best of luck to everyone as the season begins."

Trenton

For the second straight season, the Trenton Lady Bulldogs struggled early in the season before a late-season surge. This time, they were able to win their first district championship since 2019, when they finished third in the state. Trenton finished the season 10-14 overall and 2-4 in conference. 

The Lady Bulldogs will return four of five starters this season. Madi Moore (6.5 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, All-District, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team) is the only starter who graduated. Katelyn Clark (2.0 ppg) and Jena Harris (1.0 ppg) also graduated. Mirena King (14.6 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), Kaegen Croy (6.9 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, All-District, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast), Astrid Soriano (6.1 ppg) and Kaylor Hodge (3.7 ppg) will return in the starting lineup. 

Coach Steve Richman said, "If some of our younger kids develop, we will be a tough team to play."

Milan

Milan Lady Cats went 15-12 and 4-2 in the GRC last season. They will return four out of five starters this year, with Avery Pickering (7.6 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team) departing. Returning for Milan are junior Marian Dabney (15.0 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, 1^st Team NEMO Media All-District) and seniors Amy Pickering (9.1 ppg), Emerson Pauley (8.4 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team, 1^st Team NEMO Media All-District), and Violet Gray (1.9 ppg). Dabney can play inside or out. While she is the tallest player on the team, she also led the Lady Cats in three-point field goals with 2.5 per game. Emerson Pauley will be the primary ball handler and a threat from the outside. Amy Pickering is the top defender and often guards the other team's best player. Gray is a key rebounder, and Coach Ched Hurley is looking for her to be a bigger offensive threat this season. Sophomore Mya Pauley (4.2 ppg) is expected to replace Avery Pickering in the starting lineup. 

Coach Hurley said, "Our expectations are always the same; play for championships in tournaments, conference, and district."

Gallatin

Last year, Gallatin Lady Bulldogs had their first winning season since 2018-19 when they went 15-12 and 3-3 in the GRC. They capped off their season with a District Championship before falling to North Platte in the State Sectional. 

This season, the Lady Bulldogs will have to replace their leading scorer, Annabelle Ball (15.3 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), along with Ashley Feiden (8.2 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast) who was third on the team in scoring. Gallatin will also miss their rebounding as well. However, they still return a lot of talent with Kallie Salmon (10.5 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, 2^nd Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), Brynn Bird (5.9 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast), Kaelyn Sterneker (4.1 ppg), Lyndsey King (1.3 ppg), and Payton Adkison (0.9 ppg) returning for the Lady Bulldogs.

Newcomers include Tagen Eversole and Adalyn Miller, while Paige Heldenbrand (0.7 ppg) is expected to get more playing time in her sophomore season after playing in seven games last year.

Chad Sullenger will return to the bench this year, coaching the Lady Bulldogs. He said, "We're a team that we hope to be consistently competitive throughout the season, with our goal to be playing our best heading into the district tournament. We'll be a team-oriented group first and foremost. We're going to work our tail off to get better throughout the season with development and concentrating on our weaknesses while building on our strengths."

Putnam County

The Putnam County Lady Midgets will return three starters this season from a team that finished 10-17 and 1-5 in the GRC.   Karly Seaton (9.5 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District) and Emma Whitlock (7.0 ppg) depart Putnam County, while senior Allise Perkins (9.0 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), junior Sammi Blanchard (6.2 ppg), and junior Loralei Fisher (4.3 ppg) will return to the starting lineup.   Junior Tayla Turner (1.2 ppg) and sophomore Reagan Smith (2.3 ppg) will join them.   Both had key minutes off the bench but are expected to step up this season.

Coach Keith Smith said, "As a coach, my focus this season is on consistent effort and improvement. I expect our players to give maximum effort in both practices and games because, with hustle and determination, any team can exceed expectations. We're working on individual and team development, especially honing skills like shooting accuracy, defensive intensity, ball movement, and decision-making. Leadership is critical, particularly from returning players like Allise Perkins, who plays a huge role in keeping the team focused and motivated. We emphasize teamwork, trust, communication, and mastering the fundamentals—shooting, dribbling, and defense—so we can execute well in games. I am also counting on players like Sammi Blanchard and Lorelai Fisher to step up and take on larger roles this season. Another big focus is tactical awareness—adjusting to opponents, minimizing turnovers, and making smart decisions in key moments. Handling adversity will be important, so I'm building a culture of resilience where we learn from mistakes and bounce back stronger. At the end of the day, success isn't just about wins and losses; it's about how we grow, perform under pressure, and execute our game plan as a team."

Brookfield

Brookfield finished 8-18 overall and 1-6 in the Clarence Cannon Conference. They hope to improve as they enter their first year in the GRC. Maddie Wilbeck (Honorable Mention All-Conference, All-District, KMZU Dream Team) is a key player who graduated from last year's team. The Bulldogs will return several players, led by Greenlee McCollum (KMZU Dream Team).   Wiley Potter will take over as the Lady Dogs head coach this season.

Polo

Polo will have the difficult task of replacing Hanna Vaught (19.2 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, District Player of the Year, All-State, 1^st Team All-Cliff Notes Podcast, KMZU Dream Team), who led the GRC in scoring last season.   The Lady Panthers finished 14-8 overall and 5-1 in the GRC.   yna Norton (4.1 ppg, KMZU Dream Team) also graduated.   Polo will return junior Libby Norton (7.1 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District, Honorable Mention All-Cliff Notes Podcast), junior Emma Chapman (3.9 ppg), senior Emersyn Parker (2.5 ppg), and senior Lacy Maier (2.8 ppg). 

New coach Ryan Cook said, "I do not have any expectations for the upcoming season other than we are going to go out there and play our best and see where we end up. We do not have one stand-out player and are going to all have to play together."

Maysville

Maysville Lady Wolverines face an uphill battle as they try to rebuild. They have only won six games in the last two seasons, including no conference wins. Last season, they finished 4-20 and 0-6 in the GRC.   Elana Clark (7.1 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference) and Sydney Popplewell (7.2 ppg) graduated.   Maysville had a balanced scoring attack with Clark, Popplewell, and Ashlyn Klippenstein (7.3), who will return.   Klippenstein was the leading scorer last season, but all three had about seven points a game.

Senior Chloe Clark (1.7 ppg) and junior Sophia Redman (2.0 ppg) are also returning to Maysville. Newcomers include sophomores Natania Clemens and Harley Sweiger (0.6) and freshman Ava Orr.

Coach Tyler Zimmerman said, "We look to continue to grow competitively and close the gap against many teams on our schedule. We had a good summer of basketball, and I think that will translate to the regular season. There is a chance we beat some teams we are not supposed to beat this year. Should be a fun season for the girls." He added, "Girls have worked hard and continue to get better."