CLASS 1A GIRLS BASKETBALL REPORT
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
The calendar has flipped to 2026 and the basketball schedule has resumed. Teams are still in the first half of their schedules, and this weekend brings several big match-ups for teams ranked in the MHPR top-10.
#1 FLEMING (3-2)
Fleming had a difficult schedule in the first month of the season, with four of its five games coming against ranked opponents. Both losses came against ranked 2A teams (Sedgwick County, Holyoke), and the Lady Wildcats earned wins over #2 McClave and #5 Caliche to close out the month. Brooke Schaefer (18.6 ppg) and Ciana Lousberg (12.4 ppg) have combined for 31 points a game so far. The Lady Wildcats travel to South Platte (NE) on Friday and will head to Otis on Saturday.
#2 MCCLAVE (5-1)
McClave enters 2026 with several tough challenges already under its belt. The Lady Cardinals have a pair of single digit wins, counting the four-pointer over Eads, and two more by 13 or less points. That includes the loss to Fleming, and a 55-43 win over #8 Springfield in the championship of the LHBT. The Lady Cards got 37 points from Abrielle Gomez in that victory, and she’s averaging 21.7 ppg on the season. After the High Plains opening contest at Eads on Friday, McClave goes to Hoehne on Saturday.
#3 EADS (6-1)
Eads reeled off five straight wins to open the campaign, but suffered a tough 43-39 loss to McClave in the semifinals of the Lamar Holiday Basketball Tournament. The Lady Eagles bounced back to take third in that event and end the month of December on a high note. Anna Wollert is leading the team with 16.6 points and 7.1 rebounds a night. Eads opens High Plains league play on Friday by hosting McClave. The Lady Eagles also have a non-league clash on Saturday at #7 Evangel Christian Academy.
#4 STRATTON (3-1)
Stratton began the season with three straight games against Kansas schools in the Border Wars, and the Lady Eagles won two of the three. They got a win in their only game against an in-state foe, beating Hi-Plains 59-33 right before the break. The Lady Eagles have a pair of non-league games this weekend, with a trip to 2A Holyoke and 2A #4 Akron on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Stratton also hosts Cheyenne Wells next Tuesday.
#5 CALICHE (5-1)
After eking out a 41-40 win over #6 Prairie in the season-opener, Caliche dominated its next four opponents, winning by a collective score of 273-68. That run came to an end in the final game of 2025, where the Lady Buffs fell to Fleming by a 44-36 tally. The Lady Buffs are led by a trio of double figure scorers in Alexis Breidenbach (13.3 ppg), Ryann Svoboda (11.8 ppg), and Ellie Willis (11.7 ppg). Caliche travels to Deer Trail on Thursday, hosts Briggsdale on Saturday, and visits 2A Holyoke next Tuesday in LPAA action.
#6 PRAIRIE (5-2)
Following that narrow loss to Caliche to open the season, Prairie ripped off three straight wins before running into 2A #6 Sedgwick County in the opening round of the NJC Holiday Tournament. The Lady Mustangs were handed a 44-17 loss in that match-up, but responded with wins over Dayspring Christian and Haxtun to close out December. Hannah Kugler had herself quite the month, averaging 31.3 points, 18.5 rebounds, and 4.8 steals. The Lady Mustangs will look to keep their streak going when they host Haxtun on Saturday. They collected a 33-22 win earlier in the campaign.
#7 EVANGEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (5-0)
Behind the duo of Mia Castro (15.2 ppg, 9.2 steals, 5.8 assists) and Reagan Schultz (13.8 ppg, 11.0 rebounds), ECA finished the month of December unbeaten. The Lady Eagles won a pair of games by single digits, including a 41-39 decision over Genoa-Hugo/Karval, but also had three wins by at least 16 points. They will travel to Custer County on Friday, and then host Eads in a top-10 showdown on Saturday.
#8 SPRINGFIELD (5-1)
Springfield saw its unbeaten streak to open the season end at five in its 55-43 loss to McClave in the finals of the Lamar Holiday Basketball Tournament. The Lady Longhorns led at the half, but were outscored 31-16 in the second half. Jersey Speck had 23 points in that contest, and the sophomore is averaging 18.8 points a game. Classmate Cobi Mackey adds 16.7 points, and BriLynn Jackson is just a tick under 10 a night. The Lady Longhorns are home on Saturday, hosting Cheyenne Wells.
#9 NUCLA (8-0)
To say that Nucla was dominant in the month of December would be an understatement. The Lady Mustangs outscored their opponents by an average of 30 points a game. Their narrowest margin of victory was 12 points over Dove Creek. Lantry Galley paces the team with 15.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.9 steals a game. Shay Snyder chips in 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.1 steals. Nucla opens San Juan Basin league play on Thursday at Ridgway, and follows that with another league clash on Saturday, as Mancos comes calling.
#10 IDALIA (4-2)
Early in December, losses to McClave and Akron left Idalia with a 1-2 record. The Lady Wolves rebounded to win their final three games of the month, including a 54-41 victory over previously unbeaten Briggsdale in the championship game of the Idalia tournament. Brigette Kite and Ailyn Monarrez-Estrada had 15 points apiece in that win. On the season, they’re combining for just under 28 points a game. The Lady Wolves will cross the state line on Friday to face St. Francis (KS), before heading to Hi-Plains on Saturday for a YWKC league tilt.
MileHigh Prep Report 