While OTH coverage focuses on four area conference, there are some area teams outside of those four conferences that we will continue to focus on this season.
No information on Canterbury or Hamilton was provided.
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN BRAVES
This year’s squad will be led by returning starters Desi Pope, a dynamic sophomore point guard who averaged 10 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game as an OTH All-Freshman team selection, and senior forward Marnie Davis, giving the team a balanced inside-out presence. They’ll be supported by a strong group of returners, including senior guard Quinn Mann, senior forward Lily Stangland, and junior guards Ellie Helmuth and Avery Wampole. Sophomore forward Jae Pickett adds an important inside presence after posting 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game a season ago. Freshmen Cici Sefton and Kinley Steele are expected to contribute right away as impact newcomers, bringing athleticism and depth to both the guard and forward spots. The program will need to replace the leadership and production of their graduates, but team chemistry stands out as a defining strength of this group.
“This is going to be a fun season. We have a completely different look from years past. Our style will be different as our player strengths are different than before,” said coach Steph Gongaware. We will be a lot more versatile this year. This group is very coachable and competitive. They want to work hard and be the best they can be. We know who we are playing for so it is easy to give max effort and all the glory to
Him.”
LAKEWOOD PARK PANTHERS
Lakewood Park enters the new season with three returning starters who will be leaned on to provide experience and stability as the program transitions into a new era. Senior guard/forward Riah Johnson brings versatility and toughness, averaging 3.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game a year ago, while junior forward Gracelyn Martin provides a strong interior presence after posting 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. Sophomore point guard Luca Bontrager rounds out the returning core, adding 4.7 points, 2.1 assists, and an impressive 2.8 steals per game to the lineup. They’ll be supported by key returners in sophomores Carigan Treesh and senior Luci Young, both vying for starting roles, while freshman forward Gracie Dock adds promising size and athleticism. The biggest challenge will be replacing the heavy scoring production of graduates Ava McGrade (22.4 PPG, 1,581 career points). With strong defensive potential, team chemistry, and good size, the Knights will aim to generate offense through pressure and transition while establishing program standards in year one.
“I am excited and honored for the opportunity to coach at Lakewood Park. Coach [Jared] Estep did a tremendous job with this program, so we will continue to try and build off of what he and his staff started,” said new Lakewood Park coach Andrew Evertts. “We have a great group of girls this year that are buying into our system really well. We have all the pieces to have success this season, and they are working very hard to put all of that together. Sometimes that can take a little bit of time during year one, but I have no doubt that this team will figure it out. By the end of the season we will be a very tough group.”
MANCHESTER SQUIRES
Manchester heads into the season with a strong core of returning talent, led by senior guards Hadley West and Payton Ream, along with junior standouts Emma Walker and Ava Sautter. They’ll be supported by key returners like junior forward Allie Egolf and sophomore guard Olivia Stevens, while freshman Elin Betten is expected to provide an early impact and help make up for post play lost to graduation. The team’s biggest strengths will be its athleticism, defensive pressure, and ability to play with pace. Inside scoring and rebounding remain areas of growth, though the group has worked to improve size and presence in the paint.
“We are very excited about where our team chemistry is and how hard this group of girls works,” said coach Allison Kauffman. “The energy and effort they bring is fun to watch.”
WARSAW TIGERS
The Warsaw girls basketball team enters the season with high expectations, returning three dynamic seniors in Joslyn Bricker (19.0 ppg, 1,190 career points), Brooke Zartman (17.8 ppg, 1,153 career points), and Alexis Neely (9.5 ppg), all three-year letterwinners and proven leaders. Alongside defensive standout Kyra Kiser, post presence Cayleigh Goheen, and sharpshooters Erin McManus and Kelsey Wrenn, the Tigers boast depth and versatility, while newcomer Reagan Huss adds size and scoring potential. The biggest challenge will be replacing graduated All-State post Brooke Winchester’s rebounding and inside presence, but Warsaw’s strengths—scoring at all levels, three-point shooting, tempo, and defensive toughness—set the stage for a push toward a fifth straight NLC title, success in marquee events like the Hall of Fame Classic, and a deep postseason run.
“They have some goals they want to achieve after last season and they are showing up every day focused and determined to get better. We have some kids that are capable of scoring points, the key to this season is going to come down to how well we can share the basketball and play together,” said coach Lenny Krebs.
WHITKO WILDCATS
Whitko heads into the 2025–26 season with a strong mix of experience and new talent under sixth-year head coach Justin Jordan. The Wildcats return a dynamic backcourt led by lone senior Reese Stonebraker (13.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg) and junior Jayma Stonebraker (12.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.8 apg), while junior center Ally Brown (6 ppg, 6 rpg) anchors the paint and sophomore Hazel Leffers (3.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.8 apg) adds depth at point guard. Key contributors such as Jocelyn Luecke, Anna Allebach, and Willow Osborn return, and the team welcomes new impact players including junior transfer guard Kyra Lowe and freshmen Ady Luecke and Jules Leffers. Whitko will lean on its three-point shooting, and defensive pressure to stay competitive in the Three Rivers Conference.
“We are a very talented team this year. I hope we can have another successful season,” Jordan said.
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