After pouring through oodles of statistics, all-state, all-conference and all-area teams, last year's state tournament bracket and plenty of postseason rankings, we have uncovered our Minuteman Conference projections for 2025-26.
Bayard was sitting at 10-7 at the end of January and then lost their final five games to end 2024-25 at 10-12. Head coach Colton Ehlers, however, returns seven of his Top 9 scorers including junior Emilee Houchin and seniors Shelbie McKibbin and Alexi Nesbitt.
Houchin was Ehler's top scorer a year ago after she poured in 9.4 points a contest and pulled down 6.9 rebounds. The point guard also contributed 25 assists, 58 steals and six blocked shots.
McKibbin added 8.0 points and 5.3 boards last winter and posted team highs with 64 assists and 83 steals on the year to go with a pair of shot stuffers. Nesbitt put together a fine stat line as well after chalking up 6.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 22 assists and 43 steals for the Tigers.
South Platte's Jayla Paulsen is the conference's top returning scorer. The 5-foot-10 small forward/shooting guard ripped the cords for 11.2 points as she helped the Blue Knights to an 18-7 record a year ago.
The junior added 7.9 rebounds, 29 assists, 60 steals and 12 blocked shots on the year. If head coach Kathryn Cross can find Paulsen some help, South Platte could have a big year.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls Minuteman Conference
Bayard (10-12)
South Platte (18-7)
Leyton (21-3)
Garden County (14-10)
Banner County (4-16)
Creek Valley (3-16)
Potter-Dix (3-18)
Minatare (0-14)
Bayard
2024-25 Record: 10-12
Record Over Past Decade: 135-102
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Colton Ehler
Top Returning Players:
Junior Emilee Houchin | Point Guard
9.4 Points | 6.9 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 58 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Senior Shelbie McKibbin | Guard
8.0 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 64 Assists | 83 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Senior Alexi Nesbitt | Forward
6.7 Points | 5.9 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 43 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
South Platte
2024-25 Record: 18-7
Record Over Past Decade: 148-72
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Kathryn Cross
Top Returning Players:
Junior Jayla Paulsen | 5-foot-10 | Small Forward | Shooting Guard
11.2 Points | 7.9 Rebounds | 29 Assists | 60 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
Garden County
2024-25 Record: 14-10
Record Over Past Decade: 70-147
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Missy Dodge
Top Returning Players:
Senior Breanna Yates | 5-foot-6 | Shooting Guard
5.7 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 26 Assists | 54 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Junior Kirstyn Beberniss | 5-foot-7 | Post
5.7 Points | 5.2 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 27 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
Leyton
2024-25 Record: 21-3
Record Over Past Decade: 139-88
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jed Benish
Top Returning Players:
Senior Macey Roelle | 5-foot-6 | Small Forward | Guard
1.3 Points | 1.3 Rebounds | 1 Assist | 5 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Aubri Borges | 5-foot-7 | Post
1.5 Points | 1.4 Rebounds | 2 Assists | 0 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Auvi Cranmore | 5-foot-7 | Guard
0.4 Points | 1.3 Rebounds | 11 Assists | 16 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Banner County
2024-25 Record: 4-16
Record Over Past Decade: 21-112
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Brandon Avila
Top Returning Players:
Junior Leeigh McGowan | 5-foot-7 | Shooting Guard | Forward
7.5 Points | 6.2 Rebounds | 8 Assists | 69 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Kyrie Roldan | 5-foot-7
5.9 Points | 8.0 Rebounds | 1 Assist | 35 Steals | 16 Blocked Shots
Creek Valley
2024-25 Record: 3-16
Record Over Past Decade: 56-140
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Lyndsay Baker
Top Returning Players:
Junior Catherine Tilghman | 5-foot-9 | Small Forward
4.5 Points | 10.7 Rebounds | 6 Assists | 26 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Airvee Bauer | 5-foot-5 | Guard
2.7 Points | 2.0 Rebounds | 8 Assists | 8 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Senior Jeryn Snell | 5-foot-8 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
2.1 Points | 4.4 Rebounds | 33 Assists | 38 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Junior Paisley Alexander | Small Forward
2.1 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 10 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Potter-Dix
2024-25 Record: 3-18
Record Over Past Decade: 83-125
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Austin Coffman
Top Returning Players:
Senior Micayla McConnell | 5-foot-7
9.9 Points | 3.6 Rebounds | 45 Assists | 52 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln journal Star
Sophomore Alexa Shoemaker | 5-foot-8
2.6 Points | 4.3 Rebounds | 8 Assists | 15 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention Class D1 Omaha World Herald
Minatare
2024-25 Record: 0-14
Record Over Past Decade: 29-141
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Matt Rotherham
Top Returning Players:
Junior Jimena Perez | 5-foot-5 | Guard
10.3 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 20 Assists | 41 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln journal Star
