When the small-school girls basketball postseason brackets are soon released, there are bound to be a handful of teams that are in the playoffs after having missed out last year — perhaps some are on the verge of ending even longer droughts.
By records alone, a few teams really stand out as having made drastic improvements in just one offseason. Brush is one such team, having gone from 8-15 a year ago to 14-5 this season with just a couple regular season games left (Tuesday night at Highland is a marquee contest, by the way). Whether it has been aggressive team defense, a more efficient team offense, or even just one or two players who have made strides, below are a few examples of such turnarounds as the season begins drawing to a close.
Class 3A
Brush (14-5 this season; 8-15 last season): Senior Sara Becker has gone from 3.9 points per game last season to a team-leading 9.4 in 2024-25, and the Beetdiggers are giving up an average of about five points less per game than a year ago. Fellow senior Michelle Headley has continued her 13-rebound average while adding nearly three more points per game, as well.
Platte Valley (11-8; 7-17): While the Broncos have struggled of late — they were 10-4 at one point — they still have played significantly better on both ends of the court. Platte Valley is averaging 51.6 points per game and giving up 41.8, whereas last year they were at 36.5 for and 57.4 against. Senior Lauryn Uyemura has gone from 6.1 ppg as a sophomore to 17.7 ppg two years later, and freshman Bryla Bunting (11.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg) has been a huge young presence.
Gunnison (13-7; 6-15): The Cowboys only averaged 33.6 points per game last season. This year, behind four seniors averaging between 12.1 and 4.5 points, Gunnison is racing up and down the floor to the tune of 42.8 points. Senior Kylee McDougal has 30 3-pointers as she appears back to form from her sophomore season (she made 42 of them in 2022-23 but just 17 all of 2023-24.
Class 2A
Byers (13-6; 7-14): Byers hasn’t had a winning record since 2018-19, when it was 13-9. The Bulldogs still have two tough games left on the regular season docket before a league tournament, but there’s no doubt the talent is deeper this season despite some youth. Using a lot more inside game, Sophomore Madilee Olsen leads the team at 9.5 ppg, and a freshman (Joclynn Rector) is second on the squad with 8.1 ppg.
Haxtun (8-11; 2-18): These Bulldogs may still be growing. While Bobbi Starkebaum has continued to be consistent, the girls around her are stepping up. That includes freshman Leah Edwards (5.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and senior Kelsie Hadeen (4.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg).
Class 1A
Nucla (16-3; 9-12): The Mustangs are nearly doubling up opponents, averaging 50.7 points for and 26.4 against through 19 games. While their defense was still good last year (37.5 points allowed), the offense has gotten a big boost from sophomores Lantry Galley (10.8 ppg) and Shay Snyder (7.4 ppg). Senior Kendra McCluer has been awesome, going from 5.0 points to 11.2 per game with the help of 28 made 3-pointers.
Fleming (15-4; 11-10): While the Wildcats were above .500 last year, they have vaulted up to No. 5 in the CHSAA 1A Selection & Seeding Index with a big game coming up Friday at Idalia. Averaging almost seven points per game more as a team than in 2023-24, junior Brooke Schaefer has increased her production in almost every way, including upping her scoring by nearly four full points a contest. The six players averaging at least 4 points per game are all juniors and sophomores, to boot.
