After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign due to the loss of senior leader Taylor McDaniel, the Concordia High School basketball team is looking to rebound with a lot of experience for the 25-26 campaign.
The 5-16 record from last year is deceiving, as the Panthers would keep the game close early, before falling behind in the second quarter and never had enough time to claw back in the second half, and finished with seven loses by 10 points or less, and faced off against with some of the best teams in the state of Kansas, schools like league foes Rock Creek and Clay Center, to state champions Wellington and competitive with the 1A div 2 champion Hanover.
“I would honestly call last year a rebuilding year, a lot of times we had two juniors and two or three freshmen on the court,” said head coach Trey Kuhlman.
“Looking to this year, it’s about seeing how much confidence we have and seeing the progression from the summer.”
Headlined by a pair of seniors in Charlize Cash and Rylie Jessup and all-league junior Jaylin Roush, the team brings back a plethora of experience in the sophomore and junior ranks that had to play a lot of minutes last year. This is also the fifth year under head coach Trey Kuhlman. Alongside McDaniel, the Panthers also graduated Kinsleigh Bethune, who was the starting point guard for the Panthers. In their stead, the Panthers bring back sophomore guards Avery Kueker and Marlee VanMeter, and a starter from last year, junior Stella Trost.
“We kind of lacked (leadership) last year. At our player meeting, we talked about personal and team goals and noticed we didn’t have a leader. We told them that it doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, you can be a vocal leader or a lead-by-example leader… but we have more leadership this year. Rylie (Jessup) has been very vocal, and Char (Cash) is leading by example with Jaylin (Roush) and Stella (Trost) understanding this program and expectations.”
In addition to the returning players, Concordia will also have some more height compared to last season, with four girls listed at 5-foot-10-inches or taller, that being Sophia Fraley, Alexis Martin, and then Cash and Roush.
The Panthers open the season Friday, Dec. 5, traveling to rival Beloit, who pulled away late for a 60-46 victory, and have their home opener Tuesday, Dec. 9, against Riley County.
