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 Western Trails Conference projections for 2025-26.
Dave Kuhlen's Bridgeport girls basketball program dominated the Western Trails Conference a year ago. The Bulldogs went 9-0 against conference competition and outscored the opposition by an average of 67.2-26.1. Bridgeport looks like the team to beat once again this winter.
Kuhlen returns First Team All-Western Trails Conference honorees Ella Schluterbusch and Olivia Brown as well as junior Elizabeth Velazquez and senior Jailyn Nichols. Kuhlen's top returning scorer, Scluterbusch put together a stat line that includes 14.5 points and 2.0 rebounds a contest and 98 assists, 104 steals and three blocked shots on the year.
Brown averaged 12.4 points and 4.5 boards to go along with 53 assists, 125 steals and three blocked shots for the 2024-25 season. Velazquez dropped 8.3 points and cleared the boards nearly three times a contest while dishing out 60 assists, stealing 87 enemy balls and blocking one shot as a sophomore.
Nichols, meanwhile, bullied Bulldog foes for 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds while earning credit for 26 assists, 54 steals and 22 blocked shots during a 25-2 2024-25 season in which the Bulldogs bowed out of the Nebraska Class C1 Girls State Basketball Tournament with a 69-51 loss to Gothenburg.
Morrill went 16-11 a season ago and returns plenty of talent to improve on that win-loss record. Head coach Alicia Hawkins will rely on a pair of seniors and a sophomore to carry the Lions closer to 20 wins in 2025-26.
Senior Katelyn Walker earned First Team All-Western Trails honors a year ago after posting a stat line of 13.5 points and 6.9 rebounds a game to go along with 34 assists, 69 steals and 56 blocked shots. Senior Madisyn Carrizales and sophomore Claire Edwards combined for 7.0 points and 8.2 boards a game last winter.
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Girls Western Trails Conference
Bridgeport (25-2)
Morrill (16-11)
Bayard (10-12)
Gordon-Rushville (9-14)
Mitchell (8-15)
Kimball (8-18)
Hemingford (3-21)
Bridgeport
2024-25 Record: 25-2
Record Over Past Decade: 193-64
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in Class C1 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Dave Kuhlen
Top Returning Players:
Senior Ella Schluterbusch | 5-foot-3 | Guard
14.5 Points | 2.0 Rebounds | 98 Assists | 104 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
First Team All-Western Trails Conference
Junior Olivia Brown | 5-foot-6 | Guard
12.4 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 53 Assists | 125 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
First Team All-Western Trails Conference
Junior Elizabeth Velazquez | 5-foot-6 | Guard
8.3 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 60 Assists | 87 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Senior Jailyn Nichols | 5-foot-9 | Center
5.1 Points | 4.1 Rebounds | 26 Assists | 54 Steals | 22 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Morrill
2024-25 Record: 16-11
Record Over Past Decade: 143-100
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Alicia Hawkins
Top Returning Players:
Senior Katelyn Walker | 5-foot-8 | Shooting Guard | Power Forward
13.5 Points | 6.9 Rebounds | 34 Assists | 69 Steals | 56 Blocked Shots
First Team All-Western Trails Conference
Senior Madisyn Carrizales | 5-foot-6 | Guard
4.9 Points | 4.0 Rebounds | 27 Assists | 26 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Sophomore Claire Edwards | 5-foot-2 | Point Guard
2.1 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 53 Assists | 79 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
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:
Senior Alexi Nesbitt | Power Forward
6.7 Points | 5.9 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 43 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Junior Emilee Houchin | Point Guard
9.4 Points | 6.9 Rebounds | 25 Assists | 58 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
Honorable Mention All Western Trails Conference
Senior Shelbie McKibbin | Guard
8.0 Points | 5.3 Rebounds | 64 Assists | 83 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class C2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class C2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Western Trails Conference
Mitchell
2024-25 Record: 8-15
Record Over Past Decade: 148-106
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Brooke Turek
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kate Pieper | 5-foot-7 | Point Guard
9.7 Points | 2.8 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 41 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
First Team All-Western Trails Conference
Sophomore Morgan Paetow | 5-foot-8
5.6 Points | 2.4 Rebounds | 29 Assists | 18 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Kimball
2024-25 Record: 8-18
Record Over Past Decade: 73-142
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Tyse Rogers
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Jaleigh Bohac
10.5 Points | 7.3 Rebounds | 28 Assists | 54 Steals | 10 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | First Team All-Western Trails Conference
Senior Addy Olson | 5-foot-10 | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
8.7 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 12 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Junior Faith Bohac | 5-foot-6 | Power Forward
4.2 Points | 7.4 Rebounds | 17 Assists | 26 Steals | 4 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Gordon-Rushville
2024-25 Record: 9-14
Record Over Past Decade: 133-92
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Shawn McKimmey
Top Returning Players:
Senior Rowan Simonson | 5-foot-9
8.3 Points | 6.4 Rebounds | 8 Assists | 44 Steals | 27 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Hemingford
2024-25 Record: 3-21
Record Over Past Decade: 85-142
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Lisa Janssen
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kylie Kumpf | 5-foot-7 | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
7.3 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 24 Assists | 42 Steals | 6 Blocked Shots
First Team All-Western Trails Conference
Senior Bailey Sellman | 5-foot-10 | Small Forward | Power Forward
5.0 Points | 7.5 Rebounds | 35 Assists | 38 Steals | 25 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Senior Dakota Horstman | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
3.4 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 34 Assists | 34 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Western Trails Conference
Junior Teagen Thompson | 5-foot-7 | Point Guard | Shooting Guard
5.6 Points | 3.1 Rebounds | 29 Assists | 35 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
