Colby Girls Basketball Preview

The Colby High School girls’ basketball will be entering the season with a clear vision under fifth-year head coach Yancey Walker: embrace challenges, define success by effort, and grow into a team capable of surprising opponents across the Great West Activities Conference.

Walker, now in his fifth season at Colby after an extensive college coaching career, said this group’s identity will come from daily improvement rather than scoreboard predictions. “We talk a lot about being exceptional and being you,” he said. “Everybody has their strengths, and when all of us use our talents to the utmost possibility, our chances for success increase.”

Despite graduating a senior-heavy class that handled the bulk of last year’s ball-handling and scoring responsibilities, Walker believes Colby’s experience returning from top to-bottom will help the team take meaningful steps early. Seniors Shaylee Holzmeister, Sadie Cheney, Kalyssa White, Austin Gerstberger, and Gesna Pearson headline the veteran leadership. Behind them is a junior class of Harper Vaughn, Maddie McCarty, and Emily Flanagin, all of whom contributed varsity minutes last winter—including postseason play.

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“We will surprise some people this year,” Walker said. “Maybe even ourselves. What matters is controlling what we can control and giving our best effort every day.”

Walker emphasizes that success is not determined solely by wins and losses. Instead, the Eagles operate under what they call (NATO)—Not Attached to Outcomes. Whether it's starting lineup decisions, late-game situations, or games against powerhouse opponents, the expectation remains the same: compete with discipline, effort, and toughness.

Leadership and New Roles

The Eagles return their top contributor in senior Holzmeister, who averaged over eight points and six rebounds per game last season. Her versatility and physicality allow her to play multiple roles depending on matchups, and Walker expects her influence to carry even more weight now that she is the most experienced scorer on the roster.

Cheney and White bring valuable minutes and defensive reliability, while Gerstberger and Pearson add depth and maturity to a senior group Walker describes as steady and dependable.

The juniors—Flanagin, Vaughn, and McCarty—are expected to shoulder meaningful roles as well. All three played in the 2024 state tournament, and Walker noted their experience will help solidify rotations as the season progresses.

Ball-handling duties, previously dominated by outgoing senior Alisabeth Barton, will rotate among several players. Walker pointed to McCarty, Flanagin, and sophomore Bailey McCorkle as early candidates, though he emphasized Colby’s system allows multiple players to initiate offense. “We’re okay with almost anybody bringing the ball up,” he said. “Everyone knows the situation, and everyone has a job.”

Sophomores Poised to Break Through

Last year, sophomores McCorkle and Fia Tubbs each traveled to postseason tournaments in reserve roles—experience Walker believes will pay off this winter. Tubbs’ motor and McCorkle’s length give the coaching staff options in both guard and wing positions.

Several additional sophomores—including Brielle Mackley, Adriana De La Fuente, Tatum Odell, Aubrie Vance, and Lucille Fellhoelter—will compete for expanded roles as they adapt to varsity pace.

“The more people we have with experience, the better our future looks,” Walker said. “We want to reload every year, not rebuild.”

A Schedule That Demands Growth

Colby opens the season on the road at Ulysses before returning home to face Life Prep Academy, a team Walker called “very difficult” and unlike a typical high school opponent. “They’re playing junior colleges right now,” he said. “It won’t be a normal game, but our approach doesn’t change. We control what we can control and give our best effort.”

Walker made the intentional decision to withdraw from this year’s Jamboree, opting for focused practice instead. Every early game, he says, will be about finding the right roles. “We might have to change seats a few times, but that’s just part of the process,” he said.

A Team Built On Identity, Not Predictions

With depth across multiple grades, a flexible offensive system, and a coaching philosophy centered on effort and personal growth, the Eagles enter the new season aiming to maximize their potential—one possession at a time.

“I feel like these girls are ready to meet challenges,” Walker said. “If we continue to do that every day, then we have a chance to have a successful season—whatever that may look like.”

by Derek White