CLASS 1A DIVISION I GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2024-25
 

FAITH ACKERMAN, SPEARVILLE

Ackerman leads a group of several key returners for Spearville, which went 18-4 last season. The Lancers’ 2023-24 season was highlighted by a SPIAA Tournament championship. They fell to St. John in the sub-state finals. Ackerman earned second-team All-SPIAA honors and received honorable mention All-1A Division I honors from KSHSAA Covered. She averaged about 9 points, 2 steals and 3 assists as a junior. Makiah Kliesen and Makenzie Preisner are also back after earning all-league honorable mention honors last season.
 

PAIGE CORTER, FLINTHILLS
 
Corter had a big junior season for Flinthills, averaging 17.9 points and 8.7 rebounds to earn All-1A Division I third-team honors. The Mustangs stumbled in their own sub-state to finish 15-5, losing in the semfinals to Marmaton Valley after securing the top seed. Flinthills opened this season with a lopsided loss to 1A Division II state runner-up Lebo and faces another tough pre-holiday test against 2A state qualifier Eureka. But Corter, an All-South Central Border League first-team choice, can provide offensive punch that should help the Mustangs eventually find their footing.
 

OEN DETERS, CENTRALIA

Deters has been a force for Centralia ever since her freshman season when she burst onto the scene as a big-time scorer for the Panthers. She averaged 17.4 points per game that season, leading Centralia to a runner-up finish in Class 1A Division I. She followed up with 17 points per game as a sophomore and then last year upped that production to 18.7 points per game while also adding 6.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 5.7 steals per game, helping the Panthers to a third-place finish at the state tournament. Deters has earned first-team All-Twin Valley and first-team All-Class 1A Division I honors each of her first three seasons and last year went over 1,000 career points during the Twin Valley League Tournament. She’s one of four returning starters for the Panthers this season as they look to add state title No. 6 to the program’s rich history.
 

TAYTEN DEWEY, RAWLINS COUNTY

Dewey helped the Buffaloes punch their ticket to state last season for the first time since 1992. She averaged 11.2 points and 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.9 steals as a junior. Rawlins County went 19-5, beating Quinter in the sub-state title game before falling to South Gray in the 1A Division I quarterfinals. Dewey’s season-high was a 20-point effort against Greeley County. She was a third-team All-1A Division I selection by KSHSAA Covered and a first-team All-Northwest Kansas League pick. Junior Kayte Shively and sophomore Camden Franklin are back after earning honorable mention all-league honors last season but the Buffaloes will have to replace now-graduated Abby Micek in the post.

TRINITY ESPINOZA, CANTON-GALVA

Espinoza served notice right away as a freshman in 2022-23 that she was a forced to be reckoned with, finishing her debut season by averaging 16.1 points per game. There was no sophomore slump last season as Espinoza – despite being the focal point for opposing defenses – was even better. The 5-foot-7 guard upped her scoring to 18.1 points per game, getting some of that production in transition as she also averaged 4 steals per game. She also can score in the half court and made 33 3-pointers a year ago, improving her percentage beyond the arc from 26% her freshman year to 39% last year. Espinoza has earned first-team All-Wheat State League honors each of her first two seasons.
 

ARIKA FELDMAN, LITTLE RIVER

While Little River’s senior class rightfully garnered much of the headlines during the Redskins’ undefeated run to the Class 1A Division I state tournament and eventual runner-up state finish, a talented sophomore class also played a key role with Feldman arguably the leader of that group. The six-footer wound up ranking second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game, less than a point behind leading scorer Alaina Eck’s 14.9 average, also was second on the team in rebounds with 6 per game. Those were significant jumps from her freshman year when she averaged just 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. With the graduation of five seniors, including Eck and fellow post Aubrey Olander, Feldman goes from a complementary to leading role as the Redskins look to get back to state and finish what they started last year with a state title.
 

BRYN GILLESPIE, QUINTER

Gillespie averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3 steals as a junior to help the Bulldogs go 13-9. Quinter fell to Rawlins County in the sub-state finals. Gillespie had three different games last season with 24 points, her career high. She recorded eight steals in a game against St. Francis and had a 13-rebound game against Hoxie. Gillespie was a first-team All-Northwest Kansas League selection and received honorable mention on KSHSAA Covered’s All-1A Division I team. 


 

LYDIA REED, ST. JOHN
The 6-foot-2 post player averaged 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks last season, helping lead St. John to the state tournament. The Tigers went 21-2, falling to eventual state champion Frankfort in the quarterfinals after beating Spearville in the sub-state final. Reed is also a standout on the volleyball court, helping the Tigers reach state last fall. She is committed to Fort Hays State for basketball. Reed was a first-team All-Central Prairie League pick last season and earned honorable mention All-1A Division I honors from KSHSAA Covered. She helped lead the St. John volleyball team to a state tournament appearance in the fall. 
 

MARILYN SOEKEN, CENTRAL PLAINS

Soeken averaged 16.6 points, 2.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 steals game to help Central Plains go 15-7 last season. Oilers’ coach Pat Stiles said Soeken has been a cornerstone of Central Plains’ team over the last three years. He lauded her work ethic, adding that she will be called upon to expand her leadership role for the Oilers this season. Soeken was a third-team pick on KSHSAA Covered’s All-1A Division I team and was a first-team All-Central Prairie League pick. The Oilers also return two other senior starters in Grace Lamatsch and Kylie Kempke. 
 

KYLIE STAPLETON, SOUTH GRAY

A three-sport standout, Stapleton averaged 14 points last season as a junior, helping South Gray to a fourth-place finish in 1A Division I. South Gray beat Rawlins County in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Frankfort in the semifinals and dropping the third-place contest against Centralia. The Rebels finished 22-3. South Gray will have to replace a standout in Vi Helm but Allie Reed and Jacee Deges join Stapleton as key returners. Stapleton was a second-team All-SPIAA pick last year and was honorable mention All-1A Division I from KSHSAA Covered. She just helped South Gray’s cross country team win its third consecutive state championship. Stapleton is also a state champion runner in track.

 

JALYNN WEAKLEY, MADISON

Weakley led Madison to a 15-7 record a year ago with the Bulldogs falling in the sub-state semifinals to Lyon County League rival Olpe. The 5-foot-10 forward can score inside and outside and finished her junior season averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds per game on her way to first-team all-league honors for the second straight year. Weakley, who averaged 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore, has led Madison to 33 wins over the past two seasons.
 

HARPER WHETSTINE, TROY

Whetstine led Troy to its first winning season in seven years as the Trojans fashioned an 11-10 record and reached the sub-state semifinals. The 5-foot-7 point guard set a school record with 113 steals last year, averaging 5.4 per game. She was able to turn many of them into transition buckets and that only supplemented her ability to score in the half court as she she’s a career 36% shooter from 3-point range. Whetstine finished her sophomore season averaging 20 points per game overall and already has moved to No. 7 on Troy’s career scoring list with 744 career points. She added 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last year and with Troy losing only one starter off last year’s team, she could find even more team success this season to go with her individual accolades, which include being a first-team All-Twin Valley League and third-team All-Class 1A Division I pick.
 

GRACE WILLIAM, OSBORNE
William helped Osborne post an 18-4 mark last season. She averaged 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds as a junior. Osborne lost to Clifton-Clyde in the sub-state semifinals. The Bulldogs lost leading scorer Gracie Riner to graduation but seniors Addison Poore and Leavie Riner are also back for the Bulldogs. William earned second-team All-Northern Plains League honors last season and was named honorable mention All-1A Division I by KSHSAA Covered.
 

SEVY WURTZ, CLIFTON-CLYDE

After playing alongside older sister Shea for each of the past two seasons, Sevy won’t have her sister to share the bulk of the scoring load for the Eagles this season. She took on more of that role a year ago when she led Clifton-Clyde in scoring with 18 points per game. Wurtz has a complete game, also averaging 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game, shooting 37% from 3-point range and 53% inside the arc. In two years, Wurtz already has scored 715 career points and racked up 166 steals, earning first-team All-Twin Valley League honors both seasons. She led the Eagles to the sub-state finals a year ago where they fell to eventual state champion and league rival Frankfort. Wurtz led the volleyball team to the 1A I state tournament this fall and was a champion at state track last spring.