TEAM: Holton Wildcats/Lady Cats

CLASSIFICATION: 4A

LEAGUE: Big East League (new in 2024-25)

COLORS: Blue & White

SOCIAL MEDIA: @Holton_Hoops (Boys) and @WeAreHolton on Twitter

2024-25 SCHEDULE:

12/6 at Burlington

12/10 at Silver Lake

12/13 vs Nemaha Central

12/17 at Perry-Lecompton

12/20 vs Rossville

1/3 vs Hiawatha

1/7 at Riley County

1/10 vs Silver Lake

1/14 at Sabetha

1/17 at Nemaha Central

1/20-25 Tonganoxie Tournament (GIRLS)

1/21-25 Nemaha Central Tournament (BOYS)

2/4 vs Royal Valley

2/7 vs St. Marys

2/11 at Hiawatha

2/14 vs Jeff West

2/18 at Osage City

2/21 vs Sabetha

2/25 at Royal Valley

Big East League game

GIRLS

HEAD COACH: Kurt Haussler (6th year, 79-67)

2023-24 RECORD: 9-12, 7-7 in Big 7 League

2023-24 IN REVIEW: It was an inexperienced group of Lady Cats that took the court to start the season in December, but the growth that the team went through over the course of the season enabled them to increase their win total by one from the previous year and set themselves up for greater future success. Their progress was most evident in the season’s final month, in which they won four of their final five regular season contests. Though they lost to 4A state qualifier Labette County in the first round at sub-state, the Lady Cats departed the season feeling like a bright future was ahead of them.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: Four starters return for Holton this season, led by three-year starting guard Brooke Willcott, who has earned All-League honors in each of her last two seasons, and 6’0” senior post Elizabeth Schuster, a unanimous first-team All-League selection last year. Senior guard Kaiya Taylor and sophomore guard Tinley Wilson also come back to Kurt Haussler’s starting lineup. A pair of six footers, senior Lora Larison and sophomore Beka Lassey, give the Lady Cats impressive post depth and experience, and junior guard Lili Tanking also lettered last year. Holton should be tough to match in terms of size this season, and will need guard scoring to develop as the season goes along to become the well-rounded team they’ll hope to be to compete in the new Big East League and for a 4A state berth. 

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “We have a number of players returning with varsity experience from last season and have a combination of size, strength, speed, and athleticism which we hope will allow us to create an identity for this team while being flexible to play multiple styles. If we can develop consistent perimeter scoring and be the tough, physical team on both ends that we believe we can be, we have a great chance to make noise in the new Big East and 4A postseason tournament. We believe this team has the potential to elevate our program to another level this season and we are really looking forward to the opportunity to compete together.” – Kurt Haussler

BOYS

HEAD COACH: Marco Hunter (1st year)

2023-24 RECORD: 8-13, 8-6 in Big 7 League

2023-24 IN REVIEW: A young group of Holton Wildcats, none of whom had starting experience prior to the year, understandably took their lumps early against a difficult schedule. The end result of that was a decrease in wins by five from the 2022-23 season. But a three-game winning streak to end the regular season, including narrow wins at Sabetha and Perry-Lecompton, showed that this was a group that was beginning to come together.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: A new coach takes the reins of the Wildcats this season. Marco Hunter, a longtime assistant at Topeka West under Rick Bloomquist, now has the chance to run his own program. He inherits five returning starters: Braedyn Peek, Bodie Dillon, Brody Meyer, Korben Fox, and Kerrick Dedonder. Peek and Dillon both received All-League recognition in the Big 7 League – Peek was first team, Dillon honorable mention – and are the most experienced squad members. It’s a new league, and a new head coach, but these players have the opportunity to build on their conclusion to last season and push Holton back up the league and 4A standings.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “This season we are looking to be competitive on all three levels with the collective intention to be better each time we take the court. Being in the mix of the league standings is a team goal as well. With everything being new for Holton, it will be an exciting time to showcase what was learned over the summer and pre-season.” – Marco Hunter

–Dan Lucero

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