TEAM: Jackson Heights Cobras/Lady Cobras

CLASSIFICATION: 2A

LEAGUE: Northeast Kansas

COLORS: Green & White

SOCIAL MEDIA: @JHCobras on Twitter

2024-25 SCHEDULE:

12/6 at Royal Valley

12/10 at Troy

12/13 vs St. Marys

12/17 at Onaga

12/20 vs McLouth

1/3 vs Horton

1/7 vs Troy

1/10 vs Riverside

1/14 vs Oskaloosa

1/23 at Oskaloosa

1/27-31 Hiawatha Tournament

2/4 at Horton

2/7 vs Pleasant Ridge

2/11 at ACCHS

2/14 at McLouth

2/18 at Maur Hill Mount Academy

2/21 at Valley Falls

2/25 vs Jefferson County North

NEKL game

GIRLS

HEAD COACH: Madison Massey (2nd year, 7-14)

2023-24 RECORD: 7-14 overall, 7-10 NEKL

2023-24 IN REVIEW: Last year was a developmental one for Jackson Heights girls basketball, which earned seven wins in league play under first-year coach Madison Massey. The end of the season was especially encouraging, with the Lady Cobras winning two of their final three regular-season games. Jackson Heights averaged 43.5 points per game and moved the ball well as a unit, averaging nearly 11 assists per game. Dawson Cochren was the driving force behind last year’s team, finishing her senior season with team bests in points (16.6), rebounds (8.3), assists (2.6) and minutes played (30.1). Taylor Bosley and Chesnea Conhren were also major contributors a year ago and both earned postseason honors, receiving all-area recognition from the Holton Recorder, while Bosley also picked up an All-NEKL honorable mention.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: Jackson Heights will be one of the most experienced teams in the state this season with all five starters returning from last year’s squad. Bosley is a multi-year starter and a standout three-point shooter, which can also be said of Cochren. Brynn Shupe will run the show at point guard, where she’s an impressive creator. On the defensive end, the Lady Cobras will be led by fellow returning starters Jennifer Buck and Savannah Cattrell, both of whom are high-energy players. Look for a talented group of returners including Jennifer Mellies, Emma Sides, Lakota Hewitt and Kamber Wommack to factor in the rotation and play big minutes for Jackson Heights this winter.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “This team really gets along, which is something you don’t always see. It makes me very excited for the upcoming season and the opportunities we have in front of us.” – Madison Massey

BOYS

HEAD COACH: Brett Plattner (5th year, 30-50)

2023-24 RECORD: 10-12 overall, 9-7 NEKL

2023-24 IN REVIEW: With a largely inexperienced roster last season, Jackson Heights was still able to post a record above .500 in league games and won its sub-state opener, and there were flashes of brilliance especially early in the season. The Cobras won three of their first four games and kept their overall record above .500 well into January. Drake Mellies led the way for Jackson Heights last season, averaging 14 points, four rebounds and four assists per game on his way to a first-team All-NEKL honor. He also received an all-state honorable mention.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: Jackson Heights is entering a sweet spot, roster-wise, in 2024-25. The Cobras are bringing back both a majority of their starting rotation from last season while also retaining numerous other letterwinners who will vie for increased playing time and bigger roles this year. Mellies is one of the state’s most dynamic players and is back for another season, joined by another pair of key veterans in Jace Robinson and Kade Holliday. Robinson averaged 4.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season, while Holliday contributed 2.4 points and high-quality ball movement every night, too. The start of this coming season will be especially interesting for the Cobras, because three of their first four games will be against teams they didn’t play in 2023-24. That opening stretch could set the tone for a season brimming with high expectations for Jackson Heights hoops.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “[We have an] Experienced backcourt with a lot of young and talented pieces needing to step up in the frontcourt.” – Brett Plattner

–Brendan Dzwierzynski

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