TEAM: Jeff West Tigers/Lady Tigers

CLASSIFICATION: 3A

LEAGUE: Big East (new for 2024-25)

COLORS: Black, Red & White

SOCIAL MEDIA: @JeffWestHoops (Boys) on Twitter

2024-25 SCHEDULE:

12/6 at Valley Falls
12/10 at JCN
12/13 vs McLouth
12/17 vs Royal Valley
12/20 vs Nemaha Central
1/7 at Rossville
1/10 vs Riley County
1/14 at Silver Lake
1/17 at Hiawatha
1/21-25 Valley Falls Tournament (BOYS)
1/21 vs Perry-Lecompton (GIRLS)
1/24 at St. Marys (GIRLS)
1/28 at Perry-Lecompton (BOYS)
1/28-2/1 Wellsville Tournament (GIRLS)
1/31 vs St. Marys (BOYS)
2/7 vs Wabaunsee
2/11 vs Sabetha
2/14 at Holton
2/18 at Royal Valley
2/25 vs Hiawatha
2/28 vs Marysville

Big East League game

GIRLS

HEAD COACH: Justin Schwinn (1st year)

2023-24 RECORD: 9-14, 5-9 in Big 7 League

2023-24 IN REVIEW: In a season that could have turned tumultuous, with a new coaching staff having to be assembled essentially on the fly, the Lady Tigers actually improved their record from the season before, thanks to a tenacious senior class. Four senior starters, led by All-League performers Kinley Stones (first team) and Ella Dickey, helped Jeff West increase their win total from six to nine and reach their sub-state championship game, where they ran into the Hayden buzzsaw. 

2024-25 OUTLOOK: Justin Schwinn assumes the reins of the Lady Tigers program after serving as an interim assistant last season, and hopes to offer stability to a changing roster. Junior forwards Addison Schwinn (3 points, 3 rebounds per game) and Kolbie Noel (4.5 points, 6 rebounds per game) are the returning starters that will need to increase their production this year. Seven other players return with varsity experience, including a pair of seniors in Olivia Meyer and Lauren Crotinger, sophomore Harriet Dean, and four juniors: Ashley Moser, Megan Malone, Joslynn Sutton and Layla Waters. Senior guard Kaylee Heinen arrives as a transfer from Cornerstone Family and could make an immediate impact. Freshman guard Emmie Dean is another newcomer to watch. The Lady Tigers will need to find scoring punch if they want to continue their upward trajectory this season.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “After losing 4 seniors last year that accumulated for the majority of the scoring, we will need our underclassmen to step up their production. We must expect to compete and win in the tough, new Big East league. Embrace the process. Positive attitude and effort is controlled by everyone.” – Justin Schwinn

BOYS

HEAD COACH: Joe Smith (4th year, 15-47)

2023-24 RECORD: 8-13, 5-9 Big 7 League

2023-24 IN REVIEW: It wasn’t as great a leap forward for the Tigers as it was when they went from winless in 2022 to seven wins in 2023, but holding their gains and increasing their win total were positive signs for the program’s stability under Joe Smith. Behind the low post presence of first team All-League senior Gage Galle, the Tigers were competitive nightly in the Big 7 League. If anything, it’s a sign of the program’s growth that their final 8-13 record felt like a bit of a disappointment in some ways. It surely fuels the fire for a coach and a team that is hungry for even more success.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: It will be a different looking Tiger team this season as they transition from being built around Galle offensively to being more guard-oriented. Fortunately for them, they have plenty of experience and talent in the backcourt. Senior point guard Conner Reich averaged seven points and five assists per game and, according to Smith, the Tigers will go as he goes. Smith calls senior wing Tucker Holthaus, the leading returning scorer with nine points per game last season, the “heart and soul” of the team. Senior sharpshooter Kyle Herrman also returns at guard for the Tigers. The team will also look from increased contributions from returning senior Nicholas Herrman and juniors Jason Payne and Cooper Watkins. Payne, along with seniors Tait Seymour and Mason McCollum, will look to fill the void left inside by Galle’s graduation. Senior guard Daniel Brown, a Topeka High transfer, brings some all-around ability that should help the Tigers as well. The depth and experience are in place for the Tigers to make another great leap this season.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “Our core principles that we’ve established of playing hard, competing and doing all of the little things won’t change, This year, having seven seniors, and having gone through the expectations of last year, has our guys in a much better space mentally to accomplish the things that we want to accomplish. We had a very productive summer and saw glimpses of what we could look like with limited practice time, so once the season gets here and we’re able to practice and really hone in on guys being in the best possible spots to succeed, I think the sky’s the limit for us.” – Joe Smith

–Dan Lucero

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