TEAM: Jefferson County North Chargers/Lady Chargers

CLASSIFICATION: 2A

LEAGUE: Northeast Kansas

COLORS: Green & White

SOCIAL MEDIA: Jefferson County North USD #339 on Facebook

2024-25 SCHEDULE:

12/6 at Rock Creek
12/10 vs Jeff West
12/13 vs Tonganoxie
12/17 at Maur Hill-Mount Academy
12/19 vs Pleasant Ridge
1/7 at McLouth
1/10 vs Maur Hill-Mount Academy
1/14 at Pleasant Ridge
1/17 at Valley Falls
1/21-25 Valley Falls Tournament (BOYS)
1/23 at Troy (GIRLS)
1/28-2/1 Girls Mid-Season Tournament
1/30 TBD (BOYS)
2/4 vs Troy
2/7 at Riverside
2/11 vs Oskaloosa
2/14 vs Northeast Kansas Homeschool
2/18 vs Horton
2/21 at ACCHS
2/25 @ Jackson Heights

Northeast Kansas League game

GIRLS

HEAD COACH: Steve Noll (19th year, 322-113)

2023-24 RECORD: 16-6 overall, 13-3 in NEKL

2023-24 IN REVIEW: Despite a roster filled with youth and experience, Jefferson County North plowed through the Northeast Kansas League yet again in 2023-24, winning 16 games overall and 13 in league play, plus a postseason game before seeing its season end in the sub-state semifinals. It was the seventh consecutive season that JCN finished the year with 13 or more wins and the eighth straight with a winning record. Three Chargers from last year’s roster received all-league recognition, led by first-teamers Clara Johnson Emily Langley, plus honorable mention Abby Laird. That was the second-most all-league honorees of any team in the NEKL last year.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: Jefferson County North will be a young team once again this season, but depth should still be one of its biggest strengths. As many as 16 players are going out for the Chargers this season, only two of whom are juniors, though, with no members of the senior class. Two starters from last year’s squad will be back in 2024-25, including junior Rylee Thompson and sophomore Taylor Schrick. Thompson posted six points and five rebounds per game, while Schrick averaged five points and two assists a night. Three other letterwinners, all sophomores, from last season will be back on the floor this year, all of whom will have a chance to make an even bigger impact in their junior campaign. That includes Gwynn Blattner, Corina Johnson and Karlee Porter. Winning and winning often is the expectation for Chargers girls basketball, and that doesn’t change just because the roster is particularly young. If the newcomers mesh quickly with the returning contributors, the sky is the limit for JCN this winter.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “We will need to have players step up and look to score since we relied on our 3 seniors for most of our scoring last season. I think as the season progresses this will be a fun team to watch as they continue to gain experience.” — Steve Noll

BOYS

HEAD COACH: Cory Noll (3rd year, 30-16)

2023-24 RECORD: 16-8 overall, 11-5 in NEKL

2023-24 IN REVIEW: Last season was one filled with development, experience and postseason success for the Jefferson County North boys. With almost their entire rotation back from the previous season, the Chargers added two wins to their win total from 2022-23, finishing 16-8 overall on their way to a sub-state championship. The legendary run ended in a duel with eventual state champion Moundridge in the quarterfinals of the 2A state tournament, but it laid the foundation for this program going forward. That state-qualifying roster was led by, among others, a pair of all-league honorees. Calvin Manville was a first-team All-NEKL pick, while Connor Keirns earned second team recognition.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: The 2024-25 Chargers will look much different than last season’s version of the team, with half of the roster and the majority of the starting lineup. However, coach Noll is high on the players who are returning for Jefferson County North, starting with a trio of senior playmakers. That triumvirate starts with Andy Baker, who averaged 7.3 points per game a season ago and is the top returning scorer for the Chargers. He’s one of two returning players with starting experience for this group, joined by fellow senior Eli Weishaar. Those two, joined by junior Will Elias, will be tasked with leading a new-look roster into battle this year. With so many players graduating, that means plenty of minutes and roles are available for other ascending members of the roster. That includes juniors Chance Jenkins, Rex Fuhrman and Isaac Laird, plus a sophomore class loaded with potential, comprising Dawson Lindsay, Callum Baker and Chris Noll.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “This season is expected to be a bit of a rebuilding year after losing half our team (and all 5 starters) to graduation. However, I’ve been impressed with our senior leadership from Andy Baker and Eli Weishaar. The two have embraced their new roles and look to continue the success of last season.” — Cory Noll

–Brendan Dzwierzynski

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