Girls basketball season is nearly here! Last season, five girls teams from Cobb made the postseason, and expectations are running high again this year. Teams have already started practicing, although most players have been preparing throughout the offseason. We asked coaches around the District about their 2025-26 teams, and here is what some of them had to say.
Hannah Beth Baker, Allatoona
I’m excited for the energy returning to Allatoona girls basketball this season and for continuing to build a disciplined, committed culture. In year two as head coach, it’s all about growth and development—laying down deeper roots and patiently waiting for something to grow. Basketball is hard; the challenges when building a program are unique. I’m especially excited about our seniors. They’re bought in, hungry, and ready to keep setting the standard.
This year, success means mastering TNT—Things that Take No Talent. Effort, attitude, communication, and toughness cost nothing but mean everything in basketball and life. I want our players to rediscover the natural confidence and resilience they were born with. Once we play from that place of strength and self-belief, success is not far behind.
Buc team leaders: This year’s captains are senior forward Riley Lumpkin and junior shooting guard Sophie Macurak. They embody the Allatoona girls' basketball team. They are tough, vocal, and relentless. They lead by example and raise the standard every day.
Blake Davis, Harrison
I am looking forward to the growth that this team will see from now until the end of the season. We were able to reach several girls who have played basketball in the past but focused on other sports; they have returned, which is a significant boost to our program. Our biggest challenge will be inexperience at the varsity level.
With the loss of seven seniors from last year's team, and only one senior on this year's team, success will be defined by growth: being better at the end of the season than at the beginning, and using that growth as a springboard for next season and beyond.
Hoya team leaders: Leaders include our varsity returners who saw limited roles last season: Avery Ahern (Junior), Brooklyn Evans, Genevieve Roper, Sofia Figueiredo, and Taylor Leech (all sophomores). We have one senior, Logan Torrenti, who is committed to play college soccer, but has shown great leadership abilities in our time together.
Sue Milam, Hillgrove
We are looking forward to another competitive year within our region. We also expect to play tough teams in the showcases we have entered, which will prepare us for the region schedule. After graduating some key players, we will need our returning players to assume bigger roles on the court.
Success means playing consistent, high-level, high-intensity, team basketball. We hope to compete for the region championship and make a deep run in the state tournament.
Hawk team leaders: Kierra Jackson, Shelby McCall, Aeris Macon
Kandra Bailey, Kell
I’m really proud of this team and looking forward to seeing how much our returning group has grown. Having all five starters back gives us a level of experience, chemistry, and maturity that you don’t always get year to year. This group has put in the work during the offseason, they’ve embraced their roles, and they truly care about each other. We made a strong run to the Sweet 16 last season, and I’m excited to see how that experience translates into a deeper understanding of what it takes to win at a high level. I’m also looking forward to watching our leadership continue to develop—this group genuinely loves competing and holding each other accountable.
Success isn’t just about wins and losses—it’s about growth and how we respond to adversity. If we can look back and say that we improved daily, played selflessly, competed with relentless effort, and represented our program with pride, that’s a successful season. Of course, our goal is to make another deep playoff run, but the foundation of that success will come from our preparation, our togetherness, and our commitment to doing things the right way. Our staff is excited for what’s ahead, and we’re looking forward to putting a product on the floor that our school and community can be proud of.
Longhorn team leaders: We have several strong leaders this year, both vocally and by example. Our returning starters have really embraced that role. They set the tone in practice, communicate well on the court, and bring a level of maturity that keeps the younger players grounded. Their leadership has created a culture where everyone understands the standard and buys into the team-first mentality.
Karmalos Jackson, Kennesaw Mountain
I am looking forward to watching these young ladies grow throughout the season. This year, they are learning how to play as opposed to learning the plays. Like most new things, there will be a transition period, but we are emphasizing connectedness and growth. I am looking forward to seeing our growth from the first game to the last.
Success for us will be looking like a cohesive group for 32 minutes. As I watched game film from last season, I noticed there were times when things looked disjointed for long stretches in games. Success does not always manifest itself in wins and losses. The goal is to win more games than we lose; that will never change. However, peaking at the right time is also important and having success that will carry over into workouts and next season. I am excited about this season and the opportunity I have. It will be a challenge, but I believe I am ready for it.
Mustang team leaders: Our on-court leader is junior forward Nya Ford. Nya is probably our most talented player because she can play inside and outside. She is the top returning scorer from last season, and I expect her to take another leap this season. Our vocal leader is senior forward Chanel Waters. Chanel has really embraced her role as the leader of our team, and her voice can be heard loudly in the gym. Chanel has battled through injuries throughout her career, so we are hoping for a healthy and productive season from her.
Joannah Mackenny, Lassiter
We are excited to build on last season's Sweet 16 run. We have five seniors who have played together since elementary school, and they have been looking forward to this year. We have a great group alongside them, and I can't wait to see what they can do together!
We graduated some key players, so it will be interesting to see who will rise to the occasion and fill the gaps. I'm looking forward to seeing the chemistry develop and what we can do beyond the numbers. My question will be: Did we leave it all on the court? I've always talked to the girls about playing four quarters, and each person doing their job for their teammates. We need a movie each game, not clips.
Trojan team leaders: Sophie Hortman and Claire Mackenny
Phyllis Arthur, McEachern
We are looking forward to a season of competition. We want to compete every second of every game. The challenge that my team faces is flag football. Many of our basketball players are missing part of practice due to the fact that they also play flag football. They are not getting a full two hours of practice every day.
What will define a successful season for us is that we compete in each game and practice, and be better today than we were yesterday. The McEachern Lady Indians are excited about getting started this season. We are working hard.
Indian team leaders: Adejianna (Dejia) Ferguson, Angel Hurst, and Elisa Malone
Jarae Savage, North Cobb
I’m proud of how hard this group has worked and how much they care for one another. I’m really excited to see how much growth we can make as a group this year. Last season was about laying the foundation—getting everyone on the same page, building chemistry, and establishing our culture. Now, I feel like we are starting to understand what it takes to compete consistently at a high level. We’ve got a lot of young talent, and seeing them take that next step—both individually and as a team—is what I’m looking forward to most.
Our biggest challenge is probably our youth and inexperience. Consistency will be key for us—maintaining our focus, our effort, and our discipline—regardless of who we’re playing or what the score is. Those challenges are also opportunities for growth, and I think our group is ready to embrace that. We’re building something special here. It’s a process, but it’s exciting to see the progress we’re making every day. I think fans are going to enjoy watching this team grow and compete this season.
For us, success is about growth and competing the right way. Of course, we want to win games, but more than that, I want to see our team play with confidence, discipline, and trust in each other. If by the end of the season we can look back and say we became tougher, more connected, and more consistent—then I’ll consider that a successful year. Those habits will carry us far beyond just one season.
Warrior team leaders: We’ve got a few players who really set the tone every day. Our returners—especially the ones who have been through the grind—do a great job of showing the younger guys how we do things. Leadership isn’t just about talking; it’s about showing up and doing the work, and I think we’ve got a strong core that leads by example. I’ve also seen some of our younger players start to find their voice, which is a great sign for our future.
Stanley Clark, Osborne
The Osborne Lady Cardinals are looking to post our first winning season in four years. We believe that with the work we have put in from last spring to now, we can be successful. I think the Osborne community is excited about this upcoming season; it starts with a trip to Gwinnett County to play the No.5 team in the state, Grayson. We have a challenging schedule, but that's what good teams do: play the best teams out there.
Our biggest challenges are: 1) playing together and 2) trusting the system. A successful season would be a finish in the top four in the region and a top 32 in Class 6A girls basketball, which would put us into the state playoffs.
Cardinal team leaders: Our captain and leading scorer is Camille Braswell. We also have a host of seniors: Mina Ly, Aniya Reddick, Binta Darbo, Jaida Howard, Azjorya Robinson, and a super sophomore, SaaNala Cameron. These young ladies are the foundation of rebuilding the Osborne program.
William Blythe, Pope
We are looking forward to another challenging season in a very strong region.
On paper, another State Tournament run is possible, but our players must put in the work and become stronger both on and off the court.
Greyhound team leaders: Abbey Bensman (Senior), Alysa Cabrera (Senior), Kourtney Kalman (Junior), Freedom Lewis (Junior), Payton McGuire (Sophomore)
Kellie Avery, Sprayberry
This season, we hope to improve our 12-13 record in one of the most challenging regions in the state. We have five seniors this year, and I’m predicting their leadership will lead us where we need to be. We begin with a preseason game against Kell on November 5.
Yellow Jacket team leaders: Kaitlyn Williams, leading scorer averaging 18.2 points per game last season, and Lenai Louie, our general on the floor, who leads the way.
Matthew Kelterborn, Walton
I am looking forward to the team we are building this year. We have more depth and more of a team concept. I believe we will be able to play faster on both offense and defense, which will allow us to compete at a high level. Our region is always a challenge; it is one of the toughest in the state (Four teams are ranked in the preseason Top-10 in Class 6A). We are looking to test ourselves outside of region play to get prepared.
Our success as a team can be measured in multiple ways. On the court, we want to be a team that plays with relentless effort on both ends of the court. Representing our region in the state tournament would be a successful season on the court. In addition, our team's GPA has been over 4.0 for the past 3 seasons. Continuing this tradition of excelling in the classroom, on the court, and in the community will define overall success this season.
Raider team leaders: We have had strong leadership from all of our returning seniors. Mary Swierenga, Lauren Kent, Allie Pekkanen, and Layla Varghese were all freshmen on our region-championship team in 2023, and they have experienced state playoffs during their freshman and sophomore seasons. They are determined to rise up and lead us to the playoffs again this year.
