The Columbia High School girls basketball squad lost key members to graduation from last year’s 23-8 campaign, but there’s still plenty of athleticism on display this winter. 

The Eagles return three starters – two of which were instrumental in the school’s first volleyball state title just last month. 

The 2025-26 squad will be led by seniors Kinley Jany and Ava Mathews, who shined on the volleyball court this fall. Jany is a three-year starter for Eagles hoops, with Mathews being a two-year starter.

Jany is already averaging nearly 15 points per game in the early going this season, with Mathews averaging 14.5 points per game. 

Columbia head coach Scott Germain said Jany can shoot from the perimeter, while Mathews is a “rebounding machine.”

Another returning starter is sophomore Riley Bahr, who is averaging nine points and 3.25 steals per game so far this season. 

“(Riley) will run the point guard position and has been really working hard to be a scorer this season,” Germain assessed.

Others being counted on this season for the Eagles include seniors Sydnie Fitch, Lillie Prater, Hope Schwartz and Ava Blaskiewicz, junior Kaylee Bosch, sophomore Brynnley Grider, and freshmen Addison Dewilde and Chloe Klopmeyer.

Like Jany and Mathews, Dewilde was a member of the state title volleyball squad. With her height, she should contribute with rebounding and scoring, Germain said. 

“With the success of the volleyball team – missing Kinley, Addison and Ava – the other girls have had a lot of time to get reps on D and O,” Germain said. “I think our depth this year can be one of the biggest advantages.”

That lack of reps for the volleyball players will also be something to overcome in terms of gelling together as a team in the early going, the head coach said. 

“A disadvantage would be just the practice time we have not been able to have with all of the girls working together,” Germain said. “(It’s a) great group of girls that are working extremely hard and are looking to leave their mark on Lady Eagles basketball.”