By Chad Hayworth (for OzarksSportsZone.com)
Kelsea Whitten intends to build a winning girls basketball program at Neosho.
But first, she says, she’s got to build a culture.
“Our first summer game at Webb City, we kind of imploded,” she said. “I had conversations, especially with my upperclassmen, about the culture we’re trying to build. We all need to have the same goal and really be working on being positive to each other.”
Learning to give yourself – and your teammates around you – a little grace is a lesson that reaches beyond the court, she said.
“This is a life skill, being able to interact with things are hard,” she said. “This is going to impact marriages, jobs, every part of their lives.”
It’s an uphill task for Whitten, who was hired in the spring from Joplin, where she last coached junior high basketball.
Neosho hasn’t had a winning season since back-to-back 16-win campaigns in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Since then, the Lady Wildcats have only won 10 games twice, and are coming off a 6-19 season a year ago.
But the Lady Wildcats have the pieces to compete in the COC West this season, while building for a brighter future, she said.
“We’re going to play very fast, very physical man-to-man defense,” she said. “In the past, they have sat back in a zone, and teams have just shot the lights out on them.”
Neosho gave up 55 points a game in 2024-25, while scoring around 17.
The Lady Wildcats return an experienced post player in 6-foot-2 senior Jazmyn Washington.
“She might be the most athletic girl athlete I’ve ever seen,” Whitten said. “She took a bit of a backseat role last season. We’re expecting more from her, both offensively and defensively.”
She’s joined by a trio of juniors, Journie Burkhart, Emma Ward and Brooklynn Crandall.
Burkhart, a point guard, could shoulder more the scoring load this winter, Whitten said.
“In the past, her role was to get the ball into the offense and then get back on defense,” she said. “We need her to be more of an offensive threat, and she’s worked to improve her shot tremendously. She is also the only girl who was at every single summer workout and weights session. She’s been working on her game every day.”
Whitten wants to exploit Ward’s versatility. She can defend against smaller post players and guards as well, and has an outside shooting threat.
“She knows every position on the court and can sub in for anybody, which makes her pretty dangerous,” Whitten said.
Crandall is the team’s fastest player and has a nose for rebounds.
“She leads the charge,” Whitten said. “She brings it every day, which is something we need.”
Sophomores Aspen Drake and Jolie Bond will also figure into the game-plan this winter, along with junior Delilah Stephens and freshmen Hannah White.
“We have a lot of the puzzle pieces we need to be successful,” Whitten said. “We’re going to need some girls to step into different roles than they have played in the past, but so far, everyone has been open-minded.”
Neosho opens the season November 24 at Seneca, before playing in the CJ Classic in Carl Junction starting December 1.
The Lady Wildcats will also play in the Neosho Holiday Tournament and January’s Gary Keeling Classic in Boliver.
Neosho opens conference play February 5 against Joplin.
