By Luke Loftus The Johnstown Breeze
2026-01-22 06:00 AM
The Lady Rough Riders are continuing to improve now that league play has picked up. Going into this past week they were sitting at 4-5 overall and 3-1 in league play.
This week their first game was at home against the Severance Silver Knights. The girls led 13-11 after the first quarter. And then they locked down defensively, holding Severance to single digits in each of the last three quarters, including only allowing Severance to score two points in the 2nd quarter. The Rough Riders would go on to win that game 62-29.
Stat leaders were headlined by Kyla Lin Hollier, who continues to have an impressive senior season, leading the team with 33 points while shooting 50 percent from the field. She also grabbed 11 rebounds. Other notable stats, junior Ava Grosboll had 10 rebounds, and junior Madi Kage led the team defensively with five steals in this game.
On January 16, they took on the Berthoud Spartans in Berthoud. Hollier was once again the leading scorer in this one, scoring 40 of the teams 59 points. Also grabbing nine rebounds. The Rough Riders would win this one 59-46 and improve their overall record to 6-5 and their league record to 5-1.
When head coach Kerstin Young was asked about the early season struggles and how they have improved since, she said, “We had a rough start early, but I think it really pushed us to refocus on the basics. We’re taking much better care of the basketball, and our chemistry has grown as players have settled into their roles. Defensively we’ve made steady improvements each game and that’s allowed us to stay composed in tough moments. I’ve loved seeing how this group has responded and come together.”
Coach Young on whether she thinks the team is on track to where they want to be: “I do feel like we are on track. We’re not where we want to be yet but we’re moving in the right direction. Our biggest improvements will continue to come from consistency, especially on the defensive end, and trusting one another offensively. If we keep building on our communication, effort, and attention to detail, this team has a lot of room to keep growing.”
And what Coach Young is proud of to this point: “I’m really proud of how the girls have handled adversity. After a tough start, they didn’t splinter, they leaned into each other. The growth on our defense, the way they’re supporting one another, and the willingness to accept roles for the good of the team says a lot about their character. That’s been the most rewarding part for me.”
Boys Basketball
The boys dropped their first league game of the season after their 4-0 start to league play, losing to Severance 64-51.
They would quickly bounce back at Berthoud with a 67-59 win. Led by senior Jack Cook with 16 points and six rebounds. Senior Brooks Reckard scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The basketball teams continue their league play this week, at Timnath January 20, then at home against Thompson Valley on January 23.
The girls have an added game, a non-league matchup at home against Glenwood Springs, on January 24.