Stepping up: Green Bay East girls’ basketball embraces new leadership

The Green Bay East girls’ basketball team is focused on growth, chemistry, and consistency this season as it enters the 2025-26 campaign.

The Red Devils finished 7-17 overall and went winless (0-12) in the Bay Conference last year. They graduated seven seniors, including standout guard Jamaya Mariner, who averaged 18.5 points per game and became a 1,000 point scorer during her career. 

“Jamaya was our super senior,” Head Coach Dwight Hancock said. “She did everything for us. She led in scoring, rebounding, steals and assists. Who I’m looking forward to stepping up is Lakeria Gonnigan and Jada Nelson. They’ve been around the program for a while, and I’m looking to see what they can do.”

With several key juniors and sophomores returning, Hancock is eager to see how the group’s development pays off. “We had quite a few sophomores last year that played quite a bit, so I want to see what they can bring to the table this year,” he said.

Gonnigan, now an upperclassman, is embracing a leadership role both on and off the court. “A goal that I have is to get more points up and also help my teammates as an older person,” she said. “Our goal (this season) is to work hard, don’t give up, don’t quit. Work towards what we want, like winning, and not even just that, just a lot of team bonding.”

Team chemistry has already become a defining strength for East. “I feel like the team’s chemistry this year is good,” Gonnigan said. “I feel like we’ve got a lot of great people, and we all know each other, so we hang out outside of sports. I know a lot of other teams don’t have that.”

Hancock echoed that sentiment. “I would say (our strength) is the team camaraderie,” he said. “They’ve been going to school together since elementary school, so they know each other and are friends outside of basketball.”

One player to watch this season is freshman Janelle Rodriguez-Reyes, who has impressed early. “She’s a freshman this year, and she’s on varsity,” Gonnigan said. “I feel like she’s really, really good, and she’ll step up and give us something that we need.”

For Hancock, the team’s mindset is just as important as its record. “Our goals are to compete, and to compete every play, not just when things are going good,” he said. “When we’re scrapping for points, we need to dig deep and compete.”

As the Red Devils continue to grow, the focus remains on effort, connection, and steady improvement. “Winning and working hard,” Gonnigan said simply.

With returning experience, promising new talent, and tight team chemistry, Green Bay East is hoping to turn last season’s lessons into a foundation for a stronger future.