2025 Spanish Springs Cougars Boys and Girls Basketball Season Previews

2025 Spanish Springs Cougars Boys Basketball Season Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

Head Coach: Kyle Penney, 19^th Season as Head Coach at Spanish Springs HS, 22^nd OVERALL as Head Coach in Northern Nevada (338-202 OVERALL as a Varsity Head Coach, 300-160 as Spanish Springs Varsity Head Coach)

2024 Record: 24-5 OVERALL, 16-0 League; 4A Northern Region Champions, 4A State Runner-Up’s (Lost to Sierra Vista in State Championship Game)

Key Returners: Jayden Acosta, Brady Hummel, Tyson McNeil, Jackson Sundeen, Luka Gerhart, Carter Zirkle, Kysaiah Dupree, and Ja’shon Ervin-Franklin. Coach Penney said “We feel we have a very competitive and eager group ready to tackle any challenges ahead of us with a lot to earn and prove. We are going to rely on our collective group as everyone on our roster matters. Like all years, if we have a chance to be successful, it is going to start with our returning seniors and our returning players; their work ethic, habits, buy-in, and leadership [will set the tone].

OVERVIEW: The Spanish Springs Cougars enter the 2025-26 season riding the momentum of having won their third regional championship in the last seven seasons, solidifying their place as one of the premier programs in the area. Last year’s run to the state championship game, a first in school history, showcased the team’s trademarks – including toughness, discipline, and late-game execution. These qualities have become synonymous with the Cougars brand of basketball. As they prepare to defend their regional crown, they do so with an eye to the future as they look to take the next step and win a state basketball championship. Expectations remain high for this group of Cougars, and they continue to rise to the occasion in pressure moments.

Guiding the Cougars once again is Head Coach Kyle Penney, entering his 19^th year as the leading man, he is the longest-tenured coach in the region, amassing 338 wins along the way, and one of the architects of the program’s sustained excellence with their youth (SSBA) program beginning with students in the third grade. During his time at the helm, Coach Penney has built a culture rooted in accountability, player development and strategic precision, which has resulted in multiple deep postseason runs over the last decade. Under Penney’s leadership, the Cougars have stacked together an impressive collection of league championship seasons (eight regular season championships in the last ten seasons), creating a standard of excellence that every roster strives to uphold year after year, creating ‘Tradition’ as we know it.

Despite graduating a plethora of talent from last year’s team, the Cougars are expected to reload this season, rather than rebuild. This is thanks to a combination of emerging varsity first-year contributors, a strong core of returning players, and the staff’s proven track record of developing underclassmen. New roles will open, competition will elevate and new playmakers are poised to step into the spotlight for the Cougars. With their championship pedigree, resilient and tough-minded culture, and an experienced coaching staff that knows how to maximize every roster, the Cougars once again look like a formidable contender in the race for league, regional and state supremacy.

Without further ado, here are Coach Kyle Penney’s answers to our questions we asked him last month…

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Offensively?

A balanced offensive attack that puts our players in the best possible opportunities to make plays that benefit the team, starting with transition and ending with execution. We take pride in our shot selection and taking care of the ball.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Defensively?

We are a man-based program based on team principles with five guys needing to work together as one, playing aggressive and tough. We stress and work on it as the staple of our program.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Style of Play?

Tough and fundamental. Sound, Solid, and Simple. We have standards of play and execution that we always expect of each other.

What Is The Key To Your Team’s Success This Season?

Do Simple Better. Our discipline, toughness and buy-in to our culture and standards. We must have great discipline and toughness, mental and physical. We must have great defensive intensity and vision. We must take great shots, share the ball, force bad shots, take care of the ball and rebound. Simply put, we will emphasize making the “little things” the most important things.

Who Do You Feel Are The Teams To Beat In The North?

It will be a very competitive season with lots of great action and all teams battling to be at the top. But on paper, at this moment, the two teams that really stand out are Reno and Manogue.

What Is The Best Part About Coaching High School Athletics?

Relationships built and sustained for a lifetime. The comradery displayed by the athletes and coaches. There are great, hardworking student athletes, coaches, and people throughout all Northern Nevada. And maybe even more so, the relationships that have been built from player to player, player to coach, and coach to coach with the teams over the years of growing up and playing together or against each other.

2025 Spanish Springs Cougars Girls Basketball Season Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

Head Coach: Arturo Cardenas, 12^th Season as Head Coach at Spanish Springs HS

2024 Record: 21-6 OVERALL, 15-1 League; 4A Northern Region Regular Season Champs

Key Returners: Aaliyah Vance – led the team in scoring and three point makes last season and was named The MVP of The Battle Born Preps Next Level Showcase in April. Mackenzie Chase – led the team in assists and steals last season. Addison Bowers – A solid all-around player that can and will play multiple positions for the Cougars this season. Vanessa Hollenback – Another Cougar who will play multiple positions, Coach Cardenas said, “She plays big for her size, and is not afraid to be physical.” I am predicting a breakout for her this season. Brooklyn Doyle – led the team in rebounds and blocked shots last season.

OVERVIEW: The Spanish Springs Cougars enter the 2025-26 season with high expectations after capturing the Northern 4A Regular Season League Championship and finishing as the Northern 4A Regional Runner-up a season ago. With a combination of returning firepower, improved depth, and a program identity built on toughness, the Cougars are motivated to push even further this winter. Their goals are clear: Build on last season’s momentum, take the next step in the postseason – finish the job, and make a serious run at winning the school’s third regional championship in the last eight season while also being in hot pursuit of the school’s first state championship on the hardwood.

The major reason for optimism this season is the return of three established playmakers from last season; Aaliyah Vance, Mackenzie Chase, and Addison Bowers, each of whom played a crucial role in last season’s regular season championship campaign. Alongside that core, the Cougars are expecting big contributions from five to seven additional players on their roster, including returners Vanessa Hollenback and Brooklyn Doyle, giving the coaching staff one of the deepest and most versatile rotations they’ve fielded in recent years. With that combination of experience, and balance coupled with their up-and-coming youth, the team is positioned to compete with any opponent in the region and sustain high-level performance across their long and demanding schedule.

The Cougars on-court identity will once again revolve around fast-paced offense, physical high-pressure defense, and a commitment to playing both mentally and physically strong basketball. This approach has become a hallmark of the program and is a major factor in their postseason success over the last decade. As they look ahead, the teams is focused on returning to the state tournament for the third time in the 2020’s, and they believe their blend of veteran leadership, depth and competitive mentality gives them the tools to get there. With expectations rising higher than ever before and a roster ready for the challenge, the Cougars are prepared to chase (league, region, and state) championships once again.

Without further ado, here are Coach Cardenas answers to our questions we asked him last month…

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Offensively?

Fast paced game. We want to run every chance we get. A lot of movement and a lot of screening.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Defensively?

Tough, physical defense.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Style of Play?

Fast tempo.

What Is The Key To Your Team’s Success This Season?

Playing together, being physically and mentally tough.

Who Do You Feel Are The Teams To Beat In The North?

Bishop Manogue and Reno.

What Is The Best Part About Coaching High School Athletics?

Every season brings a new challenge.