The Altoona-Midway Lady Jets will have experience on their roster for the 2025-26 basketball campaign … just not as much experience as they were expecting.
AMHS head coach Jessica Porter, entering her fourth year at the helm of the Lady Jets, has seen the team increase its win total over each of her first three seasons at Altoona-Midway. And while last year’s 6-12 overall record may not seem impressive to outsiders, that win total marked the most victories by a Lady Jet squad since 2009-10 … and a total earned despite losing their final two regular season games due to weather.
A new season for the Lady Jets gets under way this week. Following a preseason jamboree scrimmage at Neodesha on Monday, Altoona-Midway was scheduled for regular-season matchups on the road Tuesday (Dec. 2) at Hartford, and Friday (Dec. 5) at Uniontown.
Porter welcomes back six returning lettermen from last year. Unfortunately, the Lady Jets’ 10-player roster a year ago included only two seniors, so the returnee total could have been even larger.
Graduating seniors from a year ago included four-year starter Emmalynn Pupanek and two-year starter Autumn Raymond. Pupanek was a three-time designee to the all-Three Rivers League squad, and finished eighth on the Lady Jets’ career scoring charts with 581 points.
But instead of entering this season with three returning starters and eight lettermen, the Lady Jets suffered an extra jolt when sisters Chantel and Sandra Morales moved from the district over the summer.
Chantal Morales was a three-year letterman while Sandra burst on the season as a freshman a year ago to lead the Lady Jets in scoring. Her 33-point outburst against Southern Coffey County tied the Lady Jets’ all-time single-game scoring mark.
“We knew we were going to miss Emmalynn and Autumn, as they provided a lot of leadership,” Porter noted, “but we were planning to have eight returning girls, including three starters. Obviously, losing Sandra and Chantal provides us with an additional challenge, but we still have several girls who gained valuable playing time and experience last year.”
“This is a good group of girls. They work hard and want to be successful,” Porter said. “One thing I know - we’ll show up each night and give it our best shot.”
The lone senior and returning starter on this year’s Lady Jet squad is Ava Tindle, a defensive specialist and solid rebounder.
Four juniors dot this year’s roster, and all four girls saw time off the bench a year ago: Mika Parsons, Jasa Pankaskie, Peyton Drake and Brooklynn Collins.
Sophomore Keyliegh Clines saw valuable playing time and earned a letter last year, and this year’s lone newcomer to the squad is freshman Destiny Raymond.
“Unfortunately, we’re back to having just seven players on our roster this year, so it will be very important that everyone stays healthy and able to play,” Porter noted.
“This is going to be a season of perseverance and giving it our all – but I believe this group has the right mindset to do just that,” she added.
Boys Preview-
Following a long drought, the Altoona-Midway boys’ basketball team has fashioned back-to-back winning seasons the past two school years.
And while this year’s Jet squad has some big shoes to fill in order to extend that streak, AMHS head coach Dave Vance and his players are optimistic they’re up to the task of posting a third straight winning season.
After getting their feet wet in a preseason Jamboree on Monday at Neodesha, Altoona-Midway was scheduled to officially open the 2025-26 basketball season with two games this week.
The Jets were slated to open the season with road games Tuesday (Dec. 2) at Hartford, and Friday (Dec. 5) at Uniontown.
“We lost four seniors (one left in mid-season) from last season’s team, so we will have a lot of scoring, rebounding, defense, and tenacity to make up for,” Vance said. “But we have six returning lettermen and five newcomers who are anxious to get going. Hopefully, the returnees have gotten used to this idea of winning and are primed to keep going in a positive direction.”
In 2023-24, the Jets went 15-7 and advanced to the sub-state finals. Last year’s squad also finished above .500 at 12-10, marking the first back-to-back winning seasons for Altoona-Midway in more than two decades. AMHS also won a postseason matchup for the fourth time in the past six years.
Key losses to graduation included the starting trio of William Stackhouse, Kieran Foster, and Joey Lamendola.
Stackhouse, a three-time All-Three Rivers League choice and an All-State selection last year, finished fourth on the AMHS career scoring charts with 1,084 points. Foster was honorable mention All-TRL, averaged 11.2 points per game and led the Jets in three-point baskets on the season, while Lamendola constantly provided an influx of enthusiasm and much-needed energy at both ends of the court.
But the cupboard is far from bare for Altoona-Midway, as Vance welcomes back six returning lettermen – two seniors, two juniors, and two sophomores.
Kage Beck and Kenny Smith are the seniors on this year’s squad.
“Kage is incredibly determined to be a leader for this team,” Vance said. “He has a workman-like mentality that will surely rub off on the others. Kage is working on his shot, but he has also become quite a force in taking the ball to the rim. Kage will take on the role of ‘captain,’ and his ball handling ability will keep us all afloat. Kage is very inspirational and always ready for the “next” play.”
Smith, the other senior, just started playing basketball last season. “Kenny doesn’t have the experience of most seniors, but he makes up for that in heart,” Vance said. “He has shown a lot of improvement since last year, and most of all, Kenny brings a lot of energy, spirit and extra effort.”
The two juniors are Taj Chism and Nolan Lampe.
“Taj is very talented and just really needs to focus on finding his energy, keeping that level up, and being the best teammate to others,” Vance noted. “Taj has good range on his shots, he is strong enough to take to the basket, and he can be a dominant force on the boards. Taj will have to do his share of taking care of the ball, and even being a leader in the assist department.
“Nolan is only in his second season of basketball,” the coach noted. “But he has shown a lot of improvement and we expect a lot more out of him this season. He will contribute a lot to our team, and is very unselfish.”
Sophomores include Chance Carter and Chance Mustain.
“Carter can be a force in the paint if he does not fade away on his shot,” Vance commented. “Carter hits the boards and plays extremely aggressive defense. He is very active and has some speed for a big man, and definitely does not lack motivation.
“Chance Mustain came on strong at the end of last season, and we expect him to hit the ground running this year,” Vance said. “He has great length and he is all arms and legs. Mustain started driving the ball more at the end of last season and is a very good shooter with a nice, soft touch.”
A quintet of freshmen rounds out the AMHS squad this year: Zac Good, Caden Sicka, Eliot Ard, Karter Letterman, and Oliver Salas.
“Zac and Karter are both sidelined with foot injuries until after Christmas break,” Vance said. “The others are improving, and we’re anxious to see this group develop as the season progresses.”
Vance, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Jets, has compiled an overall record of 35-30.
And for the second year in a row, a graduating senior is returning to serve as Vance’s assistant coach. Kieran Foster will fill that role this year, replacing Jacob Meigs, who served in that capacity last season.