Webb City High School’s girls’ varsity basketball team enters the 2025–26 season with momentum and maturity, returning a core that helped spark one of the program’s best years in a decade. The Cardinals, based in Webb City, Missouri, are building an identity around toughness, versatility, and a fast-paced style that reflects the vision of head coach Grant Berendt in his second year at the helm.

The roster is anchored by an experienced junior class led by point guard Abby Sargent and forward Addie Burns, both all-conference performers who drive much of Webb City’s offense. Sargent sets the tempo as a floor general, capable of scoring in bunches while also creating for teammates and is trusted with the ball late in tight games due to her poise and free-throw shooting. Burns provides a difficult matchup as a versatile scorer who can post smaller guards, stretch the floor with perimeter shooting, and defend multiple positions.

Sophomore shooting guard Kenzie Horn worked her way onto the varsity floor last season and has become an important perimeter weapon. She has the ability to stretch defenses with her shooting, and her smooth pull-up jumper gives Webb City another reliable scoring option. Kenzie runs the floor well in transition and can handle the ball when needed, allowing the Cardinals to stay in attack mode. The staff is excited about how her work ethic and constant gym time can help the team take the next step this season, both in spacing the floor and keeping the offense balanced.

In the frontcourt, Kaelyn Maxwell brings energy and mobility as a forward/center who may see increased varsity minutes. She earned time late last year and followed it up with a strong summer, showing that she can run the floor and rebound effectively. Coaches are emphasizing consistency around the rim and growth as a defensive stopper, areas that could make her an anchor in the paint. Twin sister Jocelyn Maxwell also adds size and depth to the rotation, giving Webb City more options in its interior matchups.

The backcourt group is bolstered by sophomore guard Brecklynn Sargent, who can slide over to run point guard when needed. After working her way up to varsity last season, she now pushes the pace in transition and makes a major impact on the defensive end. Brecklynn plays bigger than her size, creating offense through steals and deflections, and is described as a tireless worker whose effort raises the team’s intensity.

Two seniors, Kylee Sargent and Bailey Packard, round out the experienced leadership. Kylee, a strong undersized forward, is unafraid to battle bigger posts and has learned how to use her size to her advantage. She can attack taller defenders off the dribble, post smaller players and has expanded her shooting range to pull opposing bigs away from the basket. Bailey, a guard, is a very unselfish player who has improved her ball handling under pressure and her ability to knock down 3-pointers. Her growth over the summer has the staff eager to see her contributions in key moments.

Around that duo, the Cardinals feature key contributors such as guard Whitlee Keith, an all-conference sharpshooter who knocked down dozens of threes last season while also impacting games defensively. In the paint, 6-foot-1 post Adalyn Maxwell anchors the interior, altering shots at the rim, rebounding on both ends, and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities, with sisters Jocelyn and Kaelyn Maxwell also factoring into the rotation. Additional guards like Brecklynn Sargent and seniors Bailey Packard and Kylee Sargent add depth, experience, and shooting that allow Webb City to maintain pressure for four quarters.

Webb City’s style blends tempo with toughness, using Sargent’s pace and Keith’s perimeter threat to stretch defenses while relying on Burns and Maxwell to control the paint and glass. After a breakthrough 19–9 campaign and an early 1–0 start this season, expectations have risen, with the Cardinals eyeing conference contention and a return to the kind of postseason success the program enjoyed in its “glory years” of frequent Final Four trips and a state title. With a cohesive core, growing confidence, and a clear blueprint under Berendt, Webb City’s girls’ varsity team looks poised to remain a problem for opponents across southwest Missouri all winter long.