Expectations around the North Platte girls basketball program are higher than most programs in the state, having celebrated 10 district titles since 2009. This season, the Panthers hope to continue building on a tradition-rich program.
After a 25-5 campaign in 2024-25 under head coach Clay Atteberry in his first year guiding the program, the Panthers enter the new season with a blend of confidence, hunger and continuity that has quickly become the standard in Dearborn. North Platte captured conference and district championships before seeing its postseason run end in the Class 2 state quarterfinals against eventual state champion Skyline.
“My expectations for this season are that our girls will attack this season just as they do every season,” said Atteberry, who was named Class 2 District 15 co-coach of the year. “I expect us to be the hardest-working team every night when we step on the floor. There’s a lot of variables that go into wins and losses, but giving a perfect effort and being mentally tough should be staples every night.”
North Platte does face the challenge of replacing four seniors, including two well-decorated players. Lindsay Ramsey graduated after an all-state and all-district season, while Briana DeBord also earned all-district honors. Their production, leadership and experience leave a noticeable void, but one the Panthers believe can be filled collectively.
The returning trio of Allyson Smith, Addison Skala and Kate Wolf will be joined by an expanded rotation that Atteberry believes can maintain the program’s upward trajectory. Farrah Williams, Emily Goodlet, Bell DeBord, Megan Schuster and Deidra Zweibohmer are expected to step into important minutes, while Merilyn Payton, Tristynn Walker and Morgan Ball are also projected to provide solid contributions throughout the season.
While last winter produced plenty of milestones, Atteberry said his first year also delivered valuable lessons that continue to shape his approach.
“There were so many lessons learned in Year 1,” he said. “But the most important lesson I learned is that you can never be prepared enough. It’s easy to have a plan, but that plan will change on the fly. It’s a long season and a lot can change throughout the year.”
That philosophy underscores North Platte’s day-to-day focus.
“Taking things one game at a time teaches your players to be in the moment and make sure they’re focused on the task at hand,” Atteberry said. “It’s important to focus on the small daily victories just as much as the big victories.”
One constant entering the season is the chemistry within the program.
“One strength of our team is how connected we are,” Atteberry said. “This group has a lot of fun and they complement each other well. They know that there’s always 10 girls and two coaches that have their back no matter what.”
The Panthers’ schedule will give them plenty of challenges, beginning with the KCI Tournament before highlight games including a rematch with University Academy — last year’s district runner-up behind the Panthers — along with matchups against Chillicothe and Van Horn at the Bill Burns Shootout. The North Platte Invitational and showcase games against Cameron and Archie provide further competition in a demanding schedule. For Atteberry, success is defined by more than postseason advancement.
“A successful season in my eyes is always ‘leave it better than how you found it,’” he said. “That means we have to continue to build the North Platte basketball tradition and add another level for the future groups to come.”