Gillespie Girls Basketball Eyes Strong 2026-2027 Season

GILLESPIE — Gillespie's girls basketball team is poised for strong success in 2026-2027 with a large number of returnees from this year's team.

Coach Nikki Brawner was disappointed to lose to Marquette Catholic 44-32 in the regional title game at Roxana on Thursday night, Feb. 19, 2026. However, she also pointed to a roster that returns nine of 10 players as a foundation for the 2026-2027 season. Gillespie's Amari Vickrey led all scorers with 17 points against Marquette. Maggie Heyen added five points, Sloane Brawner scored four, and Ella Brawner had three points.

“I think my girls had a great season,” Nikki Brawner said after the game. “They play a solid schedule against a lot of talented teams, and they worked hard together to find success. This group is extremely gritty and never backs down.”

Brawner said Gillespie will graduate one senior, Sadie Sholtis, from this year's team, who was a strong leader all season for the group. Her leadership will be missed, she said.

Brawner said the returning group includes Vickrey, whom she described as “such an explosive player who creates so much,” adding that Vickrey “finished the season as our sixth all-time leading scorer.”

Coach Brawner also cited Heyen’s play inside, saying, “Maggie has great hands and battles hard down low,” and highlighted Sloane Brawner’s defense and shooting development: “Sloane is our best on-the-ball defender and is developing into a great three-point shooter.”

Coach Brawner said sophomores Gillian Smith and Lainey Edwards “stepped up in big ways this season and gave us great minutes,” and that Macie Williams “came back to basketball after two seasons off and gave us great minutes this year.”

She also pointed to three freshmen who gained varsity experience.

“Our three freshmen, Ella Brawner, Rylee Geisler, and Lyla Shaw, had great varsity experience this year,” Brawner said. “Ella is a tremendous all-around defender who sees the court well. This gritty group is going to be fun to watch next season.”

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