Chase High Basketball Lays Foundation for the Future in Gritty, Transformative Season
2025 Winter Season Recap with Head Coach Jacob Bauman
In sports, progress isn’t always measured in wins and losses. Sometimes, it’s about building a culture, laying a foundation, and finding pride in the little victories that shape a program’s future. That was the story of the 2024–2025 basketball season for Chase High School, where first-year Head Coach Jacob Bauman led one of the youngest teams in the state through a year of transformation, resilience, and promise.
After inheriting a team coming off a winless season, with just three returning players and six freshmen on the roster, Bauman had a monumental task ahead. But despite finishing with a single win, the season was filled with growth, breakthroughs, and a spark that signals brighter days ahead.
New Era, New Energy
Coach Bauman stepped into a program in need of direction. With a fresh mindset and a focus on development, he immediately set a tone of effort and expectation.
“This was my first year as head coach,” Bauman said. “We finished the year with 1 win, but we improved tremendously over the season.”
That win — a thrilling breakout performance that ended a nearly two-calendar year losing streak — was more than just a mark in the victory column. It was a defining moment. In that game, three players hit career highs: freshman Malik Carson (33 points), junior Leland Rice (14), and senior Layton Winkelman (14).
That night, the Chase Trojans weren’t just participants — they were competitors.
Key Contributors: Leadership on the Floor
Two names were pivotal to Chase’s efforts this season: freshman Malik Carson and senior Layton Winkelman.
Carson, a 5’9” point guard with a relentless slashing play style, averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game — impressive numbers for a freshman playing above his size. Already a standout in track, Carson's athleticism and motor made him one of the team’s most dynamic players, and he’s poised to take an even bigger leap next year.
Winkelman, the lone senior and emotional anchor of the team, brought leadership and effort night in and night out. Though just 5’10” and 140 lbs, he played in the paint with grit and heart, routinely battling bigger opponents and finishing among the state leaders in rebounds. He added 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, setting the tone with hustle and intensity.
“Layton showed the boys what it meant to play with heart,” Bauman said. “He set the standard by fighting for every rebound, diving for loose balls, and being extremely active on the defensive side.”
Development in Real Time
With such a young roster, individual development was central to Chase’s growth. Two players who made noticeable strides were freshman Duncan MacLaren and sophomore Carlos Rincon.
To start the season, MacLaren was an offensive spark but needed to shore up his defense. Rincon, meanwhile, was defensively solid but struggled on offense. As the year progressed, both players committed to improving their weaker areas, emerging as more complete and confident contributors.
Coach Bauman praised their evolution: “They both made it a point to improve on the opposite side of the court and became much more well-rounded as players.”
Responding to Adversity
The season wasn’t without its hurdles. A major one came in the form of an injury to freshman guard Dominick Estabrook, who had started multiple games. In his absence, Rincon stepped into the starting lineup and elevated the team's defensive intensity.
Despite being sidelined, Estabrook remained a fixture on the bench — not just physically, but vocally.
“Dom quickly made his return to the bench and became a huge vocal leader for us from the sideline,” Bauman shared, highlighting the sense of unity and leadership budding within the team.
A Look Ahead: Building Blocks in Place
As Coach Bauman reflects on the season, it’s not just about the progress his team made — it’s about the potential of what’s to come.
“What most excites me about our team returning next year is just the amount of experience we will have at such a young age,” he said.
With only two seniors expected next season and a talented group of rising sophomores, Chase is positioned for a promising turnaround. Add to that a strong junior high class and the emergence of players like incoming freshman Troy MacLaren, and the future looks bright.
“Troy is going to make an immediate impact on the varsity roster next season,” Bauman predicted.
Offseason Outlook: Identity First
If this season was about survival and growth, next season will be about shaping an identity. With stability finally settling in after years of coaching turnover, Bauman plans to get to work early.
“We plan to get busy this summer and hone everything down so that come November, we’re ready to take that next step as a team,” he explained.
The offseason will focus on fundamentals, conditioning, team chemistry, and building a culture where effort, toughness, and accountability are non-negotiables.
“We’re trying to find our identity as a team,” Bauman said. “We want to be known for our effort, our defense, and our togetherness.”
Where to Follow the Trojans
For fans and followers interested in tracking the team’s progress and player stats, you can find all information on MaxPreps. Just be sure to search for Chase High School and not Chase County.
Conclusion: One Win, Endless Growth
To outsiders, a 1-25 season may not seem like cause for celebration. But to those who’ve watched Coach Bauman’s Trojans this season, the signs of growth, commitment, and hope are impossible to ignore.
From a historic losing streak to a thrilling breakthrough win, from raw freshmen to emerging leaders, from scattered effort to collective defense — this season was about more than wins. It was about laying bricks, one possession at a time, for the future of Chase High basketball.
And if this year was the first step, the Trojans are well on their way to becoming a team no one will want to overlook.
, junior Leland Rice (14), and senior Layton Winkelman (14).
That night, the Chase Trojans weren’t just participants — they were competitors.
Key Contributors: Leadership on the Floor
Two names were pivotal to Chase’s efforts this season: freshman Malik Carson and senior Layton Winkelman.
Carson, a 5’9” point guard with a relentless slashing play style, averaged 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game — impressive numbers for a freshman playing above his size. Already a standout in track, Carson's athleticism and motor made him one of the team’s most dynamic players, and he’s poised to take an even bigger leap next year.
Winkelman, the lone senior and emotional anchor of the team, brought leadership and effort night in and night out. Though just 5’10” and 140 lbs, he played in the paint with grit and heart, routinely battling bigger opponents and finishing among the state leaders in rebounds. He added 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, setting the tone with hustle and intensity.
“Layton showed the boys what it meant to play with heart,” Bauman said. “He set the standard by fighting for every rebound, diving for loose balls, and being extremely active on the defensive side.”
Development in Real Time
With such a young roster, individual development was central to Chase’s growth. Two players who made noticeable strides were freshman Duncan MacLaren and sophomore Carlos Rincon.
To start the season, MacLaren was an offensive spark but needed to shore up his defense. Rincon, meanwhile, was defensively solid but struggled on offense. As the year progressed, both players committed to improving their weaker areas, emerging as more complete and confident contributors.
Coach Bauman praised their evolution: “They both made it a point to improve on the opposite side of the court and became much more well-rounded as players.”
Responding to Adversity
The season wasn’t without its hurdles. A major one came in the form of an injury to freshman guard Dominick Estabrook, who had started multiple games. In his absence, Rincon stepped into the starting lineup and elevated the team's defensive intensity.
Despite being sidelined, Estabrook remained a fixture on the bench — not just physically, but vocally.
“Dom quickly made his return to the bench and became a huge vocal leader for us from the sideline,” Bauman shared, highlighting the sense of unity and leadership budding within the team.
A Look Ahead: Building Blocks in Place
As Coach Bauman reflects on the season, it’s not just about the progress his team made — it’s about the potential of what’s to come.
“What most excites me about our team returning next year is just the amount of experience we will have at such a young age,” he said.
With only two seniors expected next season and a talented group of rising sophomores, Chase is positioned for a promising turnaround. Add to that a strong junior high class and the emergence of players like incoming freshman Troy MacLaren, and the future looks bright.
“Troy is going to make an immediate impact on the varsity roster next season,” Bauman predicted.
Offseason Outlook: Identity First
If this season was about survival and growth, next season will be about shaping an identity. With stability finally settling in after years of coaching turnover, Bauman plans to get to work early.
“We plan to get busy this summer and hone everything down so that come November, we’re ready to take that next step as a team,” he explained.
The offseason will focus on fundamentals, conditioning, team chemistry, and building a culture where effort, toughness, and accountability are non-negotiables.
“We’re trying to find our identity as a team,” Bauman said. “We want to be known for our effort, our defense, and our togetherness.”
Where to Follow the Trojans
For fans and followers interested in tracking the team’s progress and player stats, you can find all information on MaxPreps. Just be sure to search for Chase High School and not Chase County.
Conclusion: One Win, Endless Growth
To outsiders, a 1-25 season may not seem like cause for celebration. But to those who’ve watched Coach Bauman’s Trojans this season, the signs of growth, commitment, and hope are impossible to ignore.
From a historic losing streak to a thrilling breakthrough win, from raw freshmen to emerging leaders, from scattered effort to collective defense — this season was about more than wins. It was about laying bricks, one possession at a time, for the future of Chase High basketball.
And if this year was the first step, the Trojans are well on their way to becoming a team no one will want to overlook.){kind=tracking}
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