Palmer Girls Basketball Wraps Up a Season of Heart, Growth, and Culture Shift
2025 Winter Season Recap with Coach Jennifer Castro
The 2025 season was one of transformation, perseverance, and quiet strength for the Palmer High School Girls Basketball team under the leadership of Head Coach Jennifer Castro. While they faced a series of highs and lows on the court, what defined their journey wasn’t just their win-loss record—it was the way they grew as individuals and as a team, shaping a culture that will influence the program for years to come.
Finishing 24th in the state and 4th in their highly competitive conference, Palmer’s girls proved they could hang with much larger schools, showing grit, unity, and remarkable progress throughout the winter season.
Team Effort, Key Leaders: A Collective Success
At the heart of Palmer’s progress were several athletes who stepped into leadership roles and gave their all every game. Coach Castro pointed to Presley Wright, Jasmine Hephner, Kae Downey, and Addy Wilson as standout contributors. Each of them not only delivered on the court but helped build a foundation of discipline and effort off of it.
“Presley Wright made a major impact on both ends of the floor,” said Coach Castro. “Whether it was scoring or defending the opposing team’s top player, she set the tone.”
Each of these players had clearly defined roles and embraced them with pride. The collective mentality of the team—where every player understood and owned their role—was a major reason for their success.
A Season of Growth in the State’s Top Conference
Coach Castro described the season as one “full of growth.” Competing in Alaska’s top high school basketball conference, where rival schools often had double the enrollment of Palmer, was no small feat. The team faced top-tier competition every week, but rather than shy away from the challenge, they leaned in.
“There were tough losses of course, but each one taught us something that helped us grow,” Castro reflected.
The team's highlight of the season came in a game against Homer, a moment that captured the spirit of unity that defines this group. “Every player got to play and score,” said Castro, who noted that it was not just a feel-good moment, but a reflection of how far the team had come together.
Defining Their Identity: Defense, Turnovers, and Effort
For Coach Castro, one of the most rewarding aspects of the season was seeing her team improve week after week, especially in two critical areas: turnover control and defensive effort.
“Our main focus in each game was to do better than the previous game,” she explained. “We really focused on controlling our turnovers and by mid-season we got there.”
This steady improvement—driven by a commitment to effort and detail—was what began to shift the direction of the team’s performance. While many programs focus purely on winning, Palmer emphasized doing the little things right and playing with heart from start to finish.
Individual Growth Across the Roster
When asked who grew into bigger roles as the season went on, Coach Castro didn’t name just one or two players—she named the entire varsity team.
“This is what makes me so proud of this varsity team,” she said. “Every player grew into an impactful player and contributor this season.”
Whether it was seniors stepping into starting roles, underclassmen recording personal scoring highs, or defenders holding top scorers in check, every player had their moment. That kind of collective development doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of a culture where everyone is encouraged to grow—and expected to rise.
Responding to Adversity: A Team That Never Quit
It’s not just skill that makes a team great—it’s how they respond when things don’t go their way. According to Coach Castro, the Palmer girls showed their true colors in the face of adversity.
“They never quit and always did their best the entire game,” she said. “That’s something I can’t teach—they just have it in them.”
From tough losses to navigating injuries and pressure-filled matchups, the team never lost its focus. That mental toughness will be an asset as they continue to build in future seasons.
A Senior Class That Changed the Culture
While next year’s team is full of young promise, this season’s senior class played a crucial role in building the positive, team-first culture that now defines the program.
“I loved this senior class because they supported the younger players, never created any type of divide or division, and didn’t expect anything out of seniority,” said Coach Castro. “They are changing the culture of our program.”
Seniors earned every minute on the court and treated their teammates with respect, support, and love. Their example is something the younger players are sure to carry forward.
A Future Built on Strong Fundamentals
With a wave of talented freshmen and sophomores ready to return next season, Coach Castro is especially excited about the future. She sees a group of young players who already bring solid fundamentals, which allows the coaching staff to focus on taking their game to the next level.
“Their fundamentals are already solid,” Castro said. “So it’s really enjoyable as a coach to help them to continue to grow those skills and help them level up.”
This strong base bodes well for the program. Combined with returning leadership and a renewed hunger after a season of learning, Palmer is poised to climb even higher in the seasons to come.
Offseason Goals: Strength, Confidence, and Consistency
Improvement never stops, and the offseason will be key for Palmer’s continued evolution. Coach Castro has her sights set on building up three key areas: strength, consistency, and offensive confidence.
Each of these components will help the team convert their growth into wins in the high-pressure environments they regularly face. Developing offensive poise and building physical strength will give the girls the tools they need to finish games and match up with the state’s elite programs.
Follow the Moose: Stats and Updates Online
For fans, families, and basketball enthusiasts wanting to follow the Palmer Girls Basketball team, stats are available on MaxPreps, where they finished 24th in the state this season.
Updates, photos, and team highlights are also regularly posted on the program’s official Facebook page:
Palmer High Girls Basketball Facebook
Final Word: Building Something Bigger Than Basketball
What Coach Jennifer Castro and her team achieved in 2025 goes well beyond the court. Through leadership, commitment, and a culture of mutual respect and effort, they’ve started something special at Palmer High School.
This wasn’t just a team that played hard. It was a team that grew together, lifted each other up, and laid the foundation for something bigger than a single season. With a strong returning core and momentum on their side, the future is bright for the Palmer Moose.
And if this season was about building, next season might just be about breaking through.
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