The Principia Panthers have become a high school girls basketball powerhouse over the past three years under head coach Josh Spuhl.
In the past two seasons, the Panthers have advanced to the state championship game, finishing second in Class 2 in 2024 and second in Class 3 in 2025.
Principia is enjoying its best season yet in 2026, currently 18-2 against a challenging schedule. The Panthers’ only losses have come against national power Incarnate Word Academy in the championship game of the Visitation Christmas Tournament and Lee’s Summit West, one of the top teams in Kansas.
Principia has defeated several quality opponents, including Belleville East, Marshfield, Logan-Rogersville, Tipton, Olathe South, Nashville, Illinois, North Little Rock, MICDS, West Plains and Ursuline.
The Panthers have a deep and talented roster and play at a fast pace, using full-court pressure defense. Their top player is 6-foot-2 junior forward Dasia Scott, a two-time all-state selection. Scott is averaging 21.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.5 blocks while shooting 53% from the field and 39% from 3-point range. She has received multiple scholarship offers from major Division I programs.
Providing support in the backcourt is 5-foot-5 sophomore point guard Loganne Love, who is averaging 14.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.5 steals in her second season as a varsity starter.
The rest of the supporting cast is young but talented. Freshman guard Aniyah Poniewaz is third on the team in scoring at 9.5 points per game. Sophomore guard Nadia Bateman averages 6.3 points and nearly two steals per game while providing strong defense.
Sophomore forward Paige Ivy averages seven points and five rebounds per game. Junior guard Nya Walker averages 4.5 points, senior guard Nyja Williams averages four rebounds, and sophomore forward Jayme Brown averages 3.2 points.
Principia is ranked No. 1 in the latest Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 3 state poll.
Jamiah Herring-Green reaches 1,000 points.
Hazelwood West girls basketball standout Jamiah Herring-Green scored her 1,000th career point last week.
The 5-foot-10 sophomore shooting guard is one of the state’s top young prospects and is averaging 29 points per game, leading scorers in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Herring-Green also averages 9.5 rebounds, four assists and three steals per game. She has scored at least 25 points in 12 games and topped 30 points seven times this season.
She delivered a career-high 49 points in a victory over St. Pius X last week, adding 12 rebounds, three assists and five steals.
Herring-Green is the daughter of former Hancock High standout Sonya Daugherty-Green, who scored 3,000 points during her prep career. She led Hancock to a third-place finish in the Class 3 state tournament in 2005 and later scored 1,170 points at Southeast Missouri State.
Top Games This Week
Boys
Vashon at De Smet, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
CBC at Chaminade, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Chaminade vs. Rock Ridge at Normal Community West, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Girls
Principia at Lift for Life, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Cardinal Ritter at University City, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Lees Summit West is in Lee’s Summit Missouri!