The North Greene girls basketball team has made it to the state tournament each of the past six seasons, and they may have the talent to do it again in March, but that is not what the Lady Huskies are focused on right now.
Heading into the 2025-26 season the Lady Huskies are working on putting together a new-look lineup and getting better every day. Coach James Buchanan is making sure his team takes care of the game in front of them, and believes if they do that what happens in March will take care of itself.
“We’re excited to get started. It’s been a really exciting offseason. I think the talent is there, the work ethic is there, but we have to continue to get better,” Buchanan said. “We would love to get back to the state tournament, but our goal is to get better everyday. We want to be playing our best basketball at that time of the year, but a lot of things have to go right to get to the state tournament. Sometimes you miss a lot in November and December if all you are focused on is March. I want these girls to take it day by day, to work hard, and to enjoy each game as it comes. It’s the practices, the film sessions, and the games along the way where you create memories. If we focus on the process the results will take care of themselves.”
North Greene graduated four seniors from last year’s state tournament team that went 31-5 before falling to eventual state champion Greenfield in the first round of the Class A State Tournament.
This season might have looked like a rebuilding year, but three key transfers and the development of a talented sophomore group has the folks in Baileyton expecting big things.
The lone returning starter from a year ago is senior Ella Head. Head has proven to be a talented scorer from all levels and will be looked to as the leader a young roster this season.
“We have really leaned on Ella and she is really helping those younger girls come along,” Buchanan said. “She pulls them aside in practice to explain how we do things. She sets the tone for us and shows a lot of leadership. With so many young kids on this team we need that this year.”
The Lady Huskies’ only other senior is Natalie Foshie. Foshie transferred from South Greene after an All-County level performance last season. She brings a veteran presence to the floor and gives North Greene another talented ball handler and perimeter defender.
“Natalie gives us a toughness, a high basketball IQ and a passion for the sport,” Buchanan said. “She doesn’t mind a challenge and she will stick her nose in it and do whatever you ask. We are tickled that she is here, and I’m expecting her to do some really good things this year.”
Sophomores Josie Graham and Cadie McDevitt are the other two rotation players North Greene brings back from last year’s team.
Graham will be one of the best athletes on the floor night in and night out, while she holds down the post for North Greene.
“With Josie’s size and athleticism it was hard to keep her off the floor last year as a freshman even with four seniors and a junior in Ella,” Buchanan said. “Her ability to disrupt things defensively is such an asset, and she has gotten a lot better offensively. We want her to look to score more, and I think you will see her continue to get better.”
McDevitt was one of North Greene’s top scorers in junior varsity games last season, and she showed flashes when she got varsity opportunities. Now Buchanan expects her to play with more confidence as a sophomore as she moves into the starting lineup. The coach expects her to be one of the team’s top shooters, but also noted her improvement as a defender.
Pairing with Graham in the post will be Tralyn Southerland who transferred in from Chuckey-Doak. With the Lady Black Knights Southerland was an All-County performer who nearly averaged a double-double. The sophomore gives the Lady Huskies another talented scoring threat on the inside.
“Having those two in the post makes each of them better. And what people may not realize is the passing ability of Tralyn and Josie,” Buchanan said. “We may have nights where they lead us in assists because they are feeding each other. Trayln fills a huge need for us with her toughness and ability to rebound in traffic. That was something we were missing. She’s very strong and does not mind contact.”
Eva Leonard is another member of North Greene’s big sophomore class who Buchanan thinks will take over the point guard duties for the Lady Huskies. She transferred into the program from Daniel Boone over the offseason.
Buchanan has a few more players he expects to battle for time in the rotation. That starts with junior Veronika Abrosikov. Sophomores Kinlea Eastep and Heidi Trentham have also shown growth in the offseason. The development of those three will likely determine how deep North Greene’s nightly rotation will be.
“Right now we have six that we feel good about in that rotation, but I think we’ll get above that eventually. Those kids want to play, and they are all skilled enough to crack the rotation. We’re just waiting on them to break through and prove themselves,” Buchanan said.
Freshmen Addi Dean and Satine Johnson will round out the varsity lineup.
While the Lady Huskies are coming off a 31-win season Buchanan knows that getting through District 1-1A play will be a challenge this year. There is plenty of talent throughout the league with multiple teams aspiring to play in March.
Unaka returns much of its squad that won the district tournament title before falling to the Lady Huskies in the Region 1-1A championship game. Cloudland has always been a tough foe for North Greene, and Hampton returns to Class 1A this season.
“We know the district and region are both going to be tough,” Buchanan said. “Unaka has almost everybody back and a potential Miss Basketball finalist. Cloudland is right there as well. (Makinna) Shell is as good as anybody around, and they have size and scoring ability around her. I don’t know as much about Hampton, but you expect them to be good as well. This is going to be a very tough district.”
The North Greene Huskies basketball team is ready to kick off after their 2025-26 media day! Be sure to check out all the coverage on https://t.co/R0fg9qAgsM and our social media!#FirstHorizon pic.twitter.com/kbhQHleMtq
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 11, 2025
North Greene Girls Basketball is right around the corner and we caught up with Lady Huskies Coach James Buchanan to hear what we can expect from his squad in the 2025-26 season. pic.twitter.com/RfbDCPzM0m
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 12, 2025
As her senior season approaches, Ella Head (@ellahead20) spoke with us and detailed her excitement and expectations in her final season with North Greene. pic.twitter.com/MZHgmEroX4
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 12, 2025
Natalie Foshie (@n_foshie) spoke with us at North Greene’s Media Day and described her transition to becoming a Husky and her expectations with the Lady Huskies. pic.twitter.com/6ZdjGvxxgh
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 12, 2025
