The 2025-26 athletic season is over, but it didn’t come without its fair share of electrifying performances. The Record Searchlight recently counted down the top 15 moments from the 2025-26 football, baseball and softball seasons. Now it’s time to revisit the moments and performances that made the Northern Section girls basketball season special.
From double overtime madness to block parties and clutch playoff scoring, here’s a look back at 15 performances that defined the 2025-26 Redding-area girls basketball season.
Top 15 girls basketball performances
Hart records double-double in season opener
Foothill junior Madison Hart scored 27 points and snagged 12 rebounds in the Cougars season-opening win over West Valley on Nov. 29. It was a statement performance for Hart in just her third varsity appearance. The junior went on to record 16 double-doubles and earn the 2025-26 Eastern Athletic League MVP award.
Rosales drops 38 in 2OT
On Jan. 13, Shasta guard Riley Rosales exploded for 38 points in a double overtime thriller against Foothill. Rosales hit threes at the end of the fourth and first overtime periods to extend the game, but it was the Cougars who escaped with a 74-71 win. Regardless, Rosales put together one of the most dynamic scoring performances of the 2025-26 season.
Ahart drains nine 3s in 31-point performance
Enterprise junior Cat Ahart ended the season as the top scorer in the section, and on Dec. 5, Ahart had her best offensive performance of the season. Facing off against Williams, Ahart hit nine threes and finished the game with a season-high 31 points and 11 rebounds. Ahart led the section with 83 threes made last season.
Duggins denies Foothill
Red Bluff center Maryly Duggins ended the season with a section-best 119 blocks and only one other player surpassed 80. In an EAL matchup against Foothill on Jan. 16, Duggins became the only NSCIF player last season to record nine blocks in a single game.
Arnold drops 32 against Eagle Point
In a tournament game against Eagle Point (Eagle Point, OR), Foothill senior Jaymes Arnold scored a career-high 32 points with seven made threes. Arnold, the Cougars top three-point shooter and point of attack defender, finished the season with 55 threes, good for seventh in the section.
Bowers scores 19 in state semifinal
Redding Christian hosted Forest Lake Christian on March 7 in a game defined by defensive effort. However, Lions senior Cailee Bowers provided an offensive spark with 19 points and four threes. The Lions would defeat the Falcons 52-26 and punch their ticket to the NorCal Division VI state title game.
Shriner puts up back-to-back 20/20 games
Anderson star Renna Shriner had four games this past season in which she recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds. In early February, Shriner had back-to-back 20/20 games against Williams and Lassen. Shriner recorded 22 points and 25 rebounds against Williams and 24 points with 21 rebounds against Lassen.
Graham records double-double in rivalry win
In a game against Shasta on Feb. 5, Enterprise guard Carly Graham notched a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double to help the Hornets defeat the Wolves 49-35. Graham’s performance helped the Hornets avenge their three-point loss to Shasta in January.
Ford drops 20/20 in postseason
In December, Anderson standout Payten Ford scored 30 points with 19 rebounds in a win over Arroyo for one of her 18 double-doubles last season. But, Ford also showed she could do it in the postseason. In the first round of the NSCIF Division IV playoffs against Oroville, Ford scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds as the Cubs defeated the Tigers 55-44.
Caudell scores 22 in state playoff win
In the first round of the Division IV CIF state playoffs, U-Prep senior Aubrey Caudell dropped 22 points to lead the No. 6 Panthers to a 65-60 win over No. 11 Aragon. Caudell’s performances helped U-Prep win its first state playoff game since 2020.
Hart records massive double-double in win over U-Prep
Foothill’s Madison Hart recorded one of her 16 double-doubles in a matchup against one of the top NAL teams in U-Prep. Hart scored 26 points while setting a new career-high with 18 rebounds. Hart added two assists and three steals, and the Cougars went home with a 55-37 win.
Ahart drops 26 in postseason win
Enterprise star Cat Ahart showed that her dynamic scoring abilities don’t disappear when the lights shine brighter. Facing off against Las Plumas in the first round of the NSCIF Division III playoffs, Ahart led the Hornets with 26 points, including six 3s, to lead Enterprise past the Thunderbirds 46-34. Ahart’s 26 points represented over 30% of the game’s scoring and over 50% of her team’s points.
Huddleston scores 18 in championship win
With the season on the line, West Valley standout Emily Huddleston delivered a masterful 18-point performance to lead West Valley past U-Prep 44-30. Huddleston set a career-high with 28 points in February, but her 18 against U-Prep was crucial in leading the Eagles to their first section title since 2020. Huddleston’s performance also helped West Valley avenge its section championship loss to U-Prep in 2025.
Whelen announces arrival with 23-point game
In a matchup against Shasta on Dec. 17, U-Prep sophomore Adi Whelen exploded for 23 points as the Panthers defeated the Wolves 50-37. Following that performance, Whelen emerged as one of the top underclassmen in Shasta County. Whelen was named as an honorable mention on the All-NAL list following her sophomore season.
Rosales scores 22 in upset rivalry win
In a game against Enterprise, Shasta guard Riley Rosales scored 22 points to upset the higher-ranked Hornets and give Shasta a massive upset win. Rosales drilled five three-pointers while recording five rebounds, two assists and six steals. The Shasta standout also made a key defensive stop with 30 seconds left in the game, and the Wolves walked away with a 59-56 win.
Brett Abrams is a sports reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. He covers high school and local sports in the Redding area. Reach out to Brett with any sports tips or news on X (formerly Twitter) @brabrams_ or by email at Brett.Abrams@Redding.com. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding’s top 15 girls basketball moments, performances from 2025-26
Reporting by Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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By Brett Abrams, Redding Record Searchlight | USA TODAY Network
