The sound of sneakers still squeaks against the hardwood floor and the whistle rings through the air, just like 10 years ago. But things are different this time around, as Coach Courteney Neier leads the varsity basketball team from the sidelines rather than the court.

Despite their small roster, the girls’ basketball team has maintained a winning record. Neier became the varsity coach after coaching JV for the past several seasons and even playing for Ladue herself.

“This is a full circle moment,” Neier said. “I graduated from Ladue in 2016 and was a part of the program here. Ten years later, it’s crazy to believe I’m on the other side of it, helping players develop their game and personalities.”

The girls are young but talented, working together to grow their game IQ and step outside of their comfort zones. The first semester concluded with a second place finish at the MICDS Winter Tournament.

“It was a first for my players and myself,” Neier said. “To be sixth seed in the tournament and come out with second place, we learned a lot and became better players and coaches. It was the cherry on top to finish the 2025 year.”

However, this season has not been without challenges. This year, significantly fewer girls showed up for tryouts, and the team has struggled with injuries and illnesses across the board. In spite of this, the girls have remained optimistic about the team’s future this season.

“These games mean so much because we want to work up to the best seed in districts,” shooting guard Marley Robinson (10) said. “Having only one senior, our goal is to try to win districts for that senior.”