ALEXANDRIA — After graduating a talented senior class from a year ago, the Alexandria girls basketball team’s main goal for the season was simple: exceed expectations.
As evidenced by how the year played out, the Cardinals quickly showed they were not interested in taking a step back.
Alexandria blended its returning talent with new contributors over the summer, built chemistry early and turned that foundation into one of the area’s most impressive seasons. The Cardinals finished the year with a 19-8 record and tied for the Central Lakes Conference championship with Brainerd, going 13-1 against CLC opponents.
The Cardinals also claimed the CLC Sportsmanship Award, which was voted on by conference coaches. The results were a reminder that Alexandria’s program standard remains high, regardless of what challenges came next for the players and coaches.
“I think most people thought we would be in a rebuilding year,” first-year head coach Matt Hoelscher said, “But we were able to blend together over last summer and played well as a team to win games and surprise people.”
Alexandria began the season with an 8-0 start in games where the team had to find different ways to win as the players learned a new system and built a rapport with the new coaching staff. Hoelscher, who graduated from Alexandria in 2000, became the head coach of the Cardinals in June following a 13-year run leading Osakis boys basketball.
One of the biggest challenges was helping the players get acclimated to a new staff while Hoelscher learned how to lead a program with a rich winning tradition, having succeeded longtime girls basketball head coach Wendy Kohler following her retirement last April. However, the players’ demeanor from the first practices helped foster a smooth transition.
“They were great to work with and get to know over the summer months and that connection carried over into the winter season,” Hoelscher said. “Their positive energy, willingness to try new things, and the communication we had with our players allowed us to grow as a team and as individuals.”
Alexandria’s Riley Beyer (center) makes a cut with the basketball in hand during a high school girls basketball game on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 at Alexandria Area High School.
Blake Durham / Alexandria Echo Press
Alexandria’s depth and balance showed up throughout the numbers. McKinley Hoelscher led the Cardinals in scoring with 14.0 points per game and averaged 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Riley Beyer added 12.4 points per game and knocked down a team-high 62 three-pointers.
Kate Hennessy averaged 9.4 points per game and led the team in rebounding (6.0 per game), while Lauren Beyer returned midway through the year and averaged 9.2 points across 19 games after working back from ACL surgery. Her return proved to be a turning point as Alexandria entered the stretch run of the season.
Off the court, the Cardinals volunteered in the community by helping deliver items for Jingle Bells and Santa’s for Seniors during the holiday season, while older players also visited elementary schools throughout the district to assist younger students however they could, as the broader impact mattered as much as any win in game action.
“We spent a lot of time on self reflection, handling adversity and creating a better version of ourselves once they leave Alexandria,” Matt Hoelscher said. “I hope they take away that our program is more than just basketball, it’s about life long learning that encompasses mentorship, community building, and personal growth.”
Alexandria’s McKinley Hoelscher (21) makes a cut towards the lane during a high school girls basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at Alexandria Area High School.
Blake Durham / Alexandria Echo Press
2026 Alexandria Girls Basketball Team Awards
ALL-CONFERENCE: Kate Hennessy, McKinley Hoelscher, Riley Beyer
ALL-CONFERENCE HM: Lauren Beyer, Scotland Brown, Hope Stark
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: McKinley Hoelscher
BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Hope Stark
MOST IMPROVED: Scotland Brown
ALL-IN AWARD: Kendra Wolf
ACADEMIC ALL-STATE: Kate Hennessy, Hope Stark
CONFERENCE ACADEMIC: Scotland Brown, Kate Hennessy, Elly Homelvig, Hope Stark, Kendra Wolf
LETTERWINNERS: Lauren Beyer, Riley Beyer, Scotland Brown, Abby Evink, Aria Froemming, Kate Hennessy, McKinley Hoelscher, Elly Homelvig, Charly Jennings, Gretta Kelly, Dayton Running, Hope Stark, Isabelle Stark, Grettah Suchy, Nora Urness, Kendra Wolf
Blake Durham is the Sports and Outdoors Editor at the Echo Press. He joined the newspaper in September 2025 and covers various sports in Alexandria and throughout Douglas County. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2022.