Columbus Girls Coach Kasey Keltner Earns 100th Career Win

Wildcats rally from early deficit to defeat Cardinal 58-49

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Coach Kasey Keltner of the Columbus girls' basketball team reached a major milestone on Monday, earning his 100th career victory as the Wildcats came from behind to defeat Cardinal 58-49 on the road. The Wildcats started slowly, trailing 18-9 after the first quarter, but rallied in the second half to secure the win.

Why it matters

Keltner's 100th win is a significant achievement, making him the first girls basketball coach in Columbus history to reach that milestone. The comeback victory also keeps the Wildcats above .500 for the season and bounces back from a recent disappointing loss.

The details

After trailing 28-20 at halftime, the Wildcats used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to take their first lead of the game. They still trailed 37-35 heading to the fourth, but then exploded for 23 points in the final period to pull away for the 58-49 win. Ellie Sanders and Iris Garza led the way with 19 points each, while Kennedy Woepking added 11.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 11, 2026.
  • The Wildcats' previous loss was to Van Buren County in the SEISC Shootout.

The players

Kasey Keltner

The head coach of the Columbus girls' basketball team, who earned his 100th career victory with the win over Cardinal.

Ellie Sanders

A player for the Columbus Wildcats who scored 19 points in the win.

Iris Garza

A player for the Columbus Wildcats who also scored 19 points in the win.

Kennedy Woepking

A player for the Columbus Wildcats who scored 11 points in the win.

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What they’re saying

“100 wins is such an accomplishment, especially in a competitive conference like ours. I'm proud of the girls for rallying back and getting this win for Coach Keltner.”

— Ellie Sanders, Columbus Wildcats Player (kciiradio.com)

What’s next

The Columbus girls will look to build on this milestone win as they continue their season, while the boys' team also earned a victory in the doubleheader.

The takeaway

Coach Keltner's 100th win is a testament to his dedication and the hard work of the Columbus girls basketball program over the years. Reaching this mark as the first coach in school history to do so is a significant achievement that the community can celebrate.