Starkey’s Competitive Nature Drives Grass Lake Basketball

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(January 18, 2025 8:00 AM ET) It does not matter what Grass Lake High School basketball player Kate Starkey is participating in, she wants to come in first place.

Whether it be on the basketball court, on the Yoga mat, or during the team’s gingerbread making contest she wants to be the best.

That drive is what helps push Grass Lake to the top in basketball. The Warriors are the top-ranked team in Division 3 and have won conference titles in girls basketball for eight consecutive seasons.

The 20-plus point per game scorer for Grass Lake the last three seasons, Starkey has been all-state in basketball and track and field. She will take her basketball talents to Alma College next fall.

“I love the small-town feel of Alma,” Starkey said. “I met all of the girls and participated in an open gym with them.

“I also love the coaches and the campus.”

Teams in the Cascades Conference will be happy to see the GLHS senior graduate. She has been part of three conference and two district titles at Grass Lake. She has averaged 20.5 points, shoots 80 percent from the free throw line, and nearly three assists, steals, and rebounds per game for the Warriors.

With wins over Michigan Center earlier in the season and Leslie this week, the Warriors will again be one of the favorites to win the basketball conference title for a ninth season.

Starkey said the Warriors compete as one team – allowing junior varsity players to participate in team bonding, practices, and just hanging out.

“I think it makes us play so well together,” Starkey said of the bonding sessions. “It makes us better.”

Grass Lake players participate in Yoga each Monday and held a two-person gingerbread making contest during Christmas break.

The Warriors have beefed up its schedule over the years playing a number of upper division teams in non-conference play. The Warriors just defeated Detroit Renaissance – a Division 1 ranked team.

“It doesn’t matter what gym we are playing in,” Starkey said of the tough non-conference battles. “It is fun being the underdogs, winning games we are not supposed to, and making a name for ourselves.”

Things are a little friendlier at home as Grass Lake has a large fan base – including a student section – who are supportive.

“Grass Lake is a welcoming community and you know they are going to be at your games and cheering you on,” Starkey said. “They believe in you too.”

Starkey knows the end is near in her high school career so she goes hard every day.

“The basketball team is like a big family during the season,” Starkey said. “We put everything else aside when we are on the court.”

Participating in sports has helped Starkey and the other two seniors on the basketball court become leaders.

“You learn that you can’t do everything by yourself,” Starkey said. “Us three seniors go hard all the time whether it is practice or in a game.

“Playing hard is contagious … it rubs off on everyone else,” Starkey said.

The senior expects to graduate from GLHS with a grade point average of 3.92 and would like to study to become a financial advisor at Alma College.

She may be heading to a small-town college town at Alma, but Grass Lake is home.

“One day I am going to wish this back.”