It was a long, cold winter on Skillings Road last season.

There were trying times for Winchester’s girls basketball team, as the Red and Black finished 0-20. Some believed their run of success earlier this decade was finished.

It turned out to be just the start of an incredible comeback story for the program. Winchester has come roaring back to prominence with a 10-4 record. The catalyst? Carolyn Collins, a freshman guard who has quickly emerged as one of the state’s top young players to watch.

“She really makes an impact on the court,” said Winchester coach Sam Mosley. “She’s young, so she doesn’t want to take over. She doesn’t even realize that she’s the best player on the court. Once she realizes that, I think it’s going to hit a new level for her. She’s just a very humble person; she wants everyone to do well. She knows she can score, but like I said, she wants her whole team to do well. She’s not always going: ‘How many points did I have?’ Stats aren’t her biggest thing. She just wants to win.”

Collins is averaging 14 points, 7.5 rebounds and just over three steals per game.

Basketball is a family tradition for Collins and her family. Her father, Bill, played at Nichols College. Meanwhile, Carolyn’s sister, Emily, was a star at Winchester, averaging a double-double in her high school career while leading the Red and Black to a Div. 1 Elite Eight appearance in 2023. She’s now a starter for Assumption.

Naturally, Carolyn followed in their footsteps. Now she is looking to leave her own legacy.

“It all started when I was really little,” Collins said. “My dad didn’t force it on me, but he encouraged me to play the sport because he played basketball at Nichols. I fell in love with basketball because of him. I started playing around (age) 6 at the Boys and Girls Club. Then, I eventually made it to town travel basketball. In seventh grade, we won the Division 1 Metrowest girls basketball championship.”

When Collins first took the court for the Red and Black this winter, it was evident she had talent. During Winchester’s season opener, the freshman dropped 19 points in a 55-51 win over Middlesex League rival Stoneham. Talk about getting a high school career off to a fantastic start.

After a 2-2 start, the Red and Black rattled off eight straight victories. On Jan. 6, in a 57-41 win over Wakefield, Collins erupted for a season-high 27 points to go with seven rebounds.

Senior captain Catherine (CC) Ryan (8.3 points, 7.2 rebounds per game) has been with the Red and Black through all of their highs and lows the past few seasons. She has noticed the team’s resurgence, and believes Collins is one of the primary factors in the turnaround.

“I feel like we have a very young team, so it’s kind of a fresh start,” said Ryan. “Last year, we didn’t have the best ballhandlers. I feel like having Carolyn this year to set up our offense every time, get it to the open girl, and get us open more has been nice.”

With the support of Ryan, as well as her fellow senior captains Sophie Hadas and Mira Karunakaran on the court, Collins’ confidence continues to grow.

“Everybody around me is building me up,” Collins said. “Say I don’t have the best shooting game, they’ll encourage me even more to shoot. Or if I’m getting behind, they push me through until I get there.”

Winchester will take on Arlington this Friday, before facing Wilmington on Jan. 27. Then, the Red and Black will take on one of the state’s top teams when they clash with rival Woburn on Jan. 30.

“Last year was a big learning experience I think for the kids, but also for the coaches as well,” said Mosley. “To start the season 10-4 this year has been great. To have kids who have great basketball I.Q., and see the court so well from the tip-off to the last buzzer (is exciting).”

Herald rankings

Boys: 1. Malden Catholic (11-1); 2. Attleboro (11-1); 3. Bridgewater-Raynham (10-1); 4.Central Catholic (9-2); 5. St. Mary’s (Lynn) (11-1); 6. Andover (11-1); 7. Needham (10-1); 8. Cambridge (7-2); 9. Oliver Ames (11-1); 10. Winchester (12-0); 11. Brookline (8-3); 12. Holland School (Burke) (9-3); 13. Hanover (11-0); 14. New Bedford (8-2); 15. Masconomet (7-2); 16. Beverly (8-3); 17. Catholic Memorial (7-3); 18. Bishop Feehan (8-3); 19. Norwell (9-2); 20. Plymouth South (9-1); 21. Archbishop Williams (8-3); 22. BC High (7-4); 23. Cathedral (6-3); 24. Burlington (8-2); 25. Brockton (8-5)

Girls: 1. Medfield (13-0); 2. St. Mary’s (Lynn) (11-1); 3. Bishop Feehan (9-2); 4. Bishop Fenwick (8-1); 5. Woburn (11-0); 6. Natick (10-1); 7. Foxboro (11-0); 8. Whitman-Hanson (11-1); 9. Needham (9-1); 10. Norwood (9-1); 11. Andover (10-1); 12. East Bridgewater (9-1); 13. Wachusett (8-2); 14. Hopkinton (9-2); 15. North Reading (11-1); 16. Hingham (9-3); 17. Cathedral (8-4); 18. Walpole (7-3); 19. Winchester (10-4); 20. Duxbury (8-4); 21. Millbury (8-2); 22. Mansfield (8-4); 23. Westford Academy (7-3); 24. Norwell (6-2); 25. Hopedale (8-3)

Note: Records as of Wednesday morning.