To say Terry Logue is looking to see improvement this year from the Utica High School girls basketball team is an understatement.
After winning just one of 23 games a season ago, Logue’s approach to the 2021-22 season is, “We only can look up.”
After beating Granville Christian Academy in the fifth game of last season, Utica’s girls basketball team lost 18 straight games to finish 1-22 overall and 0-13 in the conference. But with a new roster filled with juniors and a summer of bonding, Logue is optimistic about making substantial progress this season.
“I think we’ll be a tougher team this year,” Logue told the Mount Vernon News.
Logue enters his ninth season as the girls coach and has 30 years of coaching experience in Utica.
“We spent a lot of time together when we went as a team to the Eastern Ohio Team Camp," he said. "It was a lot of games in a short amount of time, and it was a pretty good bonding experience for the girls. A lot of girls played in the summer league. I’ve had girls spending a lot of time in the gym working on their shooting.”
Logue is looking for 5-10 junior center Delaney Kerstetter and senior forward Kandence Posey to provide leadership and performance. Kerstetter was second-team all-league last year and among the most improved players over the summer. Bella Coulter, a junior forward; junior guard Abby Paxton and junior guard Josie Mueller are expected to provide quality minutes. Sophomore point guard Carlie Hill spearheads the defense.
“She’s a tough-nosed kid,” Logue said of Hill. “I’m anxious to see what she can do for us.”
After operating a more deliberate offense in the past, Utica’s lack of size may force it to employ a high-tempo approach.
“We’re probably going to try to speed it up a little bit this year with the personnel that we have,” Logue said. “In years past, we’ve had some pretty dominant post players. This year, we’re going to have to speed up the game a little bit. We’re probably going to have to press more.”
The season opens at home against Fairfield Christia,n followed soon after by a tough slate of league games.
“I think the team chemistry will be better this year with the girls working together and understanding what we’re doing,” Logue said. “But our league is a tough league. It’ll be a challenge.”
