With the new year right around the corner, it is already getting to be the second half to the winter athletic season. There are a number of big matchups down the stretch that could mean big things for conference rankings and playoff placement for local girls' basketball teams.
Mansfield Senior and West Holmes are on top of the Ohio Cardinal Conference at 5-0 and 3-0 respectively. West Holmes has been led by Allie McMillen and Keegan Uhl, who have been the focal points of the offense while also playing effective defense night after night. Briar Cline, Zalina Proper, Chloe Patten and Aveona Yoder have also made waves for the Knights, putting together lines that have stuffed the stat sheet each time.
"We started off slow, but we are in a good place right now," said West Holmes Coach Lindsy Belden. "Our kids have been working hard at practice and I am proud of them for that! We will continue to build on our defense to make teams uncomfortable with the ball. We are still trying to figure out exactly how to get our posts involved in our offense."
Mansfield Senior Coach El Meeks has been impressed by her whole squad in the early goings. Going into the season Meeks said Anna Norris was an X-factor who can change a game in many ways. She also said to keep your eyes on Ky Ky Meyers, who is coming off a freshman year where she was first team all-conference and all-district. Kiersten Bradley has started all four years and should hit the 1,000 point mark this year. She has shot 52% from dee. Juleah Windham is new to the squad, and has become a versatile leader for the Tygers. Meeks added that Tasaya Smith has untapped talent.
“Ky Ky Myers a super sophomore who brings so much energy off the bench,” Meeks said. “Kiersten Bradley preseason player of the year in the conference. Monetta Hilory is our point guard who runs the show. Juleah Windham ‘The General’ and our leader, can do everything. Play point guard, score, pass, and rebound. Anna Norris-our force inside, and has become very versatile. Tasaya Smith- if they had a defensive player of the year she would be a candidate. She locks up and does things that are not on the staff sheet.”
West Holmes and Mansfield Senior will be facing each other later in the month on Jan. 27 in Tyger country.
The Knox Morrow Athletic Conference is tightly contested early in the season, and two teams who are currently at the top will be facing off in January.
Centerburg is hosting Danville, which should be a quality matchup of the two best teams of the conference on Jan. 12. Centerburg is led by Kayla Larimore, who is the top scorer in KMAC at 18.8 points per game. Danville’s Ella Proper is one of the best players in the conference, averaging about 14 points. She recently hit the 1,000 career point mark and is looking to add to those totals down the stretch.
Centerburg Coach Bill Abner spoke highly of Larimore, who is putting together a fine junior year.
"Kayla is all about getting better and working at her game," Abner said. "When you have the type of success she's having it's not a surprise because she works at it. So many kids just want the end reward without working your tail off to get it. Kayla is driven to be good, and it's paying off for her and for us."
Centerburg has its hands full that week, as they also have the tough task of hosting reigning KMAC champion Mount Gilead on Jan. 16. Danville will be facing Mount Gilead on Jan. 9, making mid January a potential for shifting conference standings.
"We have yet to play two teams with league title aspirations in Cardington and Fredericktown." Coach Abner said. "Of course the rematch with Danville will be huge and Mount Gilead is still right in the thick of things and I am sure we'll get their best game."
The Indians are right behind them at 2-1 in the conference, led by Faith White, Aubrey Thomas and Danielle Pohlkotte who do a great job distributing the ball, grabbing boards and scoring.
Loudonville has been cruising to start the year with a 6-0 record thanks to the top notch play of Corri and Mya Vermilya, along with Jena Guilliams and Sophia Spangler. Corri Vermilya is a rare talent who leads the team in just about every category, even when she has had to sit late in games due to blowout wins. She recently posted a rare quadruple-double and is just about a lock every night for double digits in scoring and rebounds. She is averaging 26.8 ppg, 12 rebounds, 8.7 steals and 5.5 assists while hitting 93% of her free throws and 58% of her shots.
"It's easy to look at Corri's stats last year and all of the accolades that came with them and struggle to understand how she could make a big leap heading into her last year," said Coach Tyler Bates. "However, she has improved tremendously as a player. She is making plays for her teammates at a high level, defending more consistently and still scoring the ball, just at a more efficient rate."
Mya has also been a scoring force in the early going, and the sky is the limit for her as well. She is averaging 16.8 ppg, five steals and three blocks
"Mya Vermilya has been explosive to start the year," said Coach Bates. "She looks like one of the best freshmen in Ohio."
Bates also commended Guilliams and Spangler for their strong defense this year, and said the supporting cast of Alesha Felix, Addison Wolford, Sydney Strouse, Sophie Lee have been integral.
"They have truly been all-stars in their roles and have provided us with some outstanding depth on both ends of the floor," Coach Bates said.
While it is not a conference matchup, the Redbirds will have their biggest test on January 2 against Clear Fork, who is 7-1 and 4-0 in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.
