The Loudonville girls' basketball team finished out the season at 20-2 with a pair of wins last week, led by the Vermilya sisters who got it done on both ends of the court.
Loudonville 65, Fredericktown 34
Loudonville’s Corri Vermilya moved into 21st on the OHSAA all-time scoring list with a 23 point effort in a 65-34 win for the Redbirds over Fredericktown (11-10, 6-6) on Feb. 12.
It was an 8-8 game after one quarter, with Jena Guilliams hitting a pair of threes for the Redbirds out of the gate. In the second quarter, Vermilya went off for 10 points and led Loudonville to a 22-19 lead at the half.
The Redbirds exploded for 23 points in the third quarter with Vermilya and her sister Mya both hitting a three and scoring seven points apiece. They held Fredericktown to nine points, who were led by Ella Bouton’s four points. After three quarters it was a 45-28 lead for the Redbirds.
Loudonville finished out the game strong with a 20-6 fourth quarter, where Addison Wolford led the scoring with five points.
Corri Vermilya’s 23 points led all scorers in the win. She went 4-for-4 from the line and hit a three. She also tallied 10 rebounds, eight steals and five assists.
Mya Vermilya put up 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Wolford had seven points and four steals, while Sophia Spangler put up six points, four steals and three assists. Sydney Strouse and Guilliams each had six points.
The Redbirds did a good job holding Cally Carpenter to six points. She is currently the second leading scorer in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference. Bouton led the Freddies with nine points, Mya Bryant scored six points, and Jill Bouton and Kennedy Algire scored four points. Peyton Blakesley scored three points and Emily Feeney had a free throw to round out the scoring for Fredericktown.
“I was pleased with our physicality tonight,” Coach Tyler Bates said of his Loudonville squad. “Our defensive rotations were excellent."
In the win, Vermilya reached 2,250 carer points, which passed Malabar great Francine Lewis, former All-American Chance Gray who is now playing at Oregon, and Horizon League Player of the Year Destiny Leo.
Next up is Senior Day, and the Redbirds have the tough task of facing Columbia. Columbia is seeded no. 7 out of 46 in the NEO Division 3 RPI, and the Raiders beat Loudonville last season.
Loudonville 88, Columbia 49
Mya Vermilya played her best game of the regular season, hitting eight threes in an 88-49 win over Columbia (19-3, 11-2) for the 20th win of the season for Loudonville (20-2, 4-0).
Vemilya scored 28 points and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds. She also tallied four assists and two steals in the win.
“A lot of people in Ohio are familiar with our program, but haven't really seen us (or Mya Vermilya) play this year,” said Bates. “She is pretty special and showed everyone that today.”
It was Senior Day for the Redbirds, where they honored Corri Vermilya, Jena Guilliams and Sophia Spangler.
Corri Vermilya continued to light up defenses with 33 points to lead all scorers. She had eight rebounds, five steals, four assists and two blocks. Vermilya is now 17th in OHSAA history with 2,283 points; 21st with 1,173 rebounds; 10th with 523 steals and 14th with 498 free throws.
Guilliams scored nine points, and Spangler had six points, five assists and four steals in the victory.
“Senior Day is always emotional,” Bates said. “Jena, Sophia and Corri have done so much for our program. I am happy that we were able to honor them today by getting a win and playing to our potential. I have always felt that winning and playing your best on Senior Day is the best way to show your appreciation to the girls and their families - and we did that today."
The Redbirds had 15 three-pointers in the game, which is among the highest totals in school history. They set a season high with 88 points in the game, and this came even with a running clock for parts of the second half. Loudonville had 21 assists in the game, which was the third highest total of the season.
“This was probably the most complete game that we have played this season,” Bates said. “I am fairly certain that if we played Columbia 100 more times, we wouldn't have an outcome like today, again - but we will take it and I am proud of the girls for giving outstanding effort."
The Redbirds have now won 20 games in six of the last eight seasons.
