15 Greater Canton high school girls basketball players to watch in the OHSAA tournament
The Ohio High School Athletic Association girls basketball tournament is set to get underway this weekend and the area's top players are ready to step into the spotlight. Here are 15 Stark County-area girls — listed alphabetically — who have a chance to make big impacts on tournament games and perhaps lead their team on a memorable run into March.
Emma Anderson, Lake
5-foot-5, senior
Emma Anderson is a versatile point guard hoping to push the Blue Streaks to great heights this postseason. Anderson is averaging 11.9 points and 3.1 assists per game, and is an elite shooter. According to stats reported to the Repository, Anderson had the highest 3-point percentage in the area at 45% (36-of-80).
Courtney Barwick, Louisville
5-9, junior
Barwick and Brooke Haren handle the bulk of the offensive load for Louisville. Barwick is averaging 14.1 points per game and shooting 36% on 3-pointers (34-of-94). Barwick is key to helping the Leopards space the floor and keeping teams from loading up defensively on Haren.
Jayla Callock, Alliance
5-6, senior
Callock is an intense and athletic player who handles the ball well. She can create offense for teammates just as easily as she can score herself. Callock is averaging 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Perhaps no team was more disruptive than the 8-14 Aviators down the stretch. Alliance won four its last five regular-season games, including its first win in 15 years over rival Marlington, as well as a quality victory over Canton South.
Megan Campbell, Jackson
5-10, senior
The Jackson girls basketball team is fairly young, but under the senior leadership of Campbell that didn't stop the Polar Bears from earning a share of the Federal League title with Lake. Campbell is averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game for Jackson. She seems poised to help Jackson achieve a lengthy tournament run.
Destiny Dulkoski, Tuslaw
6-0, junior
Dulkoski is a physical inside presence in the paint who presents matchup problems for any team Tuslaw will run up against in the tournament. Dulkoski is averaging nearly a double-double at 18.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Makiya Edwards, Massillon
5-9, senior
Edwards helped lead a young team with only two seniors on the roster to a 14-6 record this season. Edwards is an effective inside player, averaging 15.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. She is not afraid of contact when taking the ball to the hoop and is lauded for her leadership.
Chelsea Evanich, Marlington
5-10, senior
There may be no single player more important to their team as a whole than Evanich is for the Dukes. Marlington is an extremely young team after several deep tournament runs and relied heavily on Evanich during the regular season. She responded by averaging area bests of 21.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, according to stats reported to the Repository.
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Brooke Haren, Louisville
5-9, senior
Haren is a big, physical inside presence who also boasts excellent range on her shot. Haren is averaging 17.5 points per game and is a big reason why Louisville managed a 14-8 season despite playing a difficult independent schedule. Haren's strong all-around game makes Louisville a dangerous tournament team.
Summer Hastings-Peterson, Canton South
5-4, junior
Hastings-Peterson helped Canton South achieve a successful 13-8 regular season that included a win over PAC-7 co-champion Tuslaw. Hastings-Peterson averages 14.5 points and 3.4 assists per game. Her perimeter play helps give the Wildcats a chance to surprise people.
Serenitee Johnson, Lake
5-11, senior
Johnson is an electric player who led the Blue Streaks to a share of the Federal League Championship this year. Johnson is averaging 15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Her well-rounded game should help make Lake one of the top area teams to watch in the coming weeks.
Ashley Lahmers, Jackson
5-10, senior
Lahmers is the other key senior for the Polar Bears as tournament play begins. Lahmers is averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. She is part of an effective group of shooters who give Jackson good floor spacing and make the Polar Bears difficult to defend. Lahmers ranks second in the area in 3-point percentage (44% on 29-of-65 shooting), according to stats reported to the Repository.
Breanna McCabe, Tuslaw
5-7, junior
It's hard to argue McCabe's inclusion considering she averages a double-double of 14.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game for a Tuslaw team that earned a share of the PAC-7 championship. McCabe and Dulkoski give the Mustangs a bruising interior that draws plenty of attention and opens up opportunities on the perimeter for Tuslaw's shooters.
Jenna Slates, Green
6-0, senior
Slates is a double-double threat on a nightly basis. She helped Green to a 13-8 record in the regular season while averaging 17.6 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak, including a win over Hoban. Slates will make Green a team to keep an eye on as tournament play begins.
Mya Taylor, McKinley
5-6, sophomore
Taylor is one of the youngest players on the list and also one of the most dangerous scorers. Taylor can flat out shoot the ball. She is averaging 21.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per season. Injuries, youth and a small varsity roster hurt the Bulldogs during the regular season. Taylor's presence could make McKinley a tough out.
Audrey Wade, East Canton
5-8, senior
Wade helped East Canton to an 11-9 record during the regular season while running the point for the Wizards. Wade is averaging 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for East Canton. Wade, an all-state cross country runner, is an exceptional athlete and a reason why the Wizards could surprise as the tournament gets rolling.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 15 Stark-area girls basketball players to watch in OHSAA tournament
