Conference champion Little Giants want more in NLL
Destiny Robinson, Carma Johnson and Abby Cahill were starters from Day 1 as freshmen.
The Fremont Ross seniors will finish their careers with the most wins in a four-year span in program history and the first conference championship in at least 25 years.
“They’re definitely going to leave a legacy,” Little Giants coach Juan Vela said. “It’s been a fun group. I’m excited to go to the tournament with this group one last time.”
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Ross is 74-19 the last four years. Dawn Zerman helped the Little Giants win 70 games, before graduating in 1996.
Ross (15-4, 10-0) is two games ahead of Springfield in the loss column with two games left to play. The Little Giants own a share of the Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division crown, but they want to take it outright.
“Whenever you can get a championship, it’s always a special feeling,” Vela said. “It’s one of the reasons we play for and coach, to win league titles and sectional titles and district titles and regional titles and state titles.”
Ross losses were to top 10 ranked teams in Margaretta, Anthony Wayne, Berlin Hiland and Magnificat. Anthony Wayne is the top seed in the second-seed Little Giants’ postseason bracket.
“They deserve to be No. 1,” Vela said. “Us, No. 2 and then a lot of teams who are getting better. It will be interesting. Findlay. Perrysburg. Whitmer. Notre Dame. There are teams there that could ruin your day. It should be fun.”
Ross fell to Olmsted Falls in the first regional semifinal in program history last season. The taste lingers, but it’s not all unappetizing.
“We experienced it,” Vela said. “We got over the hump. We know what it feels like to stick to the game plan and celebrate. You’re always trying to win the next one.”
The seniors also lost in a district final, along with junior Lyndi Wolf as part of the core.
“Carma has been the girl who stepped up on offense,” Vela said. “She’s taken Janiah [Holmes’] role scoring. Team play. We’re unselfish. The caring about the team. Do well. Their attitude has been the reason we’ve been successful.
"Their desire to win.”
Robinson, who was co-player of the year in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference last season, averages 15 points and six assists. She has 105 assists and 26 turnovers, an average a shade more than four assists for every turnover.
“One thing she’s worked on is being more aggressive,” Vela said. “She’s more aggressive on defense. She’s taken that step. She wants to win a conference championship and she wants to win district again. She does whatever it takes to help us win.”
She scored 27 points against Toledo Start, 22 against Northview and 16 against Magnificat. She had 27 points, 14 assists and one turnover against Springfield.
“I’ve never seen that stat before,” Vela said of 14:1. “And she stepped out of bounds.”
Lanae Tucker, Jasmin Heidelburg and Natalia Alejandro occupy expanded roles this season.
“The role players have grown so much,” Vela said.
Ross’ conference crown comes its first season in the NLL. That’s not what makes it significant.
“To add to the success they’ve had the last four years,” Vela said. “A conference championship would add to their resumé. The last two years, finishing second to Central Catholic was hard to swallow. When I started, we were in the GBC.
"We were trying to win it. In the TRAC, we consistently were trying to move it forward to win a league championship for the community. The league changes, but our goals stay the same.”
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Fremont Ross OHSAA girls basketball
