Jayla Callock, coach Rod Smith leading revival of Alliance girls basketball program

ALLIANCE — The Alliance girls basketball team has made tremendous strides under its hard-working coach, Rod Smith.

The Aviators are starting to reap the benefits of their hard work, as evidenced by their recent 39-35 Eastern Buckeye Conference win over defending league co-champ Salem.

Alliance returned seven letter winners from last year’s team, which won the most regular-season games (nine) in a decade and also won a tournament game over 14-9 Struthers.

“It was (the most wins) in over a decade, and the biggest thing is each year we’ve won a little bit more,” said Smith. “We’re getting that experience up to the point where last year we won a first-round playoff game and we were tickled pink. We’re heading in the right direction, and I’m really excited to see what this experience will do for us this year.”

The returning letter winners include seniors Mar’Zae Gantz, Ella Smith, Payton Smith, Jayla Callock and Kellynne Paaloalo, junior D’Nyya Hancock and sophomore Alexa Brown.

“The one that really stands out is Jayla (Callock),” praised Smith. “Like I said in past seasons, we go as she goes. That’s not discrediting our other seniors, but it’s things we feel more comfortable with when she’s at the helm, taking the lead.”

Callock is the leading scorer returning for the Aviators after averaging 11.5 points last season, while Mar’Zae Gantz and Ella Smith were close to averaging double figures.

“Those two (Gantz and Ella Smith) have been more consistent from their freshman year to now with their eight-to-nine-point total per game but their other aspects — the rebounding, the assists and steals — have all gone up,” said coach Smith. “I’m very excited to see what we can do.”

Promising non-lettermen include seniors Alyssa Boni, PaShay Sledge and La’Kayla Williams, junior Michaela Jenkins, sophomore Adelheid Fountain and freshmen Mikayla Baker, Kiya Koons and Lilliana White.

Another highlight to last year’s building process for the Aviators was defeating traditional power West Branch on the Warriors’ home court.

“That (beating West Branch) was a huge stepping stone to actually go there in that building and win a game,” said Smith. “It’s been quite some time before I was even here at Alliance since that has happened.”

Smith said the Aviators still have to be patient as they continue to build the program.

“We have to take that one-game-at-a-time mindset,” observed the AHS coach. “This program, we’re really not used to winning, so we have to take everything in stride, learn, get the experience and learn how to move on from it. We’re definitely putting that work in.”

Smith knows the potential is there for the Aviators to have a winning season and make some noise as the season progresses.

“We’re expecting a very exciting season with an experienced group,” he said. “Schematically and experience-wise, from top to bottom, I think we’re ready and excited to see what happens.”

The Eastern Buckeye Conference is outstanding in girls basketball, as four of the six league members advanced to the district and one (Marlington) made it to the regional last winter.

“As far as conference-wise, we’re going to be tough, I think,” said Smith. “Marlington lost a few (players) but they still have (Chelsea) Evanich, and then you have Salem, West Branch and Carrollton and their programs and what they’ve been able to do year after year. I think we’ll be able to hold our own.

"I really respect this conference. The conference is really tough and I just want to make sure everyone understands the amount of work that my girls have put in. I use the metaphor of trying to plant a new baby tree in a redwood forest, where you have all these established programs and we’re trying to start from scratch, and you have to get what you can get. But, like I said, we’re very excited.”

The Aviators play a tough nonleague schedule.

“We have a gauntlet of a schedule,” said Smith. “Our first several games are on the road. But, to get to some of the goals we want to get, we have to play some of the better teams to get there. We’re going to find out a whole lot very early, but I’m excited to see how it all shakes out.”

The Aviators’ assistant coaching staff includes Greg Sampson and Brittany Percy.

“They’re great and they help out tremendously with the girls with the summer workouts and the weight room workouts — even with the pep talks,” praised Smith of his assistants.

2023-24 SCHEDULE

• Dec. 9 at Minerva

• Dec. 13 Marlington

• Dec. 16 Youngstown East

• Dec. 20 Massillon

• Dec. 23 Loudonville

• Dec. 30 Rootstown

• Jan. 3 Salem

• Jan. 8 at Brush

• Jan. 10 Carrollton

• Jan. 17 at West Branch

• Jan. 24 Minerva

• Jan. 27 at Canton Central Catholic

• Jan. 31 at Marlington

• Feb. 3 at Canton South

• Feb. 5 New Philadelphia

• Feb. 12 at Northwest

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Alliance girls basketball eyes successful season under coach Rod Smith