'Next-girl-up mentality': Jackson girls basketball presses on after graduating two icons
JACKSON TWP. — The word "rebuild" wasn't going to be a part of the Jackson girls basketball team's vocabulary this season.
Yes, graduating two players who went on to play NCAA Division I basketball isn't a minimal loss. Some teams find it hard to come to grips with losing one.
Jackson is pressing on after the departures of Lauren Pallotta to Dayton and Leena Patibandla to Wisconsin. So far, so good. The Polar Bears are 2-1 with Wednesday's 41-36 Federal League win over McKinley.
"It's kind of a next-girl-up mentality," Jackson head coach Anthony Butch said.
After playing their final games, Butch called Pallotta and Patibandla "once-in-a-lifetime kids" he had the privilege to coach. Both helped lead the Polar Bears to their first Federal League championship as freshmen and their first state berth as juniors.
The cupboard wasn't bare after they graduated. Jackson still has Tiffin recruit Megan Campbell and others who helped the Polar Bears make a district final run last season.
Campbell had a big role in helping Jackson reach the state tournament two years ago.
"Losing Lauren and Leena is obviously huge, but we have to stick together and play as a team," Campbell said.
Campbell scored 13 points in Wednesday's win, but did not have to shoulder the load. Madison Lepley, the Polar Bears' leading scorer in their win over Smithville, finished with 12.
"I know I have teammates on my back," Campbell said. "We work together, and I know I can look for them for help. I know they'll knock down big shots at big moments during the game."
Lepley proved it at a critical moment against McKinley. After the Bulldogs grabbed a 34-33 lead, she buried a 3 to start a game-ending 8-2 run. Campbell followed Lepley's 3 with one of her own 35 seconds later.
"That was huge," Campbell said of the back-to-back 3s. "It gave us a lot of confidence and momentum to get the win."
Lepley had a breakthrough freshman season a year ago. She helps form a core that also includes returning guard Ashley Lahmers.
Butch looks forward to the continued development of freshmen Ashley Helle and Lexi Pizor. Both are receiving important varsity minutes early in their careers. Helle hit a 3 and finished with seven points against McKinley.
"I'm very happy with their progress," Butch said. "It's more now getting them the reps of seeing what Federal League basketball is like. You can talk about it. You can explain it in words. To actually physically experience it is a whole different thing."
McKinley provided the type of challenge Jackson will see throughout the Federal League season. Mya Taylor scored a game-high 17 points for the Bulldogs (1-3), who rallied a couple of times when the Polar Bears threatened to take command.
After winning their league opener, the Polar Bears hope to build some early momentum.
"I'm very happy with the progression to this point in the season," Butch said. "We still have a lot of things to clean up. Our poise at times and ball movement wasn't the greatest, but at the end of the day, Jackson-McKinley, you're happy to get the win."
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Megan Campbell, Madison Lepley lead Jackson girls basketball to win
