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Get a peek at the girls basketball teams from around the Marion area for 2023-24

Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
·10 min read

The 2023-24 girls basketball season officially starts this week around the state. To get ready for the beginning of the season, the Marion Star is taking a capsule look at the area's varsity teams and how they look entering the season.

Cardington Pirates

  • Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

  • Last Year: 11-11, 8-4.

  • Coach: Kevin Fitzpatrick (second season, 11-11).

  • Assistants: Scott Hardwick, Steph Rose, Paige Clinger.

  • Returnees: Abbi Hardwick (Jr.,, 5-7, first-team KMAC, first-team District 11, 7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg), Madison Caulkins (Jr., 5-10, HM KMAC, HM District 11, 6.4 ppg, 7.5 pg, 1.8 spg, 0.7 bpg), Lydia Hess (Sr., 5-9, second-team KMAC, second-team District 11, 7.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.2 spg, 1.9 apg), Genevieve Longsdorf (Sr., 5-10), Kinstin Henthorn (Jr., 5-4), Magi Hallabrin (Jr., 5-6), Morgan Powell (Jr., 5-5).

Cardington's Abigail Hardwick initiates the offense during a game at Pleasant last season.
Cardington's Abigail Hardwick initiates the offense during a game at Pleasant last season.

Elgin Comets

  • Conference: Northwest Central Conference.

  • Last Year: 9-14, 3-3.

  • Coach: Bob Douds (seventh season, 69-67).

  • Assistants: Caitlyn Gracely, Jeff Tyree.

  • Roster: Sam Girton (Sr., 5-2, G, 8.9 ppg, 3.4 apg, 2.4 spg, second-team NWCC), Addie Holland (Sr., 5-4, G, 1.7 ppg), Gracie Isler (Sr., 5-3, G, 5.7 ppg, Taylor Schoen (Sr., 5-11, C, 4.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, HM NWCC), Emilie Bishop (Jr., 5-4, G), Delainy Boles (Jr., 5-5, G/F), Maddi Casey (Jr., 5-5, G), Sammy Morgan (Jr., 5-5, F/C), Madison Hill (So., 5-9, F/C, 4.3 ppg, 11.2 rpg, school record of 257 rebounds, HM NWCC), Jordan Wall (So., 5-9, F/C, 6.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, second-team NWCC), Hallie Leonard (So., 5-10, F/C), Maycee Muselin (Fr., 5-9, G/F)

  • Notebook: With 10 letter winners returning, the Comets have experience, having lost only Kyra Wilcox to graduation ... With a lot of positionless players, they can use a variety of ways to attack and defend opponents ... They are a fast team and plan on using it to their advantage ... Elgin needs some players to step up and be leaders and make big shots.

  • Comment: "Our expectation is to compete for a league championship and to advance in the playoffs," Douds said.

Elgin's Sam Girton drives into the lane in a home game with Ridgedale last season.
Elgin's Sam Girton drives into the lane in a home game with Ridgedale last season.

Highland Scots

  • Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

  • Last Year: 4-19, 2-12.

  • Coach: Matt Bradley (third season, 10th overall as a head coach)

  • Assistants: Anthony Wilson, Matt Downing, Bryce Guisinger, Matt Jones.

  • Roster: Amarie Morgan, Aubree Bellamy, Bryleigh Young, Kate Clements, Alexis Brown, Sierra Fitzpatrick, MaKaylee Merckling, Addison Mullins, Ellie Rhea, Reagan Maibach,

  • Notebook: The Scots only have four returnees ... According to Bradley, they are hungry and eager to improve ... The Scots have size and athleticism, so post play and rebounding will be strengths ... Highland needs to replace all five starters from a year ago, so this is a new group ... The goal is to improve daily and become the best they are capable of becoming.

  • Comment: "It remains to be seen who will step up to fill roles," Bradley said.

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Marion Harding Presidents

  • Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

  • Last Year: 7-16, 5-9.

  • Coach: Cory White (third season, 20-28).

  • Assistants: Chris Schertzer, Clay Cheney, Kari Maniaci.

  • Returnees: Janaiye Braddy (Sr., G, 4 ppg, 4 rpg, 1 spg), Aniya Mitchell (Jr., G, 13.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2 apg, 3 spg, first-team MOAC, second-team District 11, HM All-Ohio), Kamarice Jackson (Jr., G, 10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4 spg, second-team MOAC, HM District 11), Sophia Pedraza (Jr.), Kacie Whitaker (Jr.).

  • Notebook: The Presidents continue to build chemistry ... They want to use their athleticism to their advantage this season ... Harding lacks height and depth ... They have an All-Ohioan in Mitchell and an all-leaguer in Jackson, while the other returnees bring experience to the court.

  • Comment: "We believe we can compete with each and every team in the MOAC, and we are hoping to build upon each game. We believe we will be a completely different team at the end of the season than we are now we with each game we will gain experience and finetune our tools," White said.

Marion Harding's Aniya Mitchell dribbles the ball up the court during a home game with Pleasant last year.
Marion Harding's Aniya Mitchell dribbles the ball up the court during a home game with Pleasant last year.

Mount Gilead Indians

  • Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

  • Last Year: 19-7, 9-3, KMAC champs, Division IV district runners-up.

  • Coach: Nick Vukovich (second season, 19-7; seventh year overall 39-102).

  • Assistants: Dani Bault, Elle Hempstead.

  • Returnees: Faith White (Second-team KMAC, second-team Central District, HM All-Ohio), Greer Simpson, Ava Baker, Olivia Long, Danielle Pohlkotte.

  • Notebook: The Indians will be fast and play good defense ... There are a lot of holes to fill in the lineup after the departure of All-Ohioan Madilyn Elson as well as Candace Millisor and Lydia Stalnaker ... They need to find scoring and leadership.

  • Comment: The goals are to "defend our KMAC title and reach the district title game again," Vukovich said.

Mount Gilead's Danielle Pohlkotte inbounds the ball against Fisher Catholic during a Division IV district final at Ohio Dominican's Alumni Hall.
Mount Gilead's Danielle Pohlkotte inbounds the ball against Fisher Catholic during a Division IV district final at Ohio Dominican's Alumni Hall.

Northmor Golden Knights

  • Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

  • Last Year: 12-11, 6-6.

  • Coach: Fred Beachy (seventh season, 59-82).

  • Assistant: Taylor Tackett.

  • Roster: Maddison Simpson (Sr., 5-7, G, letter), Maizy Brinkman (Jr., 5-5, G, letter), Maddie May (Jr., 5-6, W, letter), Ryann Brinkman (So., 5-7, W, letter), Shelby Cooper (So., 5-6, guard, letter), Lexi See (Jr., 5-7, P), Reagan See (Jr., 5-7, P), Maddie See (Fr., 5-9, P), Claire Tackett (Fr., 5-6, G), Kallie Wright (Fr., 5-4, W).

  • Notebook: The Golden Knights return five letter winners ... They are athletic and hard workers ... The bench lacks varsity experience ... Numbers are low with just 15 in the program ... Northmor expects to be in the middle of the KMAC.

  • Comment: Beachy wants his team to "get better each day, be competitive in every game and play together as a team."

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North Union Wildcats

  • Conference: Central Buckeye Conference, Mad River Division.

  • Last Year: 22-3, 10-0, Mad River champs, Division II district runners-up.

  • Coach: Bre Jackson (seventh season, 78-42)

  • Assistants: Kristi Smith, Alexis Maenz, Natalie Herring.

  • Roster: Audrey Benedict (Sr., 5-8, G, letter, second-team CBC, HM Central District, 8.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Zoe Wedding (Sr., 5-4, G, letter, SM CBC, 5.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Kennedy Harrah (So., 5-6, PG/G, letter, 5.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Addison Wedding (Jr., 6-0, F, letter), Brenna Martino (Jr., 5-10, F/C, CBC sportsmanship award), Catherine Hinkle (Jr., 5-8, G), Kaylin Colgrove (So., 5-7, G/F), Emma McElroy (So., 5-4, G), Gabby Lindsey (Fr., 5-5, PG/G).

  • Notebook: The Wildcats bring back some players who gained valuable experience last year ... They are fast and have the ability to run the floor at all positions ... They work hard and play for each other ... They need to acclimate the newcomers to varsity basketball ... The Wildcats want to improve their man-to-man defense and rebounding ... They lack some size ... They must replace graduates Taran Moran, Jada Davis and Hope Hall as well as All-Ohio sisters Abbey and Allison Price who moved to Marysville.

  • Comment: "We would be considered a favorite in our league," Jackson said. "Our players still want to win the CBC this season with a perfect record and chase down a district title we fell short of last season."

North Union's Audrey Benedict shoots a corner 3-pointer during a Division II district championship game at Capital University against Bexley last year.
North Union's Audrey Benedict shoots a corner 3-pointer during a Division II district championship game at Capital University against Bexley last year.

Pleasant Spartans

  • Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

  • Last Year: 20-5, 11-3, MOAC champs.

  • Coach: Keriann Pratt (fifth season).

  • Assistants: Mike Ward, Megan Queen, Dick McCurdy, Jake Stechschulte.

  • Roster: Olivia Pratt, Taydon Obenour, Emerson Williams, Whitney Waddell, Avah Steele, Maddie Murphy, Anya Miller, Nicole Robinson, Ady Foster, Brooklin Davis, Mary Aurigemma.

  • Notebook: The Spartans bring back an experienced core than won a piece of the MOAC title with River Valley and Shelby and one that experienced a Sweet 16 appearance two years ago ... They have four starters back with Pratt, Williams, Waddell and Steele ... Starter Lexi Olt graduated along with Marisa Napier and Lauren Flinchbaugh ... There is competition to see who will gain the fifth starting spot ... Pleasant is going to play Minster in Knightstown, Indiana, site of where "Hoosiers" was filmed.

  • Comment: "We are going into the season with the mindset to be the hunters, not the hunted. We enter the season with high expectations, This mindset will serve as a reminder to always be on the attack and never let our guard down," Pratt said.

Pleasant's Whitney Waddell cuts down a piece of the net after clinching a piece of the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference championship last year.
Pleasant's Whitney Waddell cuts down a piece of the net after clinching a piece of the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference championship last year.

Ridgedale Rockets

  • Conference: Northwest Central Conference.

  • Last Year: 3-16, 1-5.

  • Coach: Brad Gerfen (third season, 18-25; seventh season overall, 46-61).

  • Assistant: Lynette Thiel.

  • Roster: Lauren Leslie (Sr., 5-7, W, 10.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 41% FG, second-team NWCC, second-team District 11, third-team Central District, three letters), Hannah Cook (Sr., 5-1, PG/SG, 4.4 ppg, 1.7 apg, 25% 3-pt, HM District 11, three letters), Lilly Ruth (Sr., 5-6, W/SG, 4.6 ppg, 1.7 apg, HM NWCC, two letters), Brenda Scott (Jr., 5-8, P/W, 1.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, letter), Richelle Gleespen (So., 5-4, W/P, 4.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 38% FG, HM NWCC, letter), Hannah Murphy (So., 5-5, SG/PG, 3.1 ppg, 25% 3-pt, letter), Maddie McKenzie (Fr., 5-6, W), Camryn Thiel (Fr., 5-4, PG/SG), Callie Comer (Fr., 6-0, P), Audra Rush (Fr., 5-3, SG/W), Haleigh Townsend (Fr., 5-7, W/PF).

  • Notebook: The Rockets have a good mix of experience and youth, and they have improved depth with nine likely to see action in varsity games ... They lost no one to graduation ... They are enjoying competitive practices ... They have players capable of playing multiple positions ... The Rockets need to continue to work on the fundamentals, plus they need to be stronger with the ball and be aggressive on defense ... Gerfen is still trying to get everyone to mesh together ... Ridgedale needs to reduce their turnovers and create more on defense.

  • Comment: "We hope to be more competitive within the league," Gerfen said.

Ridgedale's Lauren Leslie holds the ball during a game at Elgin last year.
Ridgedale's Lauren Leslie holds the ball during a game at Elgin last year.

River Valley Vikings

  • Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

  • Last Year: 18-7, 11-3, MOAC champs.

  • Coach: Tim Chiles (16th season, 205-153).

  • Assistants: Rich Mulvaine, Joe Ward.

  • Roster: Lexie Hecker (Sr., G, three letters, 10.7 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.2 spg), Halle Snyder (Sr., F, three letters, 4.9 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 apg, 2.4 spg), Madi Ward (Sr., P, letter, 1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg), Gianna Alves (Sr., letter, 1.3 rpg), Makenzae Eager (Sr., G), Carly Cerny (Sr., G), Megan Clausing (So., letter, 5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.6 spg), Ava Roseberry (So., letter, 2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1 apg), Emma Chiles (So.), Myla Kenney (Fr.), Hailee Osborne (So.), Sidney Osborne (So.).

  • Notebook: The Vikings have two seniors who are entering their fourth season as varsity performers, and they have two sophomores who played big roles last year ... The team lost four seniors in Brooklyn Mosher, Makyha Rodgers, Eden Osborne and Morgan Nemeth ... Mosher was an All-Ohioan who is now playing at Mount Union ... Chiles said they are a cohesive group ... The Vikings will rely on younger players to fill roles as the lean into the more experienced players to lead the squad ... Chiles expects his team to compete every night.

  • Comment: "We want the MOAC championship to go through us," Chiles said. "As the season progresses, we want to put ourselves in a great spot to make an end of the season run in the tournament."

River Valley's Lexie Hecker shoots a free throw last year at Pleasant.
River Valley's Lexie Hecker shoots a free throw last year at Pleasant.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Girls Basketball Primer: How do teams look for the 2023-24 season?