Zack's List: Crawford County's Top 10 girls basketball players for 2023-24
BUCYRUS - Basketball season is here!
Girls tip-off the night before Thanksgiving and continue throughout the weekend.
Before all the action begins, let's take a look at the Top-10 girls basketball players in Crawford County this season along with a few honorable mentions.
Honorable mentions: Grace Collene, Buckeye Central; Kendra Blizzard, Bucyrus; Allison Weithman, Colonel Crawford; Ashlyn Calnek, Crestline; Audrey Glew, Galion; Zoe Whitmeyer, Wynford.
10. Kennedi Sipes, Crestline, senior
Stats (per game): 11.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 3.4 steals, 23 3PM, 74% FT
Second team All-Mid-Buckeye Conference and Northwest District in Division IV as a junior, Sipes returns as the most experienced player on Crestline's roster this winter having seen a ton of minutes on the court since her freshman year. She scored 174 of the team's 434 points last season and makes up 78% of the returning offense with the second and third-best scorers having graduated.
She's quick, good with the ball, and knows how to get to the basket. Sipes was 31-of-42 from the free throw line as a junior, the Bulldogs as a team attempted 71 free throws. While she's going to be expected to carry most of the offensive load this season, Sipes is going to be asked to step up and lead a young group of girls with Calnek (above in honorable mentions) the only other returning senior.
9. Caroline Sheldon, Wynford, freshman
Stats: N/A
Everyone in the county knows Sheldon from either her mother — Amy, the Wynford girls basketball coach — or her father — David, the Colonel Crawford boys basketball coach. And despite being just a freshman, she has the potential to be one of the best in the county right away. Varsity players likely saw glimpses of her talent at the last few editions of the Next Level 419 camp hosted by Buckeye Central in the summer.
Her parents are two of the best, and longest-tenured, coaches in the county. And you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone around with a better foundation of basketball skills. Even with this being her first year of high school and varsity basketball, Sheldon likely won't look like a freshman for long on the court — if at all.
8. Gabby Roston, Colonel Crawford, junior
Stats: 2.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals
Point guard on the presumed league favorite this season, Roston was the team's second option as a freshman but still saw quality minutes on the court before fully taking over floor general duties as a sophomore. Her decision-making abilities have grown tremendously, which is crucial for a team that loves to put the emphasis on defense and take points as they come.
Her role should remain the same this season, but look for her to continue growing as a point guard. With so much talent surrounding her, Roston could be on her way to becoming one of the best around at her position.
7. Cameron Eckert, Galion, junior
Stats: 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 10 3PM
Even as a junior, Eckert — honorable mention All-MOAC last year — is the most experienced player on the roster having played a key role on the team since her freshman year. Galion's point guard, Eckert was thrust into action right away and took her lumps the last two years, but has gotten better with each and every game played.
The Tigers haven't had a ton of on-court success recently, but that's not due to a lack of effort. The MOAC is one of the toughest conferences around for girls basketball and Galion does its best to try and compete. Entering year three as PG, Eckert could be a catalyst for the team's success boasting one of the most experienced players in the league.
6. Addison Kemery, Bucyrus, senior
Stats: 8.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 24 3PM
Kemery was finally healthy last season and immediately became a starter. One of three reliable scorers as a junior, she and her teammate below will see their roles dramatically increase this season with Madalyn Kimmel now graduated.
She transferred over from Colonel Crawford ahead of her sophomore year before a torn ACL sidelined her that entire season. It took a little bit of time for her to get into a groove, but once she did Kemery was tough to slow. Don't be surprised if her stats all increase a ton in her final season.
5. Lexi Rush, Colonel Crawford, senior
Stats: 3.2 points, 1.1 rebounds
This could be Rush's breakout season. She earned honorable mention All-MOAC freshman year while at Galion before suffering a torn ACL the summer before her sophomore season. Transferring to Colonel Crawford junior year, Rush found herself coming off the bench adjusting to a new style of play, new teammates and new coach, but always came in and made an impact somehow.
Now a year in a Colonel Crawford system that emphasizes defense and rebounding — Rush's two strengths — expect a big season from the senior. This is an Eagles team expecting to compete for the Northern 10 championship and make a run in the postseason, Rush should play a key part in making that happen.
4. Nevaeh Metzger, Buckeye Central, junior
Stats: 3.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals
A motor that never quits, Metzger saw limited action as a freshman — she was a spark of energy for the Buckettes — before carving out a bigger role as a sophomore and helping BC win its seventh consecutive district championship and eventually finish as regional runner-up. Metzger brings quickness on offense and is absolutely relentless on defense capable of keeping up with — and pestering — anyone she's put on.
Now a junior and a few scoring options ahead of her gone, she will be relied upon to score more and open up the offense. She could be a player in the area who sees a tremendous amount of growth in her game from the beginning of this season to the end.
3. Brook Dennison, Bucyrus, senior
Stats: 7.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 4.0 steals, 0.4 blocks, 26 3PM
Stats don't do Dennison justice for the impact she made on the Bucyrus girls program as a junior after transferring over from Northmor. She's the type of player who was comfortable with the ball in her hands and wasn't afraid to take it to the hoop earning honorable mention All-Northern 10 and Northwest District.
Dennison added another layer of offense to Bucyrus and really allowed the team to put in some quality performances en route to nine wins — from 2018 to 2022 the Lady Red won eight games total. As mentioned above, Kimmel is gone as a scorer along with post Adacyn Rister and depth player Leah Sheets, but Bucyrus should be a team you can't overlook this season. And Dennison will be the driving force for this offense yet again.
2. Maradath Engler, Wynford, sophomore
Stats: 4.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 steals, 16 3PM
It's not easy stepping in as a freshman to the most important position on the court for the most experienced coach in the county. But for the most part, it was a seamless transition for Engler who earned honorable mention All-Northern 10 last year. She was part of the Royals' sectional championship team that knocked off rival Colonel Crawford and was a key facilitator in Wynford's upset of Buckeye Central which snapped a 38-game league win streak and 14-game head-to-head losing streak.
Entering her second year, Engler will actually be one of the "veteran" players with Kenna Caldwell and Zoe Whitmeyer the only other players featuring in 20-plus games last season. Wynford will be a relatively young team, but having a point guard with the basketball IQ Engler does will be an invaluable asset.
1. Mira Holt, Colonel Crawford, junior
Stats: 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 16 3PM
To put it simply, Holt shocked the league last season developing into one of the best players around seemingly overnight. As a freshman she featured in just five games scoring two points. Twelve months later she became the focal point of the Colonel Crawford offense scoring a team-high 189 points and was top four in all statistical categories for the Eagles en route to being named honorable mention All-Northwest District after being snubbed of all-league honors.
Holt thrived under new coach Zac Bauer and the style of play he introduced which focused on wearing your opponent down with stifling defense and allowing that to turn into offense. She's quick, has some size standing at 5-foot-9 and smart with the ball in her hands. Colonel Crawford is the favorite to end Buckeye Central's reign in the county and the Eagles should compete for a league title as well. Holt won't catch anyone off guard this season, but that doesn't mean they'll be able to slow her either.
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This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crawford County's Top 10 girls basketball players for 2023-24
