Photos by Richard Parrish | The Lima News
Here are the previews for Lima area girls basketball teams in the Western Buckeye League.
Bath
Division: II
Coach: Greg Mauk (25th season)
2021-22 overall record: 22-3
2021-22 league record: 7-2 (third)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 36-34 to St. Marys in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Elena Oliver (Sr.), Rachel Clark (Sr.), Lexi Renner (Sr.), Anne Oliver (Jr.), Claire Foust (Jr.), Faith Clark (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Kiersten Sheridan (Jr.), Kelsie Carlson (Fr.), Izzy McDermott (Fr.), Allyson Harnishfeger (Fr.), Brittany Goodman (Jr.)
Coach’s analysis: Our squad this season returns six varsity letter winners. The challenges for this year’s team will be to grow into a more consistent team at both ends of the floor. Developing depth will play a large factor in our success as a team.
Celina
Division: II
Coach: Bret Baucher (first season)
2021-22 overall record: 5-18
2021-22 league record: 2-7 (eighth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 66-36 to Toledo Central Catholic in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Taylor Klingshirn (Sr.), Kira Dirksen (Sr.), Peyton Bertke (Sr.), Amelia Lutz (Sr.), Kyilla Billingsley (Sr.), Kenlee Holstad (Soph.), Alex Kimmel (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Kate Braun (Soph.), Jacci Felver (Soph.), Julia Vehorn (Jr.), Rachel Rammel (Fr.), Brooke Baucher (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: The Celina Lady Dogs are a senior led group that is looking to use their experience to compete in a very competitive WBL.
Elida
Division: II
Coach: Elise Jenkins (fourth season)
2021-22 overall record: 9-14
2021-22 league record: 4-5 (sixth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 56-40 to Napoleon in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Addisyn Freeman (Sr.), Bella Lopez (Sr.), Payton Kuhn (Sr.) Leah Ramirez (Jr.), Alexis Ward (Jr.), Jojo Knight (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Kayla Hunter (Soph.), Jordan Gladen (Soph.), Jaleena Howard (Jr.), Teonna Jackson (Sr.), Emma Mitchell (Fr.), Oliveah Sanders (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: With only losing one senior last season, we are able to bring back a majority of the varsity team with experience. Along with adding 10 freshmen to the program (22 total), I’m excited to have a deep bench on both JV and varsity squads. The girls have been working extremely hard in practice with an eagerness to get better each day. Our upperclassmen are doing a fantastic job in creating a disciplined and competitive culture at practice which our younger players are buying into. Very excited to utilize our full court press to create fast break opportunities. We like to play at a fast pace with high pressure on the ball. Having a deep bench allows this style of play to be more effective.
Kenton
Division: II
Coach: Jay Bostelman (fifth season)
2021-22 overall record: 10-14
2021-22 league record: 0-9 (10th)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 52-43 to Clear Fork in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Tatum Miller (Sr.), Gabi Wetherill (Sr.), Ali Harpel (Sr.), Olivia Nolting (Soph.), Sadie Larrabee (Soph.), Macee Heckathorn (Soph.)
Others on varsity roster: Kyla Bostater (Soph.), Cailyn Hopkins (Soph.), Kinze Sprang (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: While still being a fairly young team, we are looking to build off a strong finish to last season and compete this year. With our senior leadership combined with the young but strong sophomore class we are looking to do just that. We are looking to compete each game and continue to improve throughout the season within a tough league and overall schedule.
Ottawa-Glandorf
Division: III
Coach: Troy Yant (11th season)
2021-22 overall record: 20-8
2021-22 league record: 8-1 (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 46-43 in overtime to Worthington Christian in regional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Lily Haselman (Sr.), Maggie Verhoff (Sr.), Kaelyn Grothouse (Soph.), Emma Brinkman (Sr.), Myka Aldrich (Jr.), Carlie Brinkman (Soph.), Kaitlyn Kimmet (Soph.), Katie Kaufman (Jr.), Chloee Glenn (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Karsyn Erford (Fr.), Megan Horstman (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: There is a good mix of experience, (due to injuries last season) and athleticism, as well as the carry over of winning cultures in other fall sports. In addition there are those players who were lost to season ending injuries last season. Concerns include the strength of our schedule and the late start to the season due to the soccer team being the state runner-up and the fact that many girls are returning from injuries without playing summer basketball. Will take some time to get everyone acclimated to playing team basketball. We hope to build consistency throughout the season and be ready to play our best basketball as the tournament season nears.
Shawnee
Division: II
Coach: Rachel Rumbaugh (fifth season)
2021-22 overall record: 22-2
2021-22 league record: 8-1 (tied for first)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 36-29 to Bath in sectional finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Grace Freiberger (Jr.), Ania Pearson (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Marie Seignon (Soph.), Morgan Betts (Fr.), Addison Neth (Fr.), Alexis Whetstone (Fr.), Lauren Potts (Fr.), Isabella Hile (Fr.), Sydney Burris (Soph.), Heaven Watkins (Fr.)
Coach’s analysis: We’re a young team with the benefit of being led by two varsity letter winners who know what it takes to succeed. Our defense is going to power us through a strong schedule this year. The enthusiasm of our players will translate onto the court and make for an exciting season.
St. Marys
Division: II
Coach: Jon Burke (sixth season)
2021-22 overall record: 19-7
2021-22 league record: 6-3 (tied for fourth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 53-39 to Toledo Central Catholic in district finals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Cora Rable (Sr.), Morgan Hesse (Sr.), Reese Rable (Soph.), Reagan Allemeier (Jr.), Ella Jacobs (Jr.)
Others on varsity roster: Syerra Greber (Jr.), Ashlie Nuss (Jr.), Chloe Ott (Soph.), Lily Rammel (Jr.), Cadence Hirschfeld (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: We lost a talented senior group from last year, but we bring back great experience with tremendous senior leadership under Cora Rable and Morgan Hesse. Reese Rable has had a lot of growth since last season and we’re looking forward to watching her put up some big games this year.
Van Wert
Division: II
Coach: Hannah Phlipot (fourth season)
2021-22 overall record: 12-10
2021-22 league record: 6-3 (tied for fourth)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 41-32 to Elida in sectional semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Sofi Houg (Sr.), Kyra Welch (Sr.), Maria Bagley (Sr.), Erin Schaufelberger (Sr.), Sayler Wise (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Debbie Jones (Jr.), Kendra Deehring (Soph.), Jordanne Blythe (Jr.), Claire Benner (Soph.)
Coach’s analysis: Van Wert returns five veteran varsity letter winners this season. With our core group returning this year, we are looking forward to building upon our successful season last year. We play a very competitive schedule. Last season we finished fourth in the Western Buckeye League and hope to contend for a WBL championship this season.
Wapakoneta
Division: I
Coach: Marci Alberts (first season)
2021-22 overall record: 11-14
2021-22 league record: 3-6 (seventh)
2022 postseason finish: Lost 40-32 to Toledo Start in district semifinals
Returning 2021-22 varsity letter winners: Reagan Courter (Sr.), Elisabeth Good (Jr.), Kortney Fullenkamp (Soph.), Maddison Springer (Jr.), Georgia Schroeder (Sr.)
Others on varsity roster: Riley Szelagowski (Soph.), Kierra Siefring (Jr.), Hannah Prine (Sr.), Amber Schnippel (Sr.), Audrey Welsch (Fr.), Hannah Schneider (Soph.), Aubrey Miller (Sr.)
Coach’s analysis: Great group of girls that are very coachable. Focus on getting 1 percent better every day. Play hard and scrap for 32 minutes. Rely on leadership from Reagan Courter and Elisabeth Good. Looking forward to a fun and exciting season.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
