SHELBY – Eight teams. Eight quarters. 182 points. One new gymnasium. One new season.
That’s how the annual Shelby High School Lady Whippets Basketball Preview added up Friday night inside the beautiful new SHS gymnasium.
The eight teams, including Mansfield St. Peter’s and Shelby, each played two quarters, one week before all of Ohio’s girls basketball teams officially launch the 2013-2014 basketball season.
“We have only had three weeks inside the new gym,” Shelby coach Natalie Lantz said. “We have to make it our home. The girls were very excited to play here tonight.”
The Whippets had the final preview of the night, outscored by Norwalk St. Paul, 28-24.
“I hoped we worked out some jitters,” Lantz said. “We have a lot of young players and not too much experience back.”
St. Paul led 14-9 after one quarter, but the Lady Whippets responded with a 15-14 edge in the second. “We were nervous and it showed. We settled down and got into a good defensive mode,” Lantz said.
Senior Jessica Miller and junior Gabby Stephens each scored nine points for the Lady Whippets. Bella Stoll had nine and Lydia Ott had seven for St. Paul.
“We have a lot to do before our first game next Friday at home against Plymouth,” Lantz said. “I know the girls can do it.”
The Lady Whippets have a tough start to the season, taking on Ashland and Mansfield Senior after the opener against Plymouth, before launching Northern Ohio League competition against conference favorites Bellevue and Willard.
St. Peter’s outscored Galion in both quarters, 11-8 and 11-7, “winning” the preview, 22-15, led by first-year head coach Shani Rush.
Like Lantz, the former Spartans assistant used the 16 minutes of court time to work out the kinks before the new season starts for real.
“I hope our girls got the jitters out tonight and we can settle down now,” Rush said. “We have six freshmen and it’s their first time on the varsity court.”
While the freshmen got acclimated, two seniors paced the Lady Spartans. Senior point guard Tiza Jones scored 12 points and senior post Della Hall controlled the middle. Taylor Valentine led Galion with nine points.
“Tiza is going to be our leading point person and I thought Della did a good job on the boards and inside for us tonight,” Rush said.
“Once our freshmen learn the system and we get healthy, we should have a good season,” Rush said.
St. Peter’s opens the new season next Friday at home against Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic before four straight road games at Clear Fork, Buckeye Central, Lucas and Plymouth.
In the evening’s first preview, Ashland rolled past Marion Harding, 29-7, including a 14-0 edge after one quarter. Alexis Stoops paced the Arrows with 11 points and Mady McQuate added six.
In the second contest, South Central rolled past Buckeye Central, 39-18, including 23-7 after eight minutes. SC was paced by junior Anna Hintz with 13 points and Summer Sweeting with 12. Brooke Karl had five for BC.
