MANSFIELD — Jeryn Reese might not have garnered the same amount of attention as her older brother, but Mansfield Senior’s junior forward is every bit as deserving.
On a team that at one point in the season featured five double-figure scorers, Reese distinguished herself this winter. And in a family that featured All-Ohio quarterback Jalen Reese, she captured her fair share of headlines throughout the basketball season.
The 6-foot Reese, who averaged 12.6 points and 9.8 rebounds a game is the Richland Source’s girls basketball Player of the Year. She is the cornerstone of an all-Richland County team that averages 78.3 points a game.
Jeryn Reese, Mansfield Senior: The Tygers finished in the upper half of the Ohio Cardinal Conference standings — no small feat considering the conference includes newly-crowned Division II state champ West Holmes, among others — and Reese was a big reason why. The forward nearly averaged a double-double and almost had a triple-double in a win over crosstown rival Madison early in the season. She scored 19 points, grabbed a jaw-dropping 22 rebounds and added seven steals in the 59-36 victory. Reese was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first team pick, a District 6 first team selection in Division I and a Northwest District second team pick. She was an All-Ohio honorable mention selection.
Fantasia Hood, Madison: There may not have been a better pure shooter in Richland County than the 5-foot-7 guard. A senior, Hood averaged 16.3 points a game and connected on 47 3-pointers for the season, leading the Rams to a district runner-up finish. She was a first team Ohio Cardinal Conference selection, a District 6 second team pick in Division II and earned a spot on the Northwest District third team.
Deijah Swihart, Clear Fork: The junior is better known for her exploits on the soccer field — she was an All-Ohio first team forward last fall — but she is pretty good on the hardwood, too. The 5-foot-7 guard averaged 11.9 points and 3.8 steals a game for the Colts. Clear Fork advanced to the district semifinals before falling to eventual regional runner-up Bellevue. Swihart was selected to the Ohio Cardinal Conference first team and the District 6 second team in Division II. She joined Madison’s Fantasia Hood on the Northwest District third team.
Renee Stimpert, Crestview: Just a sophomore, Stimpert is a scoring machine. She averaged a county-high 21.1 points a game and connected on 49 3-pointers. She set Crestview’s single-game record when she dropped 37 points on Plymouth during a regular season meeting and scored 36 in Crestview’s sectional semifinal victory over Sycamore Mohawk. Stimpert was selected to the District 6 first team in Division III and was a special mention selection on the Northwest District team.
Tiza Jones, St. Peter’s: The Spartans were upset in their sectional opener, but Jones did her part. The senior guard scored 24 points in the 48-40 loss to Colonel Crawford. Jones averaged 16.4 points and 3.4 steals per game and was selected to the Mid-Buckeye Conference first team. She was a District 6 first team pick in Division IV and a Northwest District special mention selection.
Honorable mention: Molea Thompson, Madison; Mekaila Grose, Madison; Lexi Morris, Madison; Naya Pender, Mansfield Senior; Rajaa Anderson, Mansfield Senior; Erica Johnson, Mansfield Senior; Kelly Rhodes, Lexington; Emily Stevens, Lexington; Erika Farst, Clear Fork; MacKenie Golden, Clear Fork; Mattie VanOrman, Clear Fork; Taylor Fulton, Shelby; Jayde Niss, Ontario; Macie Restille, Crestview; Megan Hall, Crestview; Kelsey Breznicki, Plymouth; Morgan Fletcher, Plymouth; Addie Daugherty, Mansfield Christian; Emily Smith, Mansfield Christian; Katie Ritz, Mansfield Christian; Charlinta Adkins, Mansfield Christian; Emily Yeager, St. Peter’s; Della Hall, St. Peter’s; Kim Tomchak, St. Peter’s.
