LOUDONVILLE — Tyler Bates never thought Loudonville’s single-game scoring record would be broken, not after losing such luminaries as Nikki Weber, Celeste Ryman and Emily Seboe to graduation.
The veteran Loudonville coach didn’t account for Grace Vermilya.
The newly-crowned Richland Source Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Vermilya broke Misty Wells’ single-game mark when it mattered most. The senior post scored 53 points in a 78-74 overtime win over Dalton in the Division IV district semifinals, breaking Wells’ mark of 49 points. She added 13 rebounds in what was the signature game in an illustrious career.
“When we needed Grace the most she stepped up for us,” Bates said. “Grace is graduating as the best post player that our school has ever had.”
The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.9 blocks a game while shooting 54 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free throw line. She finished with 1,392 career points and and 710 rebounds, leading Loudonville to the second district title in program history and first since 1992.
Vermilya, who will play at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, was selected to the Northeast Inlands first team in Division IV and was the Mid-Buckeye Conference Player of the Year. She was part of a wildly-successful senior class that finished its four years with a combined record of 84-15. Loudonville was undefeated during the regular season for the second time in program history and first since 1976 and finished the year with a 25-1 record, matching the program’s single season wins record.
Vermilya is part of a formidable All-Richland Source frontcourt. She is joined by 6-foot-4 Clear Fork center Bekah Conrad and 6-foot-2Crestview forward Kenedi Goon. The guards are Shelby’s Olivia Baker and Buckeye Central’s Claudia Pifher. Combined, the All-Richland Source team averaged 83.1 points a game.
Bekah Conrad, Clear Fork: The 6-foot-4 Conrad could be the most dominant post player in north central Ohio next year. The junior averaged 14.9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game while leading the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with 1.5 blocks a night. Conrad was a MOAC first team pick and a Northwest District third-teamer in Division II.
Kenedi Goon, Crestview: A 6-foot-2 senior, Goon led the Cougars to a share of the Firelands Conference championship. The forward averaged 14.9 points a game and scored a season-high 25 in a 61-54 overtime victory at FC co-champ Norwalk St. Paul. She was a Firelands Conference first team selection and a Northwest District first-teamer in Division III.
Claudia Pifher, Buckeye Central: A 5-foot-8 junior, Pifher helped lead the Buckettes to their fifth straight district title. BC fell to Columbus Grove 47-38 in the regional semifinals earlier this month in Elida. Pifher averaged 19.2 points a game and connected on a Northers 10 Athletic Conference-best 43 percent of her 3-point field goal attempts (40-for-93). Pifher was selected the Division IV Co-Player of the Year in the Northwest District.
Olivia Baker, Shelby: A 5-foot-8 senior, Baker helped the Whippets reach the Division II district championship game. She averaged 14 points and 5.3 rebounds a game and connected on a team-best 40 3-point field goals. Baker was selected to the Northwest District first team in Division II.
Honorable Mention: Chesney Davis, Madison; Avery Coleman, Lexington; Taylor Ratliff, Buckeye Central; Corri Vermilya, Loudonville; Carleigh Pearson, Ontario; Sophie Niese, Shelby; Kiyah Wentz, Mansfield Senior; Elle Schmitz, Mansfield Christian; Kari Eckenwiler, Madison; Allison Teglovic, Colonel Crawford; Kiersten Bradley, Mansfield Senior; Shelby Grover, Lucas.
