MANSFIELD — Jeryn Reese’s mother played volleyball for the University of Toledo and her father was a basketball player at IUPUI.
“And you should see her pitch a softball,” Mansfield Senior girls basketball coach Todd Krill said. “She is just that type of athlete.”
The Richland Source’s pick for Athlete of the Week, Reese had a career day in Senior High’s 59-36 win over crosstown rival Madison last Saturday. The 6-foot junior scored 19 points, grabbed a whopping 22 rebounds, including 10 at the offensive end, and pocketed seven steals.
“That was the second time this year she has gotten more than 20 rebounds in a game,” Krill said. “I hate to say it, but we have come to expect that from her.”
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Tygers. After going a pedestrian 12-12 last year, Senior High is 9-4 this year.
“We’re a lot better this year,” said Reese, who is averaging 11.8 points and 9.8 rebounds a game. “Our chemistry is a lot better this year.”
Krill agreed.
“We are way ahead of where we were a year ago at this time,” he said. “This team plays better together. Everyone gets involved. Any one of our five starters can be our leading scorer on any given night and they can all hurt you.”
All five of Senior High’s starters average more than nine points per game. In the win over Madison, senior guard Symphony Cook had 14 points while fellow senior Naya Penders had 11 points. Sophomore forward Rajaa Anderson grabbed 20 rebounds to go with Reese’s 22.
“I don’t ever remember having two girls in the same game with 20 rebounds,” Krill said. “It’s unusual, but we took 72 shots. There were a lot of opportunities for rebounds.”
The unassuming Reese made the most of them.
“I guess I was just in the right place at the right time,” she said. “I was active on the glass and it just worked out.”
Reese’s father, J.T., is a St. Peter’s graduate and the head boys basketball coach at Senior High. Her mother, Janice, was a multi-sport standout at Oak Harbor. Her older brother, Jalen, was an All-Ohio quarterback of Mansfield Senior’s state-ranked and undefeated football team and is a starter on the boys basketball team.
“I guess you could say athletics are pretty important around the house,” said Jeryn, who was an Ohio Cardinal Conference honorable mention selection in volleyball.
So which sport does she prefer?
“I like basketball because it’s more physical than the other sports,” Reese said. “I like the contact.”
Krill said no matter which sport Reese chooses, she will excel at the next level.
“Right now, she is very busy with all three of her sports,” Krill said. “Sometimes she can be overstretched, which makes it hard to focus. Once she gets into a situation where she is concentrating on one sport, she will really take off.
“For selfish reasons I would like to see her pursue basketball, but I’m sure she will do what is best for her.”
No matter what sport Reese chooses to pursue, she won’t have any problem qualifying. She has a grade-point average better than 3.0.
“She’s a very good student and a very intelligent kid,” Krill said. “She is exactly the type of kid we are looking for in our program. The girls all understand that we stress the importance of academics.”
College will have to wait. For now, Reese is more concerned about the immediate future. The Tygers are 5-3 in the OCC and while a conference championship is unlikely (perennial powerhouse and defending Division II state runner-up West Holmes is unbeaten), Senior High could make some noise in the postseason.
The tournament trail will look a little different this year for Mansfield Senior. The Tygers will be at Fostoria for a nine-team sectional that includes Ashland, Anthony Wayne, Oregon Clay, Findlay, Fremont Ross, Lima Senior, Marion Harding and Perrysburg.
Reese said anything is possible once the tournament rolls around.
“Our team plays together and that makes the game easier,” Reese said. “Teams can’t just focus on one or two players. They have to worry about everyone on the court.”
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
