Trying season at Orrville not for a lack of trying
It’s been an uncharacteristically rough year for the Orrville boys and girls basketball teams, but not for a lack of trying.
And no matter what happens the rest of the way, all signs point toward the Red Riders working hard until the final whistle of the 2020-21 season.
First-year coach Jim Frizell’s Orrville boys entered the week of Jan. 24 with an 0-10 (0-6 Principals Athletic Conference) mark while second-year girls coach Maggie (Davault) Summers’ squad was 3-7 (0-5).
“Every team can say they have their story, and we have our story,” said Frizell, who knew he’d have considerable work to do after taking over a team that went 5-17 last season. “We’ve hit several bumps. We had a two-week vacation (COVID-19 shutdown). We’ve lost a couple kids for various reasons including senior Jake Phillips to shoulder surgery in his senior year. And we’re a young team, playing three sophomores.”
Despite facing that kind of adversity, Frizell and his team have remained upbeat.
“The kids are continuing to work hard every day,” said Frizell, who spent 30 years coaching in the Smithville district including eight as the boys varsity coach. “They’re playing with effort, but we’ve gotta get better as far as our basketball IQ.
“Playing smart is the execution part of the game, and that’s the part that we’re still trying to learn. I have the utmost respect for coach (Sly) Slaughter, and he did a great job here, but obviously as a new coach here, there are some things I do differently and it will take some time.”
Senior guard Cooper Haley is leading the way with 9.5 points a game while junior Tyler Schroer is averaging 7.5 each time out.
Frizell, a 1980 Chippewa graduate, has always respected the Orrville tradition and clearly remembers playing against legendary coach Steve Smith’s first state team.
“It’s a rich history here, and I was honored to be asked to be a part of this,” said the 58-year-old Frizell, who’s helped by assistant and son Drew Frizell, Matt Zuercher and Jake Shoup. “I’m really enjoying it. It’s a challenge, and we’re accepting the challenge and hoping we get to get things turned around.
“Unfortunately, we’ve dropped some tough games, but I really want to see the boys’ hard work rewarded by breaking into that win column.”
Summers, a 2013 OHS graduate who helped the Riders to the State Final Four, was destined to become a coach, growing up with longtime Orrville leaders Doug and Sandy Davault as her parents. She just didn’t think it would happen this fast.
“I definitely wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps,” said Summers, who led Orrville to a 4-18 record last season after taking over for longtime coach Mark Alberts, Sr. “I’ve always loved watching them coach and going to practices, but I definitely didn’t expect to coach here this soon.
“It was a dream come true getting to play for coach Alberts and then taking over as head coach, but they were big shoes to fill coming in, and we lost a huge group of seniors. It’s been tough, but I also am excited to rebuild the program, and we’re really trying to start with the youth right now.”
Senior guard Tamara Turner leads the Orrville girls with 13.7 points a game, helped by a 24-point effort in a recent close loss against Tuslaw.
Junior Amari Slaughter, whose dad is Sly Slaughter, is a solid playmaker while senior Daysia Hargrave has provided a big spark coming off the bench. Sophomores Averi Haley and Annie Ayers also have dads who have been longtime Orrville coaches.
“I definitely think we’re heading in the right direction, but obviously, this year has been a little crazy with the quarantine,” said Summers, who’s married to former OHS standout Trevor Summers. “We played Tuslaw really tough (Jan. 23) and were within six points with 1:30 left.
“I told our girls that’s something to be proud of. We’re starting to prove ourselves a little bit. We had a good win against Canton Central Catholic and lost by only one point to Fairless.”
Whether or not the shots are falling, Summers has stressed that her team always needs to play hard.
“You can always control how hard you play, and that’s something we hang our hats on,” said Summers, who’s assisted by her sister Lyndsey Nettleton, Sasha Stark and Abby Reusser. “I never had to question that with them. Their defense and effort is always consistent.”
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed ataarondorksen24@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AaronDorksen.
