Area's high school girls basketball teams preview season with optimism and returning talent

Opening tip-off is now just days away for the upcoming girls basketball season, and Nov. 3 at the second annual Tuscarawas County Girls High School Basketball Preview Night at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center in Dover, each of the county’s nine coaches shared some insight into what their season’s might look like this winter.

With the event emceed by hosting entity Tuscarawas County Sports Hall of Fame member Hank Keathley, the nine coaches all had time to talk about their hopes for the coming campaign.

Here is a short synopsis of what each head coach shared during the event.

Matt Ward, Tuscarawas Valley

“I’m excited for this year for a number of reasons,” Ward said. “I have eight returning letterwinners back.”

That number includes four talented seniors in Maleah Dilon, Sydney Miller, Sami Ward and Kyla Woloch, who have played together all four seasons.

While expectations as always are huge for the Trojans, Ward said there is one problem, albeit a good problem.

“We haven’t had eight of our 17 girls at practice yet because of the success of our fall sports,” Ward said. “That is a great problem to have because I believe success breeds success.

Tyler Bates, Strasburg

Bates said he has a group of hard-working kids who understand the game and a community that rabidly supports is youth.

“We have some high hopes and return a solid core, but we’re going to go as our three seniors go,” Bates said, referring to point guard Sofia Secrest, Olivia Spidell and Ally Miller in the post. “They’ve been great leaders.”

Bates said that in scheduling a difficult slate of opponents, his Tigers may take their fair share of bumps and bruises along the way, but it should help prepare them for tournament play.

“I want to make us uncomfortable and challenge this group,” Bates said, noting that the next goal is to move beyond the district final finish they had last season.

Kevin Cornell, New Philadelphia

While the Quakers may have plenty of new faces, Cornell refused to call them young.

“We’re just inexperienced, but we’re not short on talent,” he said, noting that he has three returning letterwinners.

His lone returning starter comes by way of sophomore sensation Aubrey Wells, who looked like anything but a freshman last season where she earned all-Ohio status in her first season.

“It’s a lot to ask a sophomore to be your overall leader, but it’s something she wants and takes,” Cornell said. “

He said the battle for playing time will be fantastic with a deep team vying for PT.

One thing you’ll see this year is the girls holding up four fingers on every made 3-pointer, honoring former teammate Lila Kinkade who passed away at the start of last season from leukemia.

“We’re going to hold up fours, not because we are bad at math. But we lost one last year – Lila Kinkade. She was Number 4. She loved basketball. I promised myself that every time I speak, I will always bring her up because that’s why we coach.”

Chris Bryant, Newcomerstown

The Trojans return nine letterwinners from a 14-win season. Bryant said his lone senior Kim Miller is the heart and soul of the team.

“She is our leader, and she picks everyone else up,” he said.

Other than that, the program boasts six sophomores and four freshmen, so the cupboard is full for a Trojans team with some big expectations.

Bryant said his crew probably won’t sneak up on anyone this season and he hopes to push to the top of the Inter-Valley Conference.

Jen Simmerman, Indian Valley

Simmerman said the Braves worked hard to make strides last season and the team improved enough to be more competitive. This year they want more.

“We’re small but we’re very fast,” Simmerman said, adding with a laugh, “I would love to say I have a 6-footer. I’d love to say I have a 5-foot 8 person.”

She added that is group of seniors has now been with her for all four years and have proven themselves as great leaders led by point guard Bayli McConnell.

Brooks Numbers, Garaway

One of the area’s most winning programs hit a speed bump last season garnering only one victory. Numbers made no excuses.

“Girls’ sports in general are in a good place right now at Garaway,” Numbers said. “What we’ve got going for us is that girls’ basketball is gaining ground in our youth program. We may be young again this year (Garaway sports just one senior and one junior), but we expect to raise the level with a youthful group of kids who have a real love for the game, so while this may be a rebuilding theme again this year, there is optimism, we hope to compete better and there is a lot to be excited about for the future.”

Kyle Dummermuth, Dover

With a talented group of five players that graduated last season who were either three or four-year starters, Dummermuth said he is busy trying to fit the puzzle pieces together.

“This is going to be a great challenge for our coaching staff. I’ve gotten to watch the same movie three years in a row, and now I get to watch something else,” Dummermuth said of this year’s crew. “But we’re going to fight the good fight. We’re going to work hard and get better every day, and the names may change but the goals stay the same.

“These girls are working so hard to transition into bigger roles. I really like this group a lot and they’re buying into what we want to do. We have a lot of multi-sport talents.”

Allison DeLaney, Claymont

Coming off a 7-16 campaign, DeLaney said she returns a veteran group eager to make people take notice. It starts with junior Ava Edwards.

“Ava has high goals for both herself, and her team,” DeLaney said. “But we expect everyone to step up and contribute.”

One possibility is senior Abbey Lane DeVore, who tore her ACL last season and is still recovering. DeLaney hopes to have her talents back on the floor and contributing by midseason.

“Our skills are catching up to where they should be,” DeLaney said of the Mustangs. “We were way behind three years ago when I came in, but we’re gaining ground.”

Makinze Luckey, Tuscarawas Central Catholic

Off a 9-14 campaign and with three returning letterwinners, the first-year head coach is eager to watch her team progress throughout the season.

With 13 high school players and 18 in middle school, Luckey said those are unusually high numbers at TCC.

“This group keeps working hard and giving maximum effort and that’s all you can ask for as a coach,” Luckey said.

She said senior guard Ellen Norris perfectly exemplifies this group’s attitude.

“She’s scrappy and gets on the girls and has been a great leader,” Luckey said of Norris. She added that point guard Nora Jackson will be the heartbeat of the team, saying,” She’s my cheerleader on the floor and really holds the girls accountable.”