Action-packed Barn Ball Classic launches high school girls basketball season

The girls basketball season started with a bang Friday, Nov. 21 and continued all day Saturday, Nov. 22 at the fourth annual Barn Ball Classic. A two-day event held inside the historic Wilbur Berkey Fieldhouse, its brainchild, director and Smithville girls coach Eric Nickles was happy with how it all played out.

“This weekend was great,” said Nickles. “You can’t thank our parents enough and the school system for letting us do it and hosting it here. I think it’s a great weekend for girls to open up. It really creates excitement in Wayne County. There are a lot of good basketball programs here. Our kids are always excited about it.”

And more importantly, it was about playing games that finally matter.

“It’s nice to finally play these games,” said Orrville standout Brooklyn Butzer. “I’ve been putting in the work all summer, so it’s nice to finally put that into a game.”

There were many storylines showcased over the two days, from the return of Payton Snyder to the hardwood for Triway to a young Waynedale squad coming of age in a big way to a feisty Dalton squad to some big plays from a growing Orrville team to West Holmes looking into the mirror and seeing a reflection of itself to the host Smithies looking a lot further into the rebuild after losing stars Madi Singer and Aly Wickens from last year to the dreams of a return to state starting anew for Norwayne.

Snyder is back

Even in a 40-38 setback to Revere in the second game of the Barn Ball Classic, one couldn’t take the spotlight off the return of Snyder, a senior point guard for the Titans. She didn’t disappoint with a trio of long-range buckets and finished with 13 points in her return debut.

“It’s great to have her back,” said Titans coach Mike Miller. “She did really well for missing a whole year. She will only get better and grow more as the season goes on. We expect a lot, and sometimes, as a coach, you forget that she didn’t get to play last year.

“We always expect a lot out of our point guards. Every coach does from that standpoint, but she is going to grow. She is going to get better, and we will bounce back. It isn’t fun to lose. It’s a game that I thought we should win, and we weren't able to pull it out, and that happens in sports sometimes.”

As for the keys to success this year, it’s the continued work on the little things and being consistent, as Triway also saw Kensayn Garrison and Sydney Frank with nine and six points, respectively.

“We have to do the little things well,” said Miller. “We have to handle the basketball, and we have to box out every possession. At times we boxed out well, but there were times we didn’t, and they took advantage of us. Those are the little things that have to happen all the time.”

Big win

In arguably the biggest win at the classic, the Golden Bears beat a talented Rocky River team 51-32. For many in attendance, it was a clear upset over a Pirates team that many in Division III expect big things from.

“When you start off with a really big win over a really good team, it helps build momentum,” said Waynedale coach Rick Geiser. “It helps build confidence. It builds belief in the things that we’re doing, and I have a lot of kids that are really willing to be coached, and we’re fortunate in that way. They let us coach them hard, and they just continue to respond. What a great group that I am fortunate to coach.”

The Golden Bears, who consistently play one of the area’s toughest slates of nonleague games, opened up with a staple win and will aim to continue rising.

“I am really proud of them for their effort and for buying into playing ten and sacrificing a little time for the greater good of the team,” said Geiser.

Dalton/Orrville rising

Dalton nailed up a tough battle with projected Ohio Cardinal Conference winner Ashland in a 61-55 loss, and Orrville lined up a 60-43 win over Lucas to even its record at 1-1.

The Bulldogs were paced by Phoebe Lehman with 16 points, Pa Lehman with 13 and Grace Dorffer with 10.

“It was a great opponent, and it’s why we love playing in this classic to start off the season,” said Dalton coach Chase Moyer. “We obviously play in a very competitive league, so we view this as a great prep game for us to enter our league and a great OHSAA tournament prepper as well.”

Trailing 18-4, the Bulldogs outscored the Arrows 51-43 over the final three quarters.

“We showed a lot of fight, and as a coach, that’s what you want," said Moyer. “We could’ve crawled into a hole, especially after that first quarter, but we challenged them, and I thought they responded really well.”

The Red Riders were led by Butzer, who flushed home six triples and totaled 27 points, and Jacy Mulpas with 16 points.

“This feels good,” said Butzer. “It’s nice to get a win when you're first starting out. For us, it’s our second game in, and it feels nice."

Looking into a mirror

Over the years, West Holmes has become known for its full-court press and in-your-face defense. In the Barn Ball Classic, the Knights met Canton Central Catholic, which played the same way, and it turned into a fun game of hoops for a half as they battled to a 27-27 tie. In the third quarter, though, West Holmes couldn’t keep up the pace as it was outscored 19-9 before falling 58-40.

What rebuild?

For the Smithies, they looked to take a step back after losing stalwarts Madi Singer and Aly Wickens from a year ago. That's a pipe dream for area teams as Smithville downed Tuslaw 62-26.

“Our kids have been working really hard,” said Nickles. “We talked as a team, we know that we aren’t going to replace them with one person. Our whole team needs to step up, and we did that tonight. I just thought our team defense disrupted what they wanted to do offensively, and that’s been a staple of Smithville basketball.”

Leading the way for the Smithies was standout Leah Keib with 26 points, but there were plenty of other contributors all around. Caylee Zimmerly poured in 10, Rebekah Keib scored nine and Reagan Gherian added seven.

“There are so many good teams in our league,” said Nickles. “It’s going to be a grind every night.”

All 0-0

A year ago, the story was the Norwayne Bobcats and their first-ever run to the state finals. A year later, a return is on the list of things to do, but it all starts at 0-0.

“The biggest is staying in the moment, focusing on the task ahead,” said Norwayne coach Jake Shoup. “If we can stay in the moment this year, not get too far ahead of ourselves and not focus on the expectations that other people are setting for us, if we stay in the moment and focus on the task at hand, this could be a special year.”

In the Bobcats' season opener, they nailed up a 58-39 win over a talented Tusky Valley squad. They were led by Ava Maibach and Allie DeMassimo with 19 and 15 points, respectively.

“I am proud of the way we came out with energy,” said Shoup. “I am really proud of that. It’s going to be kind of a journey. Can we put together a full 32 and not waver on that, be consistent with that, but I thought it was a good first showing.”

Thanksgiving

Not lost was the timing of the season as Butzer talked about her plans to spend time with friends and family over the holidays.

And multiple coaches couldn’t be more thankful for their teams, and this comment by Nickles could be echoed by many.

“We’re always thankful,” he said. “I am thankful for the players that we have because they put in such hard work. The stuff doesn’t happen overnight. It takes hours and hours that people don’t see, and as a coach, you couldn’t be more thankful for them.”