It may be early, but the Wooster High girls basketball team has made an early statement.
Two, actually, pointing to a pair of early wins to jump out to a 2-0 start on the campaign. Wooster, 10-10 a year ago, knocked off a veteran Cloverleaf team 49-44 in its season opener and then routed Medina Highland in Game 2, gaining a measure of revenge for last seasons sectional loss with a 69-44 thumping of the Hornets in the Hoops 4 Healing Girls Basketball Classic at the College of Wooster.
Were excited to be 2-0, said first-year coach Mike Baus. The first game was against a Cloverleaf team that actually made it to the District finals last year and was actually winning by six points at halftime. They had their whole team back. We didnt play our best game, but we played a good team that had nine letter winners back. Thats encouraging.
Medina Highland beat us in the tournament by seven points last year and their team is pretty much entirely back also. We felt we showed a little improvement going from a seven-point loss to a 25-point victory, but we still have things to work on.
The win over Highland was particularly satisfying because of the four-quarter performance the Generals displayed, said Baus.
We ended up taking them out of their game early and pushing the ball up court, said Baus. Along with our press, which gave them trouble, that helped set the tone for the game. We were ahead 10-2 after the first quarter and they were back on their heels for the rest of game. We actually shot 65 percent from the field (27-of-39), but on the other side of the coin, we had some turnovers that led to fast break layups that helped the percentage go up there.
Baus had hoped the Generals offensive balance this season would be a plus, and that has been the case so far. Sophomore Claire Ballard tossed in 26 points in the victory over the Colts, while Lauren Walker was the go-to woman against Medina with a 21-point outburst. However, they had support offensively as well, and that balance could be a plus as the season evolves.
Up to this point in practices and games weve been very unselfish, said Baus. If someone is open, well get her the ball. Were playing very unselfish, team-oriented play so far.
The coaching staff definitely feels Claire has the ability to have a double-double on most nights with rebounds and points, he added. She didnt surprise us with 26 – weve seen outbursts in practice like that at times. We didnt think it would come in the first game, but weve seen her get on a roll and be successful.
Against Medina Highland we went nine deep through the main portion of the game. As the scoring became one-sided, we were able to get two more girls in for a half-quarter. Through the first two games, the top nine have gotten in decent minutes in both games.
Baus was also pleased with a huge 41-10 rebounding advantage for the Generals against Highland.
We spend a lot of time on rebounding drills in practice because were going to consistently be the smallest of the teams we play, said Baus. Its an area where we have to be successful and we took baby steps against Medina Highland.
Weve been extremely hard working and had a real positive, teachable attitude, he said. And, theyre grasping the offense and defense. We havent perfected it ... but were taking baby steps every night in practice to be successful.
Wooster played Mansfield Senior and two-time Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year Rachael Mahan last Thursday in its OCC opener, and will host Lexington Thursday, Dec. 16.
