Returning cast lifts Super 12 preseason girls team
That 2020-21 was a particularly strong season for underclassmen sets up what should be an especially high level of play in Greater Columbus girls basketball this winter.
It starts with the area’s top four Division I programs from last season: Newark, Dublin Coffman, Reynoldsburg and Pickerington Central. All have talented returning players following district championship runs.
Five of the members of the Super 12 preseason team made last year’s final Super 12: Coffman’s Jenna Kopyar; Reynoldsburg’s Mya Perry and Imarianah Russell; Worthington Kilbourne’s Lauren Scott; and Gahanna Lincoln’s Bella Ward.
Below is a look at the Super 12 preseason team:
Tessa Grady, Dublin Coffman (Jr., F)
A first-team all-occ Central and third-team all-district honoree a year ago, Grady averaged 11.5 points while helping the Shamrocks to a regional runner-up finish and a 23-2 record. She has eight Division I scholarship offers.
Madison Greene, Pickerington Central (Jr., G)
Greene, who helped the Tigers win their sixth consecutive district title, averaged 9.6 points while developing into one of the area’s strongest defenders. She was second-team all-occ Buckeye as the Tigers went 13-7.
Chloe Jeffers, Delaware Hayes (Sr., F)
While earning second-team allocc Capital and honorable mention all-district honors, Jeffers averaged 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and three assists. She enters her senior season with more than 900 career points.
Jenna Kopyar, Dublin Coffman (Jr., G)
While helping the Shamrocks to a regional runner-up finish, Kopyar averaged 13 points and four rebounds. She was first-team all-league as the Shamrocks won the OCC Central title and was second-team all-district.
Mya Perry, Reynoldsburg (Sr., G)
An Ohio State commit, Perry averaged 15 points and four rebounds and shot 43% from three-point range as the Raiders went 16-5 and won a district title. She was first-team all-occ Buckeye and second-team all-district.
Imarianah Russell, Reynoldsburg (Sr., G)
A first-team all-district and allleague honoree, Russell surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her prep career during her first season with the Raiders after previously attending Coffman. She is a West Virginia commit.
Lauren Scott, Worthington Kilbourne (Sr., G)
With 1,186 career points, Scott is second on the Wolves’ all-time scoring list. Scott, who has signed with Wright State, averaged 21.7 points and five rebounds last season. She was named OCC Capital Player of the Year and firstteam all-district.
Charia Smith, Northland (Sr., F)
After helping Westerville North win the OCC Capital title last season when she averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and 1.2 blocks while making first-team all-league, Smith transferred to Northland. She has signed with Marquette.
Gwen Stare, Newark (Sr., G)
Stare made a buzzer-beating threepointer in her team’s regional final win and helped the Wildcats to a state runner-up finish. A first-team all-league and second-team all-district honoree, Stare averaged 11 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Maddie Vejsicky, Newark (Sr., F)
A second-team all-league and honorable mention all-district honoree, Vejsicky averaged 10 points and 3.5 rebounds as the Wildcats went 27-2 and advanced to the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
Bella Ward, Gahanna Lincoln (Sr., G/F)
While helping the Lions go 15-6 and win the OCC Ohio title, Ward averaged 15.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals and was named the league’s Player of the Year. She has signed with Xavier.
Ella Wigal, Granville (Jr., G/F)
Wigal averaged 13.5 points and seven rebounds and shot 81% from the freethrow line. She helped the Blue Aces win a Division II district title and was named the district’s Player of the Year.
Honorable Mention
Abigail Adkins, Johnstown (So., G); La’larra Bays, Beechcroft (Sr., G); Ella Brandewie, Hartley (Jr., C); Emily Bratton, Bloom-carroll (So., G); Chloe Chard-pelloquin, Newark Catholic (Sr., F); Olivia Cooper, Pickerington Central (Jr., F); Mary Ferrito, Jonathan Alder (Sr., G/F); Alexis Gartner, Watkins Memorial (Sr., G); Kamryn Grant, Africentric (So., G); Nelia Guice, Westerville South (Jr., F); Blessing King, Worthington Christian (Sr., F); Kierstyn Liming, Hilliard Davidson (Sr., G); Jenna Lucas, Watkins Memorial (Sr., F); Makiya Miller, Reynoldsburg (Sr., F); Jordan Rich, Olentangy Liberty (Sr., F); Taylor Roberts, West Jefferson (Sr., F); Cate Schieber, Granville (Sr., G); Lauren Wood, New Albany (Sr., F)