For senior-laden team, it’s state title or bust
Wellington players made it quite clear that just returning to the state tournament for a third year in a row won’t be quite enough next March.
“If we don’t win the state championship, all of our goals will be unfulfilled … unanswered,” Jaguars 6-foot-8 senior center Noah Berry said rather bluntly, as several of his teammates smiled and nodded.
Added 6-3 senior swingman SolomonPierre Louis: “Playing for the state title was the trip of a lifetime and something we’ll all remember. But we all know that there is one more step in this journey, and that’s to win the championship.”
While happy that his team has raised the bar and put in the hard work needed to satisfy such lofty expectations, fourth-year coach Artie Taylor would prefer to take that journey one step at a time.
Granted, four starters and six of his core players return from a 22-8 team that lost to Cleveland Heights Lutheran East 43-38 in the Division IV state-title game. But the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s competitive-balance plan resulted in Wellington moving up to Division III, making the path much tougher.
The last central Ohio team to reach the final four three straight years was Brookhaven, which did it in 2001, ’02, ’03 and ’04.
“Expectations are great and all, and we’ve got a lot of veteran players who have played together for a long time,” Taylor said. “But I’m not sure how healthy it is to put all of our eggs in that one basket of going back to the state and winning it. We’ve always emphasized trusting the process, and the end result should be the culmination of taking care of business along the way like we have the past two years.”
For the first time, Wellington — a rookie member of the Mid-State League Cardinal Division — will have a conference title to pursue. And the district tournament, featuring perennial powers such as Africentric, Columbus Academy, Grandview, Harvest Prep, Pleasant, Ready and Worthington Christian, will be stacked.
The returning corps consists of Berry, PierreLouis, point guard Guy Schmidt, twin swingmen Bob and John Faller and guard Dallas Patrick. All but Patrick are seniors. Pierre-Louis (10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds per game) has signed to play at Air Force.
“Solomon is the jack of all trades,” Taylor said. “At 6-3, he’s a moving chess piece. We can play him at any position. Noah has been rim-rocking and shot-blocking in the offseason and preseason. My jaw has dropped by how much he has improved. Dallas has grown by leaps and bounds. He has emerged into maybe our most dynamic player. Guy is our glue. He plays only one speed and gives us a defensive presence. Bob is always a step ahead mentally, and he can score it so many ways. John is just a blue-collar guy you love to have.”
With little to play for in recent years except the tournament, Wellington gathered steam and peaked when it mattered.
“The seniors have played a lot of games together, and we really know one another’s roles well,” Patrick said. “We won’t be quite as tall as last year, but I think we’re more skilled now.”
Berry said the seniorladen Jaguars will be playing for a purpose.
“When coach Taylor came in, a bunch of us seniors made a pact to put Wellington on the map,” he said. “It’s kind of sad to think that this will be our last season together, but we plan to go out with a bang and make it truly special.”