SPRINGBORO -- Must be the Year of the Freshman in Springborogirls basketball.
Not just Olivia Schretzman. The fearless freshman was a quickstudy on the varsity team and helped it to the Division I regionalsemifinals.
There's more promising talent coming up in that class. Thefreshman team won 19 straight before losing a heartbreaker, 32-31,to Centerville in the finals of the Greater Western Ohio Conferencetournament in a game decided by a halfcourt heave.
The young Panthers owned a 32-28 win over Centerville in anearlier meeting and produced a 15-0 record against GWOC regular-season competition.
'We just had a well-balanced team and athletic,' said coach LeonLacy. 'I played eight or nine girls in a rotation and the team nevermissed a beat.'
Wins are important at this level, but the main priority is playerdevelopment, Lacy said.
'When I was interviewed by varsity coach Tom Benjamin last yearfor the coaching opening, he emphasized that freshman basketballwill be a priority,' Lacy said. 'He wanted it to be an integral partof the program. I try to put these girls in a position where theycan (meet) expectations to step into a high school program once theyleave here.'
The successful varsity team (GWOC South and Sweet 16 qualifier)will graduate seven seniors, so there will be an opportunities forthese girls at the varsity level.
The team's signature game came in the semifinals of the GWOCtournament when it ousted Trotwood at Ed Zink Arena in Beavercreek.
The Rams brought down varsity player Amber McCann for thefreshmen tournament. McCann was featured, along with 'Boro'sSchretzman, in the Dayton Daily News sports story titled 'A Breathof Frosh Air' on impact freshman at the varsity level. 'Boroeliminated the McCann-led Rams, 53-47.
The list of team standouts stretches long: Taylor Hurley, who ledthe team in scoring with 13 points, point guard Kelli Johnson, guardSarah Rhule, and interior threats Emily Dippold, 5-10 Sara Van Wertand high-leaping Alyssa Mitterholzer.
Dippold epitomizes the team's progress as she improved in leapsand rebounds. She became a double-double machine after starting outslowly.
'Emily was timid early on and would average one or two points,but then she came on scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds in our finalstretch of games,' Lacy said. 'She made dramatic improvement.'
Other key players were Ryan Ford, Loran Ramsey, Chasity Kirkland,Anita Sharkey, Brittany Baker and Alyssa Greco.
Defense was the Panthers calling card, limiting opponents to 26points a game while scoring 48.
'We played our tough games early and that set the tone, beatingAlter, Centerville, Western Brown and Butler -- all establishedprograms,' Lacy said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2478 orrjackson@DaytonDailyNew s.com.