The Berkshire Badgers girls’ basketball team learned what it felt like to be at the top when it earned a share of the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division title with rival Kirtland last year. And despite graduating their entire starting five, Berkshire is ready to deal with the target on its back and win the conference championship outright.
“This is one of the most exciting seasons since I have been here,” said Coach James Bosley. “After last year, we accomplished our goals and then we ended up getting bumped to Division II. We still went and competed with one of the best teams in Northeast Ohio, Salem, and those seniors went out on their shield. We gave it everything we had and these girls saw that so nobody knows what to expect out of them but I have seen them work hard every single day.”
Last season was the first time the Badger girls clinched at least a share of the CVC Valley Division since the 2011 season, but the sixth-year coach added that Berkshire’s resurgence had been in the works for a few years.
“We had some really strong players and last year’s group was a carryover,” he said. “Two girls bought in and then six girls bought in and now all 23 girls are here every single day. They have turned the corner on it and want to keep this going. Even our junior high program has completely bought in with how things are.”
Berkshire will defend its share of the CVC Valley Division and field a new starting five, beginning with senior forward Hayley Stoddard, who averaged 5.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and recorded a 46% shooting clip last year.
The 5-foot-10 senior has dealt with injuries throughout her varsity career, but Bosley said she started to turn a corner before injuries again derailed her season last year.
“She can play guard or forward depending on how you try to guard her,” he added. “We have a counter for it just by her skillset alone. She is just one of those kids that has such a high motor that she does not ever stop, and she is hard to keep up with.”
Stoddard, the only senior in the starting five, will be joined by the 5-foot-10 junior forward Olivia Masink, who will be a varsity starter for the first time.
“Olivia stepped up last year when Hayley was out and was not a big offensive threat because we did not need her to be, so she controlled rebounds and was a really good defender in the post,” Bosley said. “She is going to have a bigger role now offensively because she is in there a lot more than just filling in for Hayley.”
Junior guard Jenna Hornak also joins the starting five, having averaged 3.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season.
“Jenna is going to be one of our best defensive players,” Bosley said of the 5-foot-8 guard. “She is a kid that likes to have a job and when you tell her what you want her to do on the floor, she is going to get that done.”
Junior point guard Meredith Bors is expected to assume ball-handling responsibilities.
“Meredith is going to be in a role where she can be our point guard and is really good at playing off the ball and can shoot pretty well,” Bosley noted.
The final member of Berkshire’s new starting line-up will be freshman guard/forward Ivy Martin, who Bosley can already foresee having a big role for the Badgers.
“On any given night she could probably score between 10-15 points but also dish out 10 assists,” Bosley said. “She is a strong rebounder and runs the floor really well and will do everything that we ask her to do.”
Berkshire’s depth will be improved with the additions of senior forward Maddie Smetana, who finished her volleyball career by joining the 1,000 kill club and guard Evania McCandless, a soccer commit to Cedarville University.
According to Bosley, both seniors add more athleticism to an already versatile Berkshire team and the Badgers’ rotation could extend to as many as 13 players.
“It’s going to help us just because we have got the reputation that we like to press and being able to go three girls deeper than we normally do, we are going to be able to press that much more,” Bosley added. “We are not going to really lose a step because of the athletes we have playing.”
Although the Badgers are a young squad this season, Bosley said he believed their athleticism will help them get off to a fast start and control the pace during a game.
Berkshire’s season begins when it faces Geauga County rival West Geauga in a CVC crossover game at Hiram College’s Coleman Sports Complex’s Price Gymnasium on Sunday at 2 p.m.
