Youth will be served at Northwestern High School this winter.

After losing three key players from last year’s CBC Mad River runner-up team, including two to graduation, the Warriors will bring a young team to the courts as the girls’ basketball season begins around Ohio on Friday.

“We need to get better and compete at a higher level each day because we are inexperienced,” said Northwestern coach Aaron Stewart. “We are a young team, and the key words for this group are commitment, discipline and just play hard. Good things will happen if we just play hard.”

“I am looking for the battle with us and Ben Logan again. As a whole the league should be more competitive, hopefully we are battling for that top spot.”

Gone are Korynne Berner and Katelyn Partlow who graduated, and Jenna Robbins, who is focusing on softball, meaning over 30 points per game will have to be replaced.

“We lost some key players while competing with Ben Logan for the league title last year. We are not as big but I think we are quicker. So we will bring more speed. Our competitiveness is good and more aggressive.”

Early in the pre-season, the Warriors have shown the ability to compete and according to Stewart, they have grown.

“Cedarville was first scrimmage and we competed well for two and a half quarters and not compete for two quarters,” he said. “We need to grow and compete every day. These are tough competition for scrimmages. We also went to Tri County North and competed well.”

“I am very pleased how well they distribute the ball among each other. We won’t be a deep team, but we will be eight strong.”

Returning will be senior Abby Zerkle, the leading scorer last year at 14.7 points per game. Also back are seniors Rachel Martin and Askana Faulknor.

“Abby puts in the extra time and weight room and will be a key player for us,” Stewart said. “Rachel is a good perimeter shooter and a 5-foot-6 returning letterwinner with a great work ethic.”

“Askana moved in from Dunbar. It’s her first year out, and she is learning the whole system and will help us out later in the season once she learns the system.”

Juniors include Audrey Nourse, who is a homeschooled kid from Emmanuel Christian who will finish her career at Northwestern. Also junior Rachel White returns.

Some sophomores to watch this season include Abbie Grieser, Kendall Berner and Miranda Gillman.

“Abbie will be our point guard this year,” Stewart said. “She had some varsity time last year and her main job is to take care of the ball and distribute. Kendall will be playing some post even though she is not a post player due to our lack of height. She is physical and aggressive.”

The league will go through Ben Logan again this year, led by the reigning Player of the Year Nikki Current, only a junior. She is just getting back from an ACL injury.

“We need step up the challenge on her. Hopefully we can sneak one out at home. Graham is also competitive and Greenon will be good and young.”

Northwestern opens the season next Tuesday at Southeastern, then hosts Greeneview one week from tonight.

First Group 2x2
First Group 2x2
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