As the Tecumseh girls’ basketball program grows, the success can be measured in different ways. For coach Danielle Thomas, not only has she seen her team excel the past several years, sporting a record since 2013 of over 120 wins, but the individual accomplishments also are directed toward the Arrows.

With several league and District 9 awards, three of the Lady Arrows basketball personnel have achieved the highest honors in Ohio, being selected by their peers to participate in the Ohio North-South state all-star game.

In addition to Bianca Quisenberry (2013) and Lindsey Nartker (2016) who both played in the game, head coach Danielle Thomas was selected to coach in the prestigious event at Denison University this season, as Thomas took part in the festivities which was held last weekend in Columbus.

“Everything was first class,” Thomas said, who left immediately following her game to catch her daughter Corinne’s AAU exposure event on the east coast. “It was a unique group of kids and a unique group of coaches. I have been to these things before and not everyone is this friendly and cordial.” “These kids just met each other and all four teams ate together at the same table on the first night. It was really great, and I asked if it was the norm and they said it never happens at the first meal.”

Thomas coached the Ohio Division 1-2 South team alongside Alter coach Kendal Peck, no stranger to success himself. His Knights squad just won their third consecutive state championship.

“It was fun to coach with Kendal and talk about the ups and downs of coaching,” Thomas said. “They have their share of issues like everyone else. You get to learn about them at a whole different level.”

While her teams have been very successful at Tecumseh, including capturing another league title this past season, Thomas experienced the chance to coach a tremendous group of athletes.

“Well, it would be nice to have this group for more than two days,” she joked. “It was interesting because yes they could play, but they were also a great group of kids.”

One familiar face on her team was CBC foe Jamari McDavid, the Wofford University signee.

“I jokingly gave her a little more grief than everyone else since obviously we know each other,” Thomas said, who stated McDavid’s athletic ability was as good as anyone in the game.

Thomas and her team arrived Thursday for practice and had several meals, along with a little downtime.

The Arrows program is becoming more recognized and respected every year, and Thomas noticed that also.

“A lot of those guys involved in the game knew who I was based on how well we have done at the Classic in the Country, and our tournament success,” she said. It says a lot about your program and it gets the name out there. Even Kendal didn’t know a lot about the history of our program, he just knew we are playing well. He didn’t realize when I got here, we went 0-21 in my first year.”

Thomas was selected by her peers to coach in the game based on the success of the Arrows. They have to advance to at least districts.

She was honored to join the likes of Quisenberry and Nartker as Tecumseh participants in the event.

“It is a great honor, and I plan to have more players in this game before I leave Tecumseh,” she said. “We have a lot of great players coming through the system.”

Thomas’ South squad was defeated in the game by the North all-stars.