Twinsburg Girls Prepared for 'Second Season'

They call it the “second season” – a time when regular season reputations are put to the test. A time when underdogs  often have their day. A time when any game could end a dream.

Few teams in the state of Ohio have had more expectations placed upon them than the Twinsburg girls’ basketball squad. The Tigers, who go for a perfect 20-0 regular season record tonight against Solon, are ranked second in Division I behind defending state champion Canton McKinley. Those same two teams met in the regional final last year with McKinley moving on and Twinsburg going home.

Area fans are already looking forward to a rematch next month. But Twinsburg head coach Julie Solis knows there are plenty of potential roadblocks on the way to Canton.

“If it gets to that point (regionals) it would be awesome,” said Solis. “But there are teams every year who are supposed to get to a certain game and they don’t. Every season you see good teams that lose in the first or second round.”

The Akron district tournament has top-seeded Akron Firestone, another unbeaten team. McKinley is the clear favorite at the Alliance district tourney and Eastlake North gained the top seed at Perry.  Twinsburg is the top seed at the Warrensville Heights district with Howland second, Shaker Heights third and Warren Harding fourth.

 “We have some very good competition in our district,” said Solis. “If we don’t remain focused the season could be over before we want it to be over.”

A win over Solon would give the Tigers a gaudy 39-1 record over the past two regular seasons. A perfect season adds even more pressure to the mix, but Twinsburg has a team that has become accustomed to winning.

“I’m trying really hard not to be superstitious,” said Solis. “I always thought along the lines that one loss could be a good thing going into the tournaments. But if you’re undefeated it shows you don’t know how to lose. It would be pretty exciting to go into the post-season without a loss.”

The Tigers will go far if junior post player Malina Howard continues her recent play. Howard, one of the nation’s top recruits, scored a career-high 39 points in a 75-52 rout of a strong Hudson team and she scored 29 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in a 55-38 win over Hathaway Brown. In the Hudson victory, Howard made good on an incredible 18 of 19 shots from the floor.

Senior point guard Katie Fox adds a stabilizing influence on the floor along with senior forward Nicole Carman. Sophomore guard Ashley Morrissette has made major contributions all season long as have junior guards Nicole Mabry, Leah Fetchko and LaShawna Gatewood. Freshman guard Baleigh Reed has been another valuable performer.

“We have such a talented junior class and this is their third real chance in the post-season,” said Solis. “This team has been in close games and they have handled themselves well in some tight situations.”

The tournament trail starts Feb. 24 when Twinsburg takes on the winner of the Bedford-John Adams contest. A win in that game puts the Tigers in the district semifinals on Mar. 3.

“Our kids just don’t want to lose,” said Solis. “They’re at the point where they’re going to leave it all on the floor.”

That’s what it takes to be first during the Second Season.