Defending State Champion Lady Tigers Taking on Tough Schedule

Casual observers of Ohio high school girls' basketball might be alarmed that Twinsburg has started out the season 0-2 after putting together a spotless 27-0 record last year.

There's no need to panic. The Lady Tigers played two of the top teams in the country, dropping a 74-73 overtime decision to Memphis Central and a 50-47 decision to Bolingbrook (Ill.) in the Tennessee Turkey Jam tournament last weekend. Bolingbrook is ranked eighth in the nation in the ESPN Fab 50 while Memphis Central is ranked 11th. ESPN ranks Twinsburg as the nation's 14th best team.

"I was glad we gave ourselves a chance to win both games," said Twinsburg head coach Julie Solis, who entered her third season with a 50-2 mark at the school. "We wanted to see where we are against the top competition in the nation. It's been a while since they lost so our kids took it pretty hard."

Led by three-time All-Ohio player and , the Lady Tigers won't exactly be sneaking up on any teams this season. Twinsburg is already expected to make it back to the state Final Four but it will be no easy task.

"We don't ever touch on that," said Solis. "I took my (state title) ring and put it away. It's a new beginning and we've got to build on what we're doing this year. We lost two key seniors but we're still going to be very good."

There is little time to dwell on the two tournament losses last week as the Lady Tigers prepare for tonight's home opener against Wadsworth, a team that figures to give Twinsburg a run for its money this season.

"We had a tough game with them in the regional semis last year and we'll have to be playing our best against them," said Solis of the Grizzlies.

As always, Twinsburg's opponents will have to deal with Howard, the outstanding 6-4 senior post player who averaged nearly 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game last year while shooting 66 percent from the floor. Howard already owns the school record with 1,377 career points and she also helped the United States FIBA U19 team to win a gold medal in Chile last summer.

The Lady Tigers are much more than just Howard. Also back this year are senior guard Leah Fechko and junior guard Ashley Morrissette, a pair of All-NOC First Team players last season. Senior guard-forward LaShawna Gatewood, who will play for Appalachian State next year, is also back along with senior guards Anna Fox and Nicole Mabry and senior forward Lindsay Shirllia. Morrissette was the top scorer in both games last week.

Junior Brooke Smith, a transfer from Lake Ridge, is a key addition to the team. Other juniors who will be counted on are Char-dell Dunigan and Mercedes Hobbs while sophomore Baleigh Reid will also see action.

As if games with Wadsworth, Mentor, Solon and Walsh aren't tough enough to start the season, Twinsburg travels to Detroit Country Day (Dec. 22) before hosting its own holiday invitational with a game against Shabazz (N.J.) on Dec. 28. The Lady Tigers will play Kettering Fairmount and Mason in the Classic in the Country tourney in January and will play at the Raatz Fence Classic in Louisville, Ky. against Dupont Manual on Jan. 21. On Feb. 1, Twinsburg entertains defending Division II state champion Hathaway Brown.

Shabazz is ranked 18th in the country by ESPN, Manual is at number 44 and Country Day is ranked 45th.

After that rigorous schedule, the Lady Tigers will barely have time to exhale before starting the state tournament grind. And you know which team will have the biggest bulls-eye on its back come February.

"We have a great opportunity to play a lot of top teams this season," said Solis. "We think we can win against any of those teams."