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CCS is just 11-14, but can’t wait to head north for its first-ever district appearance.
“Definitely an underdog situation, but I kind of love that,” Cincinnati Christian senior guard Allie Statzer said. “They’re a very talented team, I’m not going to deny that, but I don’t think we’re intimidated. I don’t think that we’re going to go into it saying, ‘Well, we’re just going to try and then go home and be done with our season.’
“We have it in us, so we’re going to go in there and we’re going to show them all what we have. We’re going to compete. I have a good feeling about it.”
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Sixth-year Cougars coach Paul Owens has said all along that his squad is better than its record, that a lack of willingness to compete cost CCS some wins during the regular season.
But he believes Cincinnati Christian has resolved that issue and has been showing what it’s capable of in the postseason.
“When we compete, we are a good Division IV team. When we don’t, we’re not,” Owens said. “We’re relatively young, and that might have been part of the problem. I’m not really doing anything differently than I did earlier in the year.
“No disrespect to Jackson Center or anyone else that we would play, but I’m not sure my girls even necessarily realize the magnitude of a game like this. That’s probably a good thing. We’re pleased to have the opportunity, and no matter what happens, it’s going to be good for us moving forward.”
Jackson Center (20-4) is a tradition-laden opponent. The Shelby County Athletic League champion Tigers reached the state semifinals last season and captured state championships in 1995 and 2001.
Adding to the expect-to-win mentality at Jackson Center is the school’s success in volleyball. The Tigers have won the last two D-IV state titles, and numerous basketball players participate in volleyball.
“I’m a believer that success breeds success,” said first-year Jackson Center coach Jeff Reese, who has an administrative day job — he’s the JCHS principal. “When you’re feeling those moments of pressure, you know what it takes to get there.”
The Tigers are not a complicated team. They’ve got good quickness, but rarely try to play a full-court game. Their strength is halfcourt man-to-man defense.
Jackson Center is scoring 46.1 points per game and allowing an average of 29.
“I’m pretty happy with what we can do defensively,” Reese said. “We try to stick to what’s gotten us to where we’re at — being sound, being disciplined and seeing what happens from there. We try to let our defense feed some of our offense.”
Cassie Meyer, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, leads the balanced Tigers, averaging about 10 points, six rebounds and four assists per game.
She’s joined in the starting lineup by 5-5 junior point guard Kennadie Reese, 5-3 senior guard Kamryn Elchert, 6-2 junior forward Olivia Clark and 5-11 senior forward Christen Ware.
“Going into the season, I knew there was a lot of potential,” Jeff Reese said. “We got a late start because of volleyball. Conditioning was a concern of mine, and I needed them to buy into my ideas and philosophies. Even though they’re not a lot different than what Coach (Scott) Doseck’s were last year, they’re still different.
“I would say they bought in quickly, and I think we’re playing pretty darn good right now. Hopefully we’ve got a couple weeks left in us.”
He said one thing is certain — the Cougars won’t be taken lightly.
“Reaching this point isn’t anything magical,” Reese said. “If they’re there, that means they deserve it.”
CCS will start 5-11 freshman Lyric Harris at point guard, the 5-9 Statzer and 5-2 junior Hannah Randall on the wings, and 5-11 junior Grace Edmonston and 5-6 freshman Tori Byndon at forward.
Harris tops Cincinnati Christian in scoring with a 10.2 average, followed by Edmonston (9.5) and Randall (8.1). Edmonston is the No. 1 rebounder (9.4), while Statzer leads the team in assists (3.7) and steals (2.3).
The Cougars will be missing a pair of seniors in Kylee Miller and Anna Holder, a starter and sixth man, respectively. Miller is in the cast of the school play at the Aronoff Center, while Holder has college-commitment obligations.
“I feel like we’re prepared for each game, and this one will be no different,” Owens said. “It’s pretty clear that Jackson Center is a defensive-minded team. They compete really hard at that end of the floor, and they’re long and athletic.”
He said the Tigers are similar to Monroe, only bigger. Jackson Center has a second 6-2 girl, senior Alicia Kessler, that comes off the bench.
“They appear to be a grind-it-out team, and that’s how we play as well,” Owens said. “This will be a Big Ten-type slugfest. They’re going to be there and do what they do. The question is, can we hold up our end of the deal?”
Saturday’s game
What: Division IV district final, Cincinnati Christian (11-14) vs. Jackson Center (20-4)
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Troy High School, 151 W. Staunton Road, Troy
Next: Winner advances to a regional semifinal Thursday at Vandalia Butler, facing either New Madison Tri-Village or Cedarville at 6:15 p.m.
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