Preview: Philo girls taking patient approach

PHILO - All has gone to plan so far for Philo.

The veteran Electrics, coming off a 20-5 season, are unbeaten and look primed to make another run at an MVL title, where Maysville has maintained a substantial stranglehold.

But that isn’t on the mind of Danny Hilty, the Electrics’ reigning Division II East District Coach of the Year.

The Electrics are 3-0 with wins against Rosecrans, Tri-Valley and New Lexington.

“We take everything here a day at a time,” Hilty said. “If you look too far out in front of you, mistakes can happen.”

The Electrics lost an All-District player when Corrie Burkhart graduated, leaving the team void of their top rebounder and inside scoring presence.

But they still have one of the more experienced lineups in the league, led by sisters Kara Hutcheson and Destiny Hutcheson.

Kara, a 5-7 senior, is one of the top scoring guards in the area, while Destiny, a 5-7 sophomore, is one of the top all-around performers on any team in the area.

Kara averaged 13.7 points and hit 34 3-pointers as a junior. She also made 71 percent of her free throws.

“I think growing up with a sibling, you automatically know where that person is going to be on the floor,” Hilty said. “The thing about them is they’re such great competitors that it brings the best out in both of them.”

But Hilty feels the team’s overall success is dependent on how well the supporting cast can supplement the scoring.

Much of that will likely fall on senior center Madisan Smith (6-1), a three-year letter-winner, and seniors Haley Howard (5-4) and Mallory Hill (5-9).

They round out the starting lineup, with freshman Camber Revennaugh (5-6), senior Kayla Burch (5-8) and juniors Molly Fuller (5-6) and Abbey Starrett (5-9) providing help off the bench.

“Team-wise, everyone has stepped up their game like they should,” Hilty said. “Having another year of varsity experience and just getting more experience playing has really helped these girls improve.”

The Hutchesons have done a bulk of the scoring so far, but Hilty is particularly pleased at how Smith has developed inside. She set the school record for blocked shots in a game in the win against Tri-Valley.

She also is one of the team’s top rebounders and has shown more scoring touch inside.

“Maddi is doing it her own way,” Hilty said. “We’ll never have another Corrie Burkhart, but Maddi is using her skills to her full potential.”

Hilty likes what he is seeing, but the task ahead only gets more difficult.

“With the five seniors and Destiny, we have a real team atmosphere,” Hilty said. “That really want to play for one another. That’s what you need.”

sblackburn@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6723

Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR

Roster

Schedule

Nov. 21 38 at Granville Christian 44

Nov. 24 66 Tri-Valley 42

Nov. 28 62 at New Lexington 30

Dec. 2 Sheridan

Dec. 5 at John Glenn

Dec. 9 Morgan

Dec. 12 at Crooksville

Dec. 16 at John Glenn

Dec. 19 West Muskingum

Dec. 23 at Vincent Warren

Dec. 28 at Liberty Union

Jan. 4 at New Lexington

Jan. 6 at Tri-Valley

Jan. 11 at River View

Jan. 13 at Sheridan

Jan. 16 John Glenn

Jan. 18 at Licking Valley

Jan. 23 at West Muskingum

Jan. 25 New Philadelphia

Jan. 27 at Morgan

Jan. 30 Crooksville

Feb. 3 Maysville