SPORTS

Preview: Ceramics hope to build on experience

Sam Blackburn
Reporter

CROOKSVILLE - Crooksville was one of the area’s youngest teams last season; six underclassmen earned letters during a 9-14 season.

The newest edition is still youthful, but they are no longer inexperienced, even with the loss of top scorer Jordan Smith to graduation.

Coach Curt Miller hopes that makes a difference as his team tackles another daunting Muskingum Valley League schedule.

“They’re getting after it,” Miller said. “Defensively, we look good. We’re working together really well as a team right now. It seems like they have a lot fun. They like each other, and there’s good continuity.”

Three starters this season are sophomores and juniors, while the return of senior Kate Mills will help solidify a backcourt that needs more ball-handlers to emerge.

Mills, a 5-4 senior guard, earned her letter as a sophomore but she missed her junior season after suffering a knee injury.

She has been an immediate contributor.

“Without her, we’d be in trouble,” Miller said.

She joins a lineup that includes senior Josie Channel (5-4), juniors Lacie Ebert (5-9) and Lauren Rambo (5-3), and sophomore Carson Miller (5-10).

Sophomore McKenzie LeRoy (5-8) also earned a letter last year and will be a top bench player with sophomores Daralyn Ater (5-5), Layona Davis (5-2) and Ava Finck (5-4) and freshman Lakyn German (5-3).

He hopes the strong rebounding efforts continue — Miller and Ebert averaged 13 per game between them last year — especially against zone defenses. The offense also is showing signs of progress.

“We’ve done a really nice job of penetrating and kicking and shooting 3s,” Curt Miller said. “I’ve got four girls who can shoot the 3 pretty well.”

Carson Miller, who also excels in volleyball, was a first-team All-Muskingum Valley League selection as a freshman.

She averaged 10 points and team-highs of 7.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists season, but Curt Miller, her father, would to see her become more unselfish with the ball in her hands.

“She has to score more,” Curt Miller said. “She’s not to the point where she has to get 20 shots a game, I’m not doing anything like that, but you have to quit looking to pass as much. And when do drive, know where your shooters are.”

The coach understands the difficulties the MVL schedule creates — they won only four league games last year — but knows it can help build toward the ultimate goal of winning in the postseason.

“(Mills) is going to go a long way toward what we do this year,” Curt Miller said. “She was greatly missed last year. Her and Carson, those two have to play well for us.”

sblackburn@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6723

Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR

Roster

No.

Name

Ht.

Class

3

Lauren Rambo

5-3

Jr.

10

McKenzie LeRoy

5-8

So.

11

Layona Davis

5-2

So.

12

Carson Miller

5-10

So.

14

Lacie Ebert

5-9

Jr.

15

Daralyn Ater

5-5

So.

20

Kate Mills

5-4

Sr.

23

Josie Channel

5-4

Sr.

24

Lakyn German

5-3

Fr.

30

Ava Finck

5-4

So.

Schedule

Nov. 21 Millersport

Nov. 24 West M

Nov. 27 at Morgan

Dec. 5 Maysville

Dec. 9 at John Glenn

Dec. 12 Philo

Dec. 16 Tri-Valley

Dec. 19 at Sheridan

Dec. 23 at New Lexington

Dec. 26 Miller

Dec. 28 Coshocton

Dec. 30 Glouster Trimble

Jan. 2 at Rosecrans

Jan. 6 at West Muskingum

Jan. 9 Morgan

Jan. 14 Grove City Christian

Jan. 16 at Maysville

Jan. 23 Sheridan

Jan. 27 John Glenn

Jan. 30 at Philo

Feb. 3 at Tri-Valley

Feb. 6 New Lexington