Bears rebuilding on the fly
New faces, unexpected departures, cause changes
Deanna Alnazer (center) is one of two seniors on North Royalton’s girls basketball team, which lost three players before the season even started. Photo by BRUCE BILLOW
When Matt Stricker took over as North Royalton’s girls basketball coach after last season, he had visions of how the 2016-17 season might go. Through no fault of Stricker’s, his vision couldn’t have been further off the mark.
One season-ending injury and two players unexpectedly not returning for their senior seasons left Stricker with some major voids. The Bears, predictably, have struggled some while trying to right the ship.
“At the beginning of the year we got hit,” Stricker said. “We were expecting to have four starters back from last season.”
Senior Amy Tyma opted not to play, Stricker said, to recover from a volleyball injury, with hopes she can continue her career in that sport in college. Lexi Chuppa, expected to be the starting point guard, got a scholarship to compete in track at Ashland University and also did not return to basketball.
The Bears then lost sophomore Tay’ier Parks to a torn ACL. The 6-foot-1 post would have been a huge difference-maker for North Royalton.
“We were expecting four back and we only have Gabby (White) back,” Stricker said.
If the Bears were only going to have one back, they got the right one. White has been having a stellar season, averaging more than 20 points per game. She’s been mostly unstoppable despite opposing defenses centering their efforts around her.
His team decimated, Stricker put the pieces together on the fly and the results, while not outstanding, haven’t been horrible. The Bears were 6-10 overall heading into the week. They were 3-7 in the Suburban League National Division. Six of their losses are to SL-leading Twinsburg, second-place Stow and defending Division I state champ Wadsworth.
“For the inexperience that we have, these girls fight every day,” Sticker said. “When you’re playing tough competition, it’s hard when you don’t have the experience of playing every day at the varsity level. Saying that, we’ve been in most games.”
Along with White, who recently scored her 1,000th career point, guard Deanna Alnazer is the only other senior on the squad, which is junior-heavy. Guard Megan Grospitch, post Macie Plagens, guard Krista Harbart, guard Michelle Jursevic, and wing Araina Ferrette comprise the junior class and all have been getting minutes, as have sophomore forward Lauren Bockelman and sophomore post Isabella Sprunger.
When not playing the powerhouse teams, the Bears have been pretty good, all things considered. Among the Bears’ wins are victories over Westlake, Highland and Lake Ridge Academy. Westlake was 12-6 heading into the week, Highland was 10-7 and had won six in a row, and Division IV Lake Ridge was 12-6 playing mostly larger schools
They’ll lose White to graduation, but should have Parks back, with the rest of the team another year experienced.
“We’re just trying to get some consistency,” Stricker said. “Right now, we’re preparing for the tournament. Our goal is to go game-by-game and we set goals and one of our goals is to try to host a sectional game. At that point in the season, everyone starts over. Right now, we’re focused on getting better each and every day with kids that are learning with the experience of playing.”
Despite the sub.-500 record, the Bears may in fact host a game. They are in the Medina Division I District, which is overall soft. If the higher-seeded teams take early-round byes, North Royalton could indeed wind up with a sectional contest at home.
One season-ending injury and two players unexpectedly not returning for their senior seasons left Stricker with some major voids. The Bears, predictably, have struggled some while trying to right the ship.
“At the beginning of the year we got hit,” Stricker said. “We were expecting to have four starters back from last season.”
Senior Amy Tyma opted not to play, Stricker said, to recover from a volleyball injury, with hopes she can continue her career in that sport in college. Lexi Chuppa, expected to be the starting point guard, got a scholarship to compete in track at Ashland University and also did not return to basketball.
The Bears then lost sophomore Tay’ier Parks to a torn ACL. The 6-foot-1 post would have been a huge difference-maker for North Royalton.
“We were expecting four back and we only have Gabby (White) back,” Stricker said.
If the Bears were only going to have one back, they got the right one. White has been having a stellar season, averaging more than 20 points per game. She’s been mostly unstoppable despite opposing defenses centering their efforts around her.
His team decimated, Stricker put the pieces together on the fly and the results, while not outstanding, haven’t been horrible. The Bears were 6-10 overall heading into the week. They were 3-7 in the Suburban League National Division. Six of their losses are to SL-leading Twinsburg, second-place Stow and defending Division I state champ Wadsworth.
“For the inexperience that we have, these girls fight every day,” Sticker said. “When you’re playing tough competition, it’s hard when you don’t have the experience of playing every day at the varsity level. Saying that, we’ve been in most games.”
Along with White, who recently scored her 1,000th career point, guard Deanna Alnazer is the only other senior on the squad, which is junior-heavy. Guard Megan Grospitch, post Macie Plagens, guard Krista Harbart, guard Michelle Jursevic, and wing Araina Ferrette comprise the junior class and all have been getting minutes, as have sophomore forward Lauren Bockelman and sophomore post Isabella Sprunger.
When not playing the powerhouse teams, the Bears have been pretty good, all things considered. Among the Bears’ wins are victories over Westlake, Highland and Lake Ridge Academy. Westlake was 12-6 heading into the week, Highland was 10-7 and had won six in a row, and Division IV Lake Ridge was 12-6 playing mostly larger schools
They’ll lose White to graduation, but should have Parks back, with the rest of the team another year experienced.
“We’re just trying to get some consistency,” Stricker said. “Right now, we’re preparing for the tournament. Our goal is to go game-by-game and we set goals and one of our goals is to try to host a sectional game. At that point in the season, everyone starts over. Right now, we’re focused on getting better each and every day with kids that are learning with the experience of playing.”
Despite the sub.-500 record, the Bears may in fact host a game. They are in the Medina Division I District, which is overall soft. If the higher-seeded teams take early-round byes, North Royalton could indeed wind up with a sectional contest at home.