Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Versailles Lady Tigers’ don’t have any experience in the state basketball tournament, but they do have some state tournament history.

Most of the girls on the Lady Tigers’ basketball team play multiple sports and were members of Versailles’ state qualifying teams during the fall in cross country, golf and volleyball.

However, that experience may not transfer to the atmosphere of the state basketball tournament when Versailles plays the Fairland Lady Dragons at 3 p.m. Friday in the Division III state semifinals at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University.

Several players have committed to play college ball, but only 6-foot senior forward Katie Heckman who will play basketball. Heckman was special mention all-district and will play at Mercyhurst University.

Kayla McEldowney is a 5-7 senior guard who will play softball at Rio Grande. Amanda Winner is a 5-9 senior guard who has committed to Findlay University to play volleyball.

Only Winner is a starter.

Leading the Lady Tigers’ starting unit is 6-2 junior Christa Puthoff who was first team all-district and first team all-conference. She averages 9.6 points a game and 4.8 rebounds.

Heckman is not a starter but leads the team with a 10.2 scoring average and she has 4.5 rebounds a game.

The top assist player is 5-6 senior guard Brooke Pothast with 63. She was second team all-league and also has 25 steals.

Winner averages four points and rebounds an outing.

Lauren Bruns is a 6-1 junior guard was second team all-league. She averages 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds.

The fifth starter is 5-10 senior forward Emily Harman who was second team all-MAC and averages 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds.

Versailles likes to use its bench and will go as many as 12 deep.

Leading the backups is 5-8 senior gurd Rachel Kremer who was honorable mention all-MAC. She averages 6.7 points a game and is second on the team with 51 assists.

Two players who were expected to play this season suffered knee injuries and have just recently returned.

Chloe Warvel is a 5-9 senior who was expected to be the starting point guard. The backup point guard was expected to be 5-4 senior Olivia Schlater and now joins a rotation of six different point guards.

 

Fairland Lady Dragons

2013-14 Basketball Roster

No. Player Pos. Ht. Gr.

1 Terra Stapleton C 6-04 Sr.

3 Tiffani Christian G 5-06 Jr.

4 Taylor Staten G 5-07 Jr.

5 Morgan Manns G 5-06 So.

10 Mollie Morris G-F 5-07 So.

11 Bri Dickess G-F 5-07 Sr.

12 Chandler Fulks G 5-06 Sr.

13 Mackenzie Riley F 5-11 Jr.

14 Emily Henderson G 5-05 So.

20 Sarah Warnock G 5-05 Jr.

22 Kelsey Riley F 5-09 Jr.

23 Caitlin Stone G 5-05 Jr.

24 Taylor Perry G 5-6 So.

32 Whitney Huff F 5-09 Jr.

33 Jenna Fulks F 5-09 Jr.

44 Maddy Kazee G-F 5-08 So.

Head coach: Jon Buchanan

Assistant coaches: Adam Alt, Katie Fuller

 

Versailles Lady Tigers

2013-14 Basketball Roster

No. Player Pos. Ht. Gr.

3 Rachel Kremer G 5-08 Sr.

10 Chloe Warvel G 5-09 Sr.

11 Amanda Winner G 5-09 Sr.

14 Olivia Schlater G 5-04 Sr.

15 Shelby Hyre G 5-04 Jr.

20 Courtney Prenger F 5-08 Sr.

22 Lauren Bruns G 6-01 Jr.

23 Tami Groff G 5-06 Jr.

24 Taylor Winner G 5-10 Jr.

30 Kayla McEldowney G 5-07 Sr.

32 Brooke Pothast G 5-06 Sr.

34 Christa Puthoff F 6-02 Jr.

40 Emil Harman F 5-10 Sr.

42 Katie Heckman F 6-00 Sr.

Head coach: Jacki Stonebraker

Assistants coaches: Joe Raterman, Kim Custenborder, Brad Koopman