Mount Vernon News

MV senior girls to be honored

MOUNT VERNON — Stuck in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Mount Vernon High School girls basketball team is refocusing for the postseason after falling out of the conference race with back-to-back losses. The Yellow Jackets, fresh off a 56-41 loss to Hilliard Darby on Tuesday, dropped a 51-42 game at Worthington Kilbourne on Friday night.

Mount Vernon (9-8) will attempt get a win against the visiting Pickerington Central Tigers on Friday night. The Tigers (15-2) are undefeated in the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division (8-0) and a win will give them the title outright.

“We certainly have our hands full no doubt about it. Our work is cut out for us,” said Mount Vernon coach Doug Savage. “We’re coming off of Hilliard Darby, who had a real nice ball club. Their inside game was very strong and their guards shot the ball well. They were seeded No. 8 in the draw last weekend and they were very deserving of that. We didn’t compete like we needed to, but it certainly would have taken a great effort on our part to upset them.

“Now we are really jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Pickerington Central is coming in with their big post game. They were the No. 2 seed in the Central District draw. Things certainly don’t get any easier for us.”

The first time they played, Mount Vernon fell to Pickerington Central, 63-34. Pickerington Central post players Veronica Wilson and Emilee Harmon combined for a total of 24 points and 19 rebounds. The Jackets have learned a lot since then, but even still it is a tough task to stop the Tigers.

“We have an understanding now of the capabilities that they have on the interior,” said Savage. “You have to get your interior defense and your blocking down to compete on the boards with them. You can’t just let those them go off. Then, their guard play can hurt you. We are going to have to do a good job of containing them. ... They are a well-rounded team. It is going to take a great effort on our part to keep it respectable.”

On extra incentive for Friday’s game is that it is Senior Night. Mount Vernon will honor Brittany Seese, Lauren Hollis, Summer Swetlic and Taryn Gallup for their contributions this season.

“We’ve had great senior leadership this year,” said Savage. “They have done a great job of leading by example. ... They do a great job in practice for us. They are all really, really good kids. Summer has had a pretty solid senior year and the other girls have chipped in. Lauren has done a good job on the boards for us as has Taryn. Brit has played hard all year long. I just can’t say enough about our seniors. We’ve only got four, but they have done a quality job.”

Now realizing that they only have a handful of games left, the seniors are readying for their next to last home game.

“It seems like just yesterday that it was our first game of the season,” said Swetlic. “I think it has gone by fast.”

Gallup said, “It is crazy. I’ve thought about it a little bit, but I’m sure it will hit me that night.”

“It is going to get emotional,” Hollis added.

Playing Pickerington Central on Senior Night will not be a walk in the park. Even still, the Jackets are not going to back down.

“I’m excited to know that we are going to play the best,” Gallup said. “I’m already excited. Hopefully, we can bring our ‘A’ game and the refs will let us play a little bit. I like to play the physical game. ... We’re not going to go down without a fight.”

Hollis added, “It will be nice for us to show that even though they might go Division I, Mount Vernon still has some good players and we can shut down almost anybody if you give us the chance.”

“They are going to pose a big challenge for us,” Swetlic said. “They were pretty tough and they beat us the last time we played. Hopefully, we can turn it around.”

The key to a win on Friday night is simple — teamwork.

“I want to be remembered as a team player and set a good example for the younger players,” said Seese.

“We know now that we have to play hard all four quarters and we have to really want it,” said Swetlic.

“We need to stick together,” Hollis said. “At the beginning, we were winning and everybody was happy. Now, we’re losing, but we are still a team. We’re sticking together. Losing isn’t fun, but it has made us stronger as a whole.”