Angel Ezirim attracted some serious defensive traffic all night long, but finished with 15 points for the Celts. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
With Andrea Baylin filling in as interim coach for Karli Burkett, Jerome’s girls continue to roll as the Celtics beat OCC Cardinal rival Olentangy Berlin to improve to 6-1.
Delaware, OH – Fueled by a stretch of hot shooting, strong bench play, and consistently gritty defense, the Dublin Jerome girls team looked to have all the necessary tools Friday at Olentangy Berlin to back up its current status of league title contender.
The inspired play that helped the Celtics put together a 12-0 run during one stretch of the second half to help them close out a 48-36 victory was energized by their consistent execution, and also by an emotional element.
Aptus Wealth Management proudly sponsors the Buckeyes and Central Ohio sports on Press Pros.
Throughout what has become a 6-1 overall start that includes a 4-0 record in the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division, head coach Karli Burkett has watched via livestream while Andrea Baylin has served as interim coach.
Burkett sat on the bench for the first time this winter for the Berlin game to serve under Baylin and is expected to resume head-coaching duties heading into the new year.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Jarrod Ulrey writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros
“It’s so amazing,” senior center Julia Adams said. “We missed her so much, and we’re so happy to have her back. She’s a big part of the team.”
Burkett has followed the team remotely as her son, J.D., continues to heal after receiving a bone marrow transplant. Two weeks after J.D. was born in May, he was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistioytosis, or HLH, which is an immune disease.
“We just had our 100-day post bone marrow transplant, he just had his first bath this week, and he’s doing really, really well,” Burkett said. “It was fantastic (to be back on the sidelines). This group of girls is just awesome, and coach Baylin has just done a great job of continuing what we started the past two years. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better in that role. I’ve been watching the games on my TV screen, and comparing a TV screen to being on the bench, there’s no comparison obviously.”
Kaitlyn Coffey tears down the court on a breakaway with Berlin’s Kelsey Grubbs and Ava Fate in pursuit.
The Celtics looked comfortable under the capable hands of Baylin, who is in her third season on staff. She also is the school’s girls volleyball coach and led that program to a district championship in 2022.
A slow start against Berlin didn’t faze Jerome, which has been led by a five-member senior class that includes talented forward Angel Ezirim. She came in averaging 16 points and scored six in the first quarter to help Jerome forge an 8-8 tie heading into the second period after Bears senior guard Cami Elliott hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the game’s first six points.
During the second period, Adams had six points and two rebounds, and junior forward Emma Weatherwax and sophomore forward Heidi Kaszubowski each scored a basket off the bench to help Jerome build a 21-16 lead heading into halftime.
Want a greener, healthier lawn? We can help. contact Weedman USA at 614-733-3747 or go online to Weedman.com.
Adams is 6-foot-1 and Ezirim is 6-0, while another starter, senior Ashley Meadors, stands 5-11.
“We’re pretty long and we’re a pretty tall team, and we don’t see many teams that can match that size, but they can,” Berlin coach Brock Cunningham said. “We didn’t really answer a lot on the glass and against some of their inside presence. Tonight wasn’t much fun, but we’ve got good girls, hard workers, who play with a lot of heart, and they’ll bounce back.”
Cami Elliott takes a shot beyond the foul line during the game against Jerome.
Berlin, which split with Jerome last season, cut it to 27-24 with 4:22 left in the third quarter when sophomore Addi Trowbridge made her second 3-pointer of the period. Junior Aubrey Bashore scored six in the third quarter, including one with 2:51 left in the period to cut it to 29-28, but Jerome – again getting a boost from its backups – answered.
Kaszubowski hit a 3-pointer with 1:26 to go in the third and assisted on a 3-pointer by Weatherwax 35 seconds later.
Senior Kaitlyn Coffey hit a jumper just before the third-quarter buzzer to give Jerome a 39-28 lead.
The Celtics’ lead stretched to as much as 14 in the final period.
“Ultimately, we picked up our intensity on defense,” Baylin said. “Our game plan was to be really aggressive in switching screens, and I think we got a little bit lax in the middle of the game there. Emma Weatherwax came off the bench and hit a 3-pointer, Ashley Meadors got going in the second half, and we were strong with the ball. We boxed out much better, just the fundamentals we focus on every single day. Our shooters off the bench were huge in the second half. (Kaszubowski) is probably one of the hardest workers we have in the program.
It was a physical battle on both sides of the ball, but the Celts prevailed to move to 6-1 on the season.
“We really focus on the process, and I’ve been super proud of our team this year for focusing on getting one percent better every single day in practice.”
Bashore and Trowbridge both finished with nine points to lead Berlin, which handed Buckeye Valley its first loss earlier this week and returns to league play Jan. 8 at Olentangy.
Ezirim finished with 15 points and Adams and Meadors both scored eight for the Celtics, who are coming off a 17-win season but tied Berlin for a distant third at 4-6 in the league last season.
Jerome is tied with defending league-champion Olentangy atop the OCC Cardinal and will get its first crack at the Braves on Jan. 10 at home.
“Everything’s been going great, about as well as we could have hoped for this year,” Ezirim said. “Our team is coming together this year, and this is the toughest team we’ve had in the past three years of coach Burkett and coach Baylin being here. We were just excited for (Burkett) to be here and not just to have to watch on a livestream but to physically be with us and give us advice.”
Logan Services, in Dayton, Cincinnati, an Columbus, is a proud sponsor of area sports on Press Pros.