Sailors' goals: better defense, fewer turnovers

VERMILION — Vermilion girls basketball coach Doug Mihalic learned in his first season that Rome wasn't built in a day. After taking the head coaching job in 2022 after 11 years as an assistant, Mihalic said he tried to improve in too many areas rather than perfecting a few. This season he is aiming to change that. "I'm trying to not move on as quickly," Mihalic said. "Last year we tried to focus on breaking the press, but then it was like 'we have to do this or we have to add this in.' This year I'm not moving on. If we don't get something we're staying with it." Entering the upcoming season, Vermilion girls basketball has two goals: improve its defense and limit turnovers. In an early scrimmage, that plan looked to be paying off as the Sailors showed efficiency and growth in fundamental areas. "The panic is our main issue," Mihalic said. "When we don't panic we can do positive things." Any incremental growth will help improve last season's 4-19 mark for the Sailors. This season, they'll move from the SBC Lake Division to the Bay, which provides a new set of league foes such as defending champion Margaretta, Huron and Port Clinton. "I feel like last year was our building year," junior Claire Bartlome said. "Now is our time to excel and play Vermilion basketball." Bartlome, who had an excellent volleyball season, says she is trying to bring the energy from that sport to basketball. She is the tallest player on the roster at 5-foot-9 and will need to bring her vertical as an outside hitter to the court. "Considering I'm not really tall but the tallest, it's a challenge," Bartlome said with a chuckle. "I have to do what I can in the block against girls who are taller than me." The team graduates 5-10 leading scorer and rebounder Kaitlin Colahan, so Bartlome will see an uptick in her 5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore. She's also a team captain. Another key contributor to filling that role is the other captain, senior Abi Rhoades, who averaged 5.2 rebounds per game last season. She wants to put pressure on other teams and not allow them to get set. "I've become a better shooter this year," Rhoades said. "Rotating on defense, too." Rhoades combines with Camrin Lowder to provide experience in the backcourt. Lowder averaged 3.3 points and 1.6 steals per game as a junior. Vermilion will need more of her quickness on defense to achieve its goals. Another intriguing player is sophomore Joscelyn Alvarado, who entered the varsity stage with flair, notching 25 points against St. Paul in Vermilion's season opener a year ago. She averaged 6 points and 1.7 assists per game and will only improve her turnover margins with more in-game reps. "She played a ton of minutes last year," Mihalic said. "With a little more experience that will be our resolution." Abby Gawry is another player who will soak up minutes from the guard position. In the frontcourt, incoming freshman Faith Sergent has drawn attention from her teammates and coaches. If she can develop as the season progresses, she will be a big help to Bartlome on the glass. "She's strong, can get rebounds, and put them up," Bartlome said. With Mihalic's more detailed approach and the added experience of players such as Alvarado and Bartlome, Vermilion can trust the process and know its best basketball will come as the season goes along. Last season, a big win for the team came in its regular-season finale when the Sailors edged a tough Wellington team, 49-47. Mihalic wants to lock down on the fundamentals and then the wins will come. "Our first two weeks have been focused solely on defense," Mihalic said. "If we can get our defense and get easy buckets in transition, that's what I'm hanging my hat on right now." 2023-24 roster No.&emsp;&emsp;Name&emsp;&emsp;Pos.&emsp;&emsp;Ht.&emsp;&emsp;Yr. 2&emsp;&emsp;Camrin Lowder&emsp;&emsp;G&emsp;&emsp;5-2&emsp;&emsp;12 4&emsp;&emsp;Jeighla Peak&emsp;&emsp;F&emsp;&emsp;5-5&emsp;&emsp;11 5&emsp;&emsp;Autumn Rupel&emsp;&emsp;G&emsp;&emsp;5-3&emsp;&emsp;10 12&emsp;&emsp;Grace Neely&emsp;&emsp;F&emsp;&emsp;5-5&emsp;&emsp;11 22&emsp;&emsp;Abrielle Gawry&emsp;&emsp;G&emsp;&emsp;5-5&emsp;&emsp;10 23&emsp;&emsp;Joscelyn Alvarado&emsp;&emsp;G&emsp;&emsp;5-5&emsp;&emsp;10 24&emsp;&emsp;Maria Reyna&emsp;&emsp;G&emsp;&emsp;5-2&emsp;&emsp;12 30&emsp;&emsp;Faith Sergent F 5-8 9 32&emsp;&emsp;Claire Bartlome&emsp;&emsp;G&emsp;&emsp;5-9&emsp;&emsp;11 33&emsp;&emsp;Abi Rhoades&emsp;&emsp;F&emsp;&emsp;5-5&emsp;&emsp;12