SMCC works to break losing streak

SANDUSKY — There's no hiding behind the facts. St. Mary Central Catholic hasn't won a girls basketball game since putting three games in the victory column during the 2020-21 season. That's three full seasons without a win. "I know it hasn't been as successful as they wanted it to be," first-year coach Kevin Youskievicz said. "When I took this, my intent was to build a program. That's starting from the fourth grade up. That's where I feel you get the best results in the long run." There's really nowhere to go but up for the Panthers, who were 0-23 last season, including an 0-18 mark in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division. "I know it's been a challenge this year to get girls to come out at the varsity level," Youskievicz said. "Quite a few were apprehensive just because of the things that have happened the last three years. As I told the girls, and I've said this repeatedly, I can't promise victories. "The only thing I can promise is we're going to compete to win. That's the best we can do." SMCC has just nine girls out for basketball this season and just one senior — 5-foot-9 post/guard Anna Smith. There are three juniors — 5-7 guard/forward Allison Lill, 5-5 guard/forward Nicollet Hile and 5-2 guard Lauren Maxwell. "Anna is one of my workhorses right now," Youskievicz said. "She does a great job. My juniors were mostly involved in a fall sport with cross country or volleyball. They're coming in and we're getting ready to go." It will be up to that quartet to help turn around the program. It may be baby steps, but doing things right day in and day out will be huge for the Panthers. "It's laid on my upperclassmen to lead this program," Youskievicz said. "I think the cue definitely comes from (Smith) and she's been through a lot. She's definitely given her heart and soul to this program and continues. The juniors realize the importance of what's actually going on. I think this year, it's a tough buy-in. There's no doubt about it." SMCC averaged just 24 points per game last year while allowing 49.7 points a night. Natalie Peugeot, who graduated last year, averaged 7.5 points, good for honorable mention honors in the SBC River. "I've told our girls that every week our goal is are we better by Friday than we were Monday? If we answer yes to that question, I think we're in the right trajectory to where we need to go," Youskievicz said. "It's a constant challenge with the girls to push themselves at practice. It's difficult at times." Smith added 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season. Lill contributed 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds a contest. SMCC was outrebounded by an average of almost 17 rebounds per game. Alizabith Walton led the team with 5.8 rebounds per game. "I know I've thrown a lot at the girls," Youskievicz said. "My big emphasis when I talked to my assistant coaches is we're pounding fundamentals into these girls. I watched these girls play last year and we realize fundamentals have to be installed back into these girls. "Every day at practice, our first 45 minutes are nothing but fundamentals — dribbling, passing, shooting. You have to go through fundamentals to build." The Panthers averaged almost 10 more turnovers per game than opponents last year. Lost chances on the offensive end hurt tremendously. If SMCC can control the pace a little more and force some more turnovers, it will give itself more opportunities. "We're going to have to be an aggressive team," Youskievicz said. "We're going to have to be a team that runs. We have to try and outlast the other team. My main emphasis has always been defense wins championships. Defense you can count on every night. Shooting you can't. "If you have a great night of shooting, that's easy. But the nights you don't shoot great, you have to rely on defense." Being a first-year head coach can be overwhelming, but Youskievicz has faced it head on. He's the Dean of Students and a 1985 SMCC graduate. He has coaching experience at the junior high level and previously served as head varsity track coach. He retired as a detective sergeant in June 2021 from the Sandusky Police Department. "Being a first-year head coach in a varsity position like this is different," Youskievicz said. "I've taken it as I'm not only the varsity coach, I'm the head of the whole program from fourth-grade on. This year, we're varsity-only. Next year I'd like to have varsity and junior varsity, and by the third year get it to where it's varsity, JV and freshmen. That's my ultimate goal." Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. 2 Nicollet Hile G-F 5-5 11 5 Lauren Maxwell G 5-2 11 12 Anna Smith C 5-9 12 13 Allison Lill G-F 5-7 11 21 Ella Brownell G 5-3 10 23 Alexis Langenberg C 5-7 10 24 Audriella Walton F 5-6 9 33 Madison Perkins F 5-9 9 41 Laney Torres F 5-6 9