Turinsky, Lane lead list of top 10 players to watch

The area is stacked with a plethora of girls basketball talent. Whether as a team or individually, local skill abounds on a nightly basis in the Sandusky Bay Conference and surrounding area. From NCAA Division I signees to shifty point guards to players looking to have an even bigger impact for their teams, here is a look at the top 10 players in the area to watch: 1. Kaitlyn Turinsky, senior, Bellevue Turinsky, a 6-foot-3 post who will play collegiately next year for Division I Youngstown State, averaged 12.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.1 blocks a year ago for the Lady Red, who won the Division IV state championship. Turinsky will likely be looked upon to score even more after the graduation of Hailey Rees. "She averaged a double-double last year, but we think she can get to that 20-point mark and increase her rebounding a little more," Bellevue coach Kory Santoro said. "She's an exceptional, rare talent. That only comes around once in awhile. We're looking for a big year out of her." 2. Cassidy Lane, senior, Margaretta Lane is also committed to play Division I basketball next year. She's headed to Gardner-Webb in North Carolina. Lane contributed team highs of 10.9 points and 8.9 rebounds a contest for the Polar Bears, who won the SBC Bay Division title and a district championship. Lane missed most of the spring softball season, healing up from a wrist injury. She should be ready to go for Margaretta. "Good basketball teams usually start with a good point guard and a good post player. We've got that post player in Cassidy," Polar Bears coach Ray Neill said. "She's going to demand respect of everyone we play. Cassidy is a very intelligent player with great feet and great hands. "In today's basketball, having someone that is productive with their back to the basket is somewhat of a rarity because of the 3-point line. We are fortunate to have that presence in Cassidy." 3. Taitum Jeffrey, junior, Clyde Jeffrey led the Fliers with 16.5 points a game and looks to thrive even more under first-year coach Brian Heck. Known a little more for her tenacity on the softball field, Jeffrey is physical on the basketball court. She grabbed 9.4 rebounds per game last season, second-best in the SBC Lake behind Turinsky. "In the short time I've been able to work with her, she has been able to develop into a more successful and better leader," Heck said. "I think some of that has to do with now being an upperclassman, but her understanding of the importance of that has made her even better and more accountable, which is what you hope your better players become." 4. Addie LaCivita, senior, Huron LaCivita topped the Tigers in scoring last year, pumping in 11.6 points a night. The power forward will also play under a new coach this season as Matt Smith takes over for Huron. The Tigers made strides the past few seasons, reaching a Division V district semifinal last season. LaCivita can get to the rack and draw contact. LaCivita knocked down 77 percent (60 of 78) free throws. "I am hoping Addie leads us with her voice and her example," Smith said. "She has the respect of the team because of the way she prepares and competes. We need her to continue to set the tone in practice, hold teammates accountable in the right way and stay steady when things get tough. Her leadership presence and experience can be a real difference-maker for us." 5. Emmie Leber, junior, Norwalk Leber was a walking double-double last year for the Truckers, averaging 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds a game. She's a physical post that can put up 20 points and 10 rebounds on any given night. With the graduation of its two primary ballhandlers, Norwalk will have to identify that person to feed Leber down low and let her work. "Emmie is tough because she wants the ball in her hands and does her work early in the post," Truckers coach Kyle Brubaker said. "Excellent footwork and can score over both shoulders. She's gotten better playing through contact, away from the basket and with her jump shot. An area of improvement is trying to dominate on the defensive side and the glass consistently." 6. Ellie Freitag, junior, Bellevue One of the more underrated players in the area, Freitag was the straw that stirred the drink for the Division IV state champion Lady Red. At point guard, Freitag averaged just over one turnover a game for Bellevue. She scored six points per game and made 70 percent of her free throws. Freitag gets Bellevue organized on both ends of the floor. "She's an extension of me," Santoro said. "She does a very good job of running our offense. Ellie is smart and shifty. She makes the right play and doesn't turn the ball over a lot. Ellie puts herself in great positions all the time. She doesn't get enough credit defensively." 7. Kenadie Saylor, senior, Margaretta As tough as they come, Saylor did a little bit of everything for the Polar Bears last season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game. Saylor is surrounded by experience and has the ability to score if Margaretta needs it. She guards with tenacity and isn't afraid of contact. Saylor leads a strong Margaretta senior class that expects to keep the Polar Bears' SBC Bay Division championship streak alive. "Kenadie is a freak athlete," Neill said. "Her biggest presence thus far in her high school career has been on the defensive end. We are hoping we get that type of performance on that end again from her this year, but want to see an improvement on offense." 8. Lauren Bergman, junior, Danbury There's no doubt that there is a major opportunity for Bergman to take a leap. The Lakers graduated all five starters from a team that played in a Division VII regional final. Bergman averaged eight points per game off the bench for Danbury. She will have to cut down on turnovers a bit as other teams will focus on her on the offensive end of the floor. "We hope that Lauren can continue to lead our team by example," Lakers coach Joe Miller said. "She was a honorable mention SBC River performer last year as a sophomore and we hope that she continues to grow and mature into the kind of player that will be difficult to match up with each game." 9. Ellyse Schaefer, senior, Margaretta Despite battling injuries last year, Schaefer helped lead the Polar Bears to league and district championships. She averaged 8.3 points and 2.5 rebounds a contest. Schaefer made and attempted almost twice as many 3-pointers as any of her teammates. If she can avoid the injury bug, watch out for the shifty guard to be even more explosive for Margaretta this season. "Ellyse played last year with a couple of health issues that hindered her playing ability," Neill said. "She gutted it out playing all season with not one nagging injury, but two. We are excited about her being back healthy. She played last year in a knee brace, but is no longer wearing it. She has the ability to shoot the 3, but her getting to the rim is something we're excited about." 10. Ava Jakubcin-Theis, freshman, Bellevue Jakubcin-Theis is the lone freshman on our top 10 list, but she's worthy of it. An explosive guard who transferred to play for the Lady Red from New Riegel, Jakubcin-Theis is a pure scorer. At Midwest Live over the summer, Jakubcin-Theis led Bellevue in scoring in both games it won. She's a winner who should thrive under Santoro. "Overall, she's a great kid," Santoro said. "She's an exceptional talent and the sky is the limit. She's only going to continue to grow in our system and the players she is playing with. Ava is going to be a great defender and offensive player. She is somebody you're going to want to watch." 10 more to watch (alphabetical order): Joscelyn Alvarado, senior, Vermilion; Stella Brown, senior, Edison; Jordyn Brunner, junior, Perkins; Abby Gawry, senior, Vermilion; Trinity Lazzara, senior, Norwalk; Allison Lill, senior, SMCC; Khiya Rameau, senior, Sandusky; CJ Savage, junior, Bellevue; Sophia Stieber, sophomore, Monroeville; Thea Wybensinger, sophomore, Margaretta