SMCC's tournament ride ends with loss in district final

GIBSONBURG — When Kevin Youskievicz took over as St. Mary Central Catholic girls basketball coach in 2024, he had a challenge ahead. SMCC didn't walk away with a district championship Saturday, but considering the program's recent history, district runner-up isn't bad. Fifth-seeded SMCC fell to top-seeded Seneca East 55-21 in a Division VII district final at Gibsonburg High School. "After last year, we were 1-90," Youskievicz said. "To turn around and be 12-14 right now is amazing. It's really on my players and my coaches. The girls bust their butts and my coaches get them ready. I'm just lucky to be a part of this." The last time the Panthers had won this many games was in 2018-19, when they finished 12-12. In 2020-21, they were 3-12. Then there were three winless seasons and one win last season. Seneca East was in a similar situation four years ago, going 1-22 when George Parks came back to coach. It is the second time that the Panthers (12-14) faced the Tigers (18-7) under Yousekievicz. SMCC lost 63-8 to the Tigers in a tournament game last year."I am very upfront and honest about it — no I didn't think we would make it this far," Youskievicz said. "After last year, I knew that coming in that we had a freshman class that had talent, but didn't know how much. "Things just started happening development wise and the next thing you know, things started coming together in the program like I thought it should." SE kicked the game off with a 16-7 lead after one quarter, closing out the period with an Izzy Stockmaster basket. In the second quarter, Rae Roth bounced the ball to Madi Perkins for a SMCC basket and Allison Lill made a bucket after an inbounds pass to pull the Panthers to within 18-11. SMCC would get no closer, managing only eight points in the second half. "Winning games that I never thought we should have," said Youskievicz when asked about the growth and success this season. "I think it shows the girls' determination because the three seniors wanted to cut down nets. We did that at Danbury, and that feeling continued to help us win against St. Paul." SMCC started three freshmen this season: Reid Didion, Evelyn Shafrath and Rae Roth. They played together as seventh-graders and won the Sandusky Bay Conference title, but in eighth grade, Shafrath went off to try swimming. When Youskievicz found out they were coming out to play basketball, he knew it would be the start of building a program with a strong foundation. "I think it helped the team greatly improve, they help each other, and they read each other very well," said Youskievicz on the freshman starters. Last season, SMCC only had nine players and injuries trimmed the roster to seven at times. This season, there were 15 players in the program. Leading the Panthers in scoring Saturday was Didion with six points. Audriella Walton led SMCC in rebounds with five followed by Shafrath with four. For the Tigers, Alexa Snay had 14 points and seven rebounds and Stockmaster had 12 points. SMCC's season is done, but the work to rebuild a program doesn't stop. "The girls are already excited for next season and talking about it," Youskievicz said. "They like the feeling of winning sectional and the first round of districts. This one left a bad taste in their mouths. "They are already talking about what they want to do basketball wise, weightlifting, just what they can do to get better." SENECA EAST (18-7) Cami Lantz 1 2-2 4, Jordyn Enders 1 0-0 2, Alexa Snay 7 0-0 14, Madi Smith 4 0-0 10, Karli Foos 3 0-0 6, Izzy Stockmaster 5 0-1 12, Luella Burkholder 1 0-0 2, Addison Dawson 0 1-2 1, Lillian Burkholder 1 2-2 4 TOTALS 23 5-7 55 ST. MARY CC (12-14) Nicolette Hile 2 0-0 4, Lauren Maxwell 1 0-0 3, Allison Lill 1 2-4 4, Reid Didion 1 3-4 6, Evelyn Shafrath 0 2-2 2, Madi Perkins 1 0-1 2 TOTALS 6 7-11 21 Seneca East 16 14 24 1 — 55 St. Mary CC 7 6 3 5 — 21 Three-point goals: Seneca East 4 (Smith 2, Stockmaster 2); SMCC 2 (Maxwell, Didion)