PLAYERS IN SOUTHEASTERN/CENTRAL OHIO WHO HAVE STEPPED UP & BEEN KEY IN THEIR TEAMS SUCCESS

Every team has that one player that everyone knows that you have to game plan for, some teams are lucky and have more than one.  However, each season  there are those players who work and elevate their play to become key parts in their teams success.  Here are a few of those in the Southeastern/Central Ohio area. Southeastern Ross has jumped out to a 6-2 record this 2019-20 season, and yes that has been a surprise.  New Head Coach <strong>Doug Hice</strong> has his team playing hard and already has two good wins over North Adams 6-1 and Coal Grove 6-1.  A big part of this success has been the play of Senior <strong>Skylar Hice</strong>, 5'8", F, who has returned this season after a shoulder injury and surgery kept her out of last basketball season.   Skylar who is averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds has given SE Ross the second scoring option to go with teammate Junior <strong>Macie Graves</strong>, who is averaging 17.2 points a game.   Another thing Skylar also brings every game is energy and heart, she has always been one of my favorite players to watch, cause she goes hard and works hard on both ends of the floor.   Her drive and leadership coupled with her scoring and rebounding has made her an integral part of Southeastern Ross's success so far this year. Warren's Sophomore <strong>Abbie Smith</strong>, 6'1", F has basically burst onto this years scene, with Warren currently sitting at 5-1 it is partially due to emergence of the sophomore forward.  Smith, who I watched play versus Vinton County, has solid footwork and moves well without the ball and finishes around the rim.  Her work in the paint allows for perimeter shots to be there, she is currently averaging 17.4 points and 9 rebounds a game.  This ability to score the ball is allowing Coach <strong>Amy Coalgrove</strong> scheme differently on offense than she has done in the past and making opponents game plan for her and not just worry about Junior guard <strong>Olivia Alloway</strong> or Freshmen guard <b>Alex Frazee</b>.  With Smith in the middle Warren could continue their run and make some noise come tournament time. <strong>Cameron Zinn</strong>, 5'10", Sophomore Forward for Vinton County was known last season, but this season I believe she is starting to really come into her own.  Her athleticism and energy is fitting in prefect in what Coach <strong>Rob Bentley</strong> wants for his defense.  Her length causes a lot of problems for ballhandlers, and she usually draws the other teams best player, and she will dog them.  Zinn can also put in work on the offensive end where she can knock down the three or finish around the rim.  She can also grab the rebound and initiate the fast break which allow Vinton County's trio, Juniors<strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/morgan-bentley/">Morgan Bentley</a></strong>, <strong>Mariah Davis</strong> and Sophomore <strong>Tegan Bartoe</strong> to get out in transition, and Vinton County does that well.  As Zinn develops more and more confidence in her role, her team will be a really tough one to match up with come February. Sophomore <strong>Abbie Hicks</strong>, 5'7" Guard, Coal Grove has really stepped up her game this year, coming off a freshmen year where she was a role player off the bench, Hicks worked hard this summer and it has shown early this season by her becoming a starter and another option for the team.  Coal Grove is currently 6-1, with Hicks the second on the team in scoring and assists with a 11 points and 1.7 assists a game, this has made Coal Grove tougher to defend with now another scorer to go with Junior <strong>Addi Dillow</strong> who is averaging 19 points a game.  Hicks also plays with a lot of energy, wins a lot of 50/50 balls for her team, which in turn gives them extra possessions.  She also is a solid defender, and a part of the teams success and undefeated record currently in the Ohio Valley Conference. Fairfield who has started out 8-2, they are young having 5 sophomores and 3 freshmen as their varsity team.  Sophomore<strong> Madison Bronner,</strong> 5'11", Forward is a big contributor to the teams start.  Currently averaging 13 points and 9 rebounds, she has had a game with 20 rebounds this year, she is the teams second leading scorer and leading rebounder in her first full year as varsity and a starter.  Bronner works hard on the paint, which allows her team to get out and run, and the extra shot opportunities she provides on the offensive boards.  Strong and solid post moves makes her a threat down low and she will hit the mid range jumper out to 16 feet consistently.  Her work inside makes her part of good inside-outside combo with fellow Sophomore <strong>Emma Fouch</strong> averaging 16 points a game.  Bronner's consistent play on the interior and hard work on the defense boards will be key in Fairfield's goals to win SHAC Small School Division and make a tournament run this season. Wheelersburg Junior <strong>Ellie Kallner</strong>, 5'5", PG was a part of the 'Burg's Elite 8 run last year, as the PG who handled the ball and got it the shooters, either her sister <strong>Abbey Kallner</strong>, who graduated last year, or fellow junior<strong> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kaylee-darnell/">Kaylee Darnell</a></strong>.  However this year as her team once again has started out 7-0 and look to have a good shot for a repeat run and Kallner is not only their floor general, but has also stepped up as a scoring option.  She has become more aggressive in taking advantage of scoring opportunities in transition or half court.   Last thing I have really noticed this year is her ability in being one of the Southeastern/central BEST on ball defenders, which is why she has become a Key player in Burg's success this year. &nbsp; &nbsp;