CLEVELAND, Ohio - Any questions surrounding the choice of Twinsburg's Ashley Morrissette as the 2013 Ms. Basketball winner were put to rest in the Division I state championship game.
The senior stole the show even though the Tigers, bidding for their third straight state title, lost, 52-48, to Kettering Fairmont.
"I'm disappointed but I'm proud of my team," said Morrissette, a Purdue recruit and The Plain Dealer's Girls Basketball Player of the Year. "The journey on the way to the [championship] game showed a lot of us what can be accomplished when you believe in yourself."
The 5-foot-9 guard reeled off 15 of her team's 17 fourth-quarter points and finished with a game-high 27 points. She made 9 of 17 shots from the field, including a 4-of-6 effort from 3-point range. She also went 5-for-5 on free throws. That after ringing up 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 73-63 semifinal win over Lewis Center Olentangy Orange. She was also named to the all-tournament team.
"I shoot the ball pretty well at practice and I just kept telling myself, 'This is just like practice, this is just like practice,' " said Morrissette, also chosen as the Northeast Inland district and All-Ohio Division I player of the year. "I wanted to go down fighting, put Fairmont on its heels, just live in the moment and have fun."
Morrissette looks forward to playing at the next level, but will miss high school ball.
"A lot of people didn't expect us to get as far as we did but this team, especially the seniors, wanted to prove they were just as good as the players before them, and they did in many ways," Morrissette said.
"There was never a dull moment because we'd always be kidding with each other at practice. If somebody didn't know us, they'd probably think we were pretty cruel but we could talk to each other like that because we knew it was all in fun.
"And we had a lot of fun."
ALL-STARS
Ashley Morrissette
School, year: Twinsburg, senior.
Position: Guard.
College: Purdue recruit.
Notable: Team's quarterback closed out a stellar high school career by being named Ms. Basketball by the Associated Press, the state's top honor. Averaged 19.1 points, 6.5 assists, five rebounds, five steals and one blocked shot per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line. Led the Tigers to a 29-1 record, a No. 1 ranking in Ohio, a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title and a second-place finish at the state tournament.
Hannah Boesinger
School, year: Hudson, senior.
Position: Forward.
College: Youngstown State.
Notable: Underrated player was a Division I Northeast Inland district first-team choice and was an All-Ohio special mention. She averaged 17.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.3 assists and two blocked shots. Was outstanding in a district final loss to Twinsburg with 25 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three blocks.
Kristen Confroy
School, year: Solon, junior.
Position: Guard.
College: Maryland.
Notable: The Division I Northeast Lakes district player of the year and All-Ohio first-teamer stands 5-8 but still managed to average 5.5 rebounds. She averaged 18 points, 4.5 assists and 3.1 steals. Shot almost 82 percent from the foul line.
Nia Marshall
School, year: Hathaway Brown, senior.
Position: Post/wing.
College: Cornell.
Notable: She used her 6-foot frame to score off the offensive glass and to rebound and block out at the defensive end. A Division II Northeast Lakes district first-team selection and a second-team All-Ohio choice, she averaged 15.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.5 steals and one blocked shot per game.
Vanessa Smith
School, year: Hathaway Brown, senior.
Position: Guard/forward.
College: Princeton.
Notable: She was one of the more versatile 6-1 players in the state. Her ball-handling, shooting and rebounding skills are why she was the Northeast Lakes district player of the year and an All-Ohio first-team choice. Averaged 16.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game while shooting 78.3 percent from the foul line.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Paul Barlow
School: Hathaway Brown.
Notable: His 13-year record at the all-girls private school in Shaker Heights improved to 234-92 after he led his team to a 23-6 record while playing one of the toughest schedules in Ohio. The Blazers won an unprecedented fifth straight Division II state championship while playing in their seventh consecutive final four and extended their postseason winning streak to 36 games. HB finished with a No. 3-ranking in The Plain Dealer Top 25 and a No. 7 ranking in the Division II Associated Press state poll.
Special Mention: Ashanti Abshaw, Cleveland Heights; Mikah Aldridge, Beachwood; Katie Battaglia, St. Joseph Academy; Shantell Bostick, East Tech; Kayla Byer, Berkshire; Stasha Carey, Midpark; Sydney Clark, Lake Ridge Academy; Cara Cook, Norton; Kim Cook, Holy Name; Meghan Donohue, Archbishop Hoban; Halle Dorko, Independence; Haley Dugger, Gilmour Academy; Lynsey Englebrecht, Eastlake North; Jessa Gilbert, Walsh Jesuit; Rachel Goddard, Wadsworth; Alexandria Harris, Lorain; Porshae Hearn, Kenmore; Keesha Henderson, Glenville; Rachel Holowecky, Firelands; Shannon Jack, St. Vincent-St. Mary; Mary Jones, Elyria; Sarah Kinch, Medina; Claire Martin, Magnificat; Sabrina McLin, Shaw; Brittney McNamara, Elyria Catholic; Alexis Parsons, Riverside; Catherine Rachek, Kenston; Samantha Shaver, Stow; Brooke Smith, Twinsburg; Katie Smith, Fairview; Alison Smolinski, North Royalton; Katlyn Spahar, Lake Catholic; Lauren Stefancin, Mentor; Jenna Stegmaier, Cuyahoga Heights; Hallie Thome, Chagrin Falls; Martha Thompson, Solon; Jackie Ulmer, Hudson; Shayna White, Southeast; Lizzie Wilkinson, Woodridge; Shannon Zajec, Mayfield.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665
On Twitter: @BobFortuna
Ad Choices