Independence opens the defense of its Chagrin Valley Conference title with three returning starters and a host of others ready to contribute.
The Blue Devils, who finished 19-3 overall and 14-0 in the Valley Division last winter, will compete in the Metro Division this season after the league expanded to 22 teams.
“I’m always optimistic but we have a lot of work ahead of us,” said sixth-year Independence head coach Mike Marcinko, who is 73-40 at the school. “Defend, rebound and take care of the basketball is always the key. If we can do that we will be competitive.”
Leading the way for the Blue Devils are two returning first-team all-league selections in Riley Wilson and Haylee Dmitruk.
Wilson, a 6-foot senior forward, averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game in earning second-team all-district and honorable mention All-Ohio honors. She is approaching the 1,000-points scored mark and could hit it this season.
“She has a great motor and plays at a high level at both ends of the floor,” Marcinko said.
Dmitruk, a 5-foot-6 guard, averaged nine points and five assists per contest last winter. She was named third-team all-district.
“Haylee runs the game for us, getting the ball to the right players at the right time as well as being able to score,” Marcinko said.
Junior guard Riccela DiGeronimo also returns to the starting lineup after averaging eight points and five rebounds per game last season. She was named second-team All-CVC and honorable mention all-district.
“(DiGeronimo) really digs in and does the dirty work,” Marcinko said. “(She) defends well, rebounds from the guard position and is a scoring threat.”
Senior Brook Pillar and sophomore Anna Weber round out the projected starting lineup.
Pillar is a 5-foot-8 senior forward who averaged three points and three rebounds per game last season and Weber is a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard. She averaged six points and three rebounds last winter.
“Brook has the ability to play multiple positions, which give us the flexibility to use her energy and effort to its fullest,” Marcinko said. “Anna has the potential to be explosive. She can shoot the ball well and has been working on attacking the basket.”
Independence has experience on the bench as well.
Reni Kaiser, Bella Shumay and Madison Stepanik all will play key minutes for the Blue Devils this season.
Kaiser, a 5-foot-5 senior guard, averaged three points and three rebounds per game last year. Shumay is a 5-foot-6 senior guard and Stepanik is a 6-foot junior center who averaged five points and seven rebounds per contest last season.
“Reni is our defensive specialist and tempo changer. She is high energy and effort, plays quick and brings an edge to our team on game day,” Marcinko said. “Bella is a solid shooter that can provide a spark off the bench for us. Madison has been progressing each year in building her skill level. This is the year to break out and be a force on the game each night.”
The Blue Devils aren’t short on talent or experience but they do have to find a balance between the returning players and the newcomers.
“We will add some young players that can score, so meshing the experience and youth correctly can be a huge positive,” Marcinko said. “Combing the experience and youth will be the challenge. How fast can the young catch up the knowledge and pace of the experienced players?”
