State-ranked Willard girls look the part

WILLARD — It took a while to get going. The Willard girls basketball team, like many programs, was forced to deal with changes made because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But once on the court, the Crimson Flashes have played like a team that will again be reckoned with come tournament time. Willard — ranked No. 6 in Tuesday's second weekly Division III Associated Press state poll, is off to a sparkling 10-1 start, including a 5-0 record atop the SBC Bay Division standings. "Despite the summer restrictions, numerous COVID player quarantines, the cancellation of scrimmages and the changes in our schedule, we have been pleased with our progress and development," Willard coach Barry Pfahl said. "Our players have shown great discipline by buying into all of the avoid-the-virus recommendations. They have maintained a small circle and been diligent in where they go, what they do, and who they do it with. We have not had a coach or player test positive." When the Flashes have gotten together and played games, they have been nearly unstoppable. Willard is outscoring it's opponents by over 27 points per night. The Flashes average 61.8 points per game and that average bumps to 72 points a night in conference action. "Offensively, we are fast approaching where we wanted to be at the point, and they recognize their roles and contributions," Pfahl said. "Our team and individual attributes have been very positive, and our record shows it." Perhaps most impressive about the fast start is who the Flashes had to replace. It was just one starter, but it was standout Cassie Crawford. A multi-time All-Ohioan and the program's career points leader (1,624), Crawford is now at nearby powerhouse NCAA Div. II Ashland University. Last season, Willard advanced to a regional championship game in Div. II, falling to unbeaten Napoleon. "The transition has been eased by the fact that four of the five starters from last year's team and six of our currently top seven are returning letterwinners," Pfahl said. :With the addition of our current juniors and Grace Hall, who missed last year because of a surgery, we feel comfortable with our personnel. "Players did not necessarily change roles this season so much as they accepted more responsibility in areas where Cassie was our leader — a next lady up response." Senior Mckenna Stephens leads the team with 15.5 points per night. She is also second on the team with 8.5 rebounds per game and 1.9 steals a contest. "This season has been extremely enjoyable. We focus a lot on our teamwork for look for ways to improve our game in anyway," Stephens said. "We are extremely grateful are are getting a season and are able to enjoy it with each other. We are an extremely balanced team. When our inside is shut down, our outside can hit 3s and vice versa." Three-pointers were raining down last Friday when Willard hosted Margaretta, which also entered the game undefeated in the league. Kalli Sowers, who had just six 3-pointers in the previous 10 games, tied a school-record with six triples in the Flashes' dominating 62-42 win. "It's really difficult to defend five solid scorers and to this point in the season, when an opponent has taken one or two away, someone else has stepped up," Pfahl said. "Case in point was our game with Margaretta. Kalli, who is known as our defensive stopper, tied the school-record for 3s in a game and led us with 20 points while playing her expected defensive game. The other quality about this group is their total unselfishness. No one is looking to put up 20 a game. They love and celebrate each other." Defensively, Willard leads the league with just 34.3 points allowed per game. The Flashes have held seven opponents under 40 points and three opponents under 30 points. "Our team has seen so much success because we have a wonderful chemistry," senior Layla Dials said. "We all get along on and off the court and that translates. The biggest thing that helps us win is the trust we have in each other to always give it our all. We work hard for each other because we all want to win. We have a great group of girls, character-wise, and that makes success inevitable." Presley Feltner is second on the team at 11.3 points per game while pacing the Flashes with 9.4 rebounds per game. Dials averages 10.8 points a night while dishing 5.4 assists a game. "We have great chemistry and we aren't just teammates, we are sisters," Stephens said. "We don't play for ourselves, we play for each other. We are constantly working at improving all aspects of our game. In order to be a good team, you can never be satisfied. There's always room for improvement." The Flashes are forcing 20 turnovers a night. Grace Hall, who missed all of last season after a surgery, averages 8.8 points a game while leading the league with 25 3-pointers made. "This season has meant a lot to me," Dials said. "Just being able to play with all the craziness going on in all our lives is comforting. As a senior, I am just happy I get to go to practice tomorrow. As a team, we have faced a lot of individuals getting quarantined and it has been kind of hard, but we all try to be as safe as possible off the court in our own personal lives." Willard also leads the league in three-point shooting percentage (31 percent), 2-point shooting percentage (50.5 percent), and turnovers per night (11.6). The Flashes continue to challenge themselves in non-league action. Willard's lone loss came at Div. II No. 1-ranked Napoleon (9-1), 44-41, while the Flashes also host Div. IV No. 4-ranked Buckeye Central (10-0) Thursday night. In the first week of February, Willard hosts Div. II No. 13 Bellevue (6-2) and travels to Div. III Hopewell-Loudon (10-1) in a potential district tournament preview. "Playing really good teams does three things," Pfahl said. "It forces you to speed up and play at a higher level. It helps you to identify your strengths and weakness, and it prepares you for late-game situations that you might not encounter in other regular-season games." Pfahl also crossed a big milestone on Jan. 5 when Willard topped Ontario, 51-28. It was Pfahl's 300th win as a head coach. "Winning 300 games has a lot to do with longevity, working with outstanding kids and finding great assistant coaches," Pfahl said. "I have had all three of those. I came to Willard in 1967 and had the opportunity to start coaching with Bob Haas and Jack Gill back in the 1970s. I could not ask for better mentors and teachers. Then there were the players — Willard kids that were talented, loyal, hardworking, all-in, run through a wall for you kids. I have had a lot of those Willard kids." Dials knows that not everyone gets to play for a coach like Pfahl. "Coach Pfahl is an incredible person and coach," Dials said. "He teaches us so much about the game and even more about being a good person outside of basketball. Being apart of his 300th career win was so special to me. He is a historic member of Willard Lady Flashes Basketball and I feel like this team has now etched our way into that history with him. "After that win, I could tell he was so proud of all of us and that was an amazing feeling," she added. "Playing under a coach like him is something that will always stick with me no matter how far out of my basketball career I am." For Pfahl, the feeling is mutual with his players. "Last year's team and this group of young ladies are very special to me," he said. "Not just as very good basketball players, but as people. Coaching them is being able to hang out every day with people you love."