‘I can just go to her’: Hungry Hartley girls basketball team eyeing state
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Hartley’s Naomi “Pinky” Burnett (middle) heads down the lane during the Hawks’ district final win over DeSales at Ohio Dominican last Thursday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Shannon Payer was serving up grilled cheese and tomato soup as students went through the lunch line of Bishop Hartley High School on Feb. 27. But it wasn’t what was in her hands that put a smile on her face. It was the Division III district championship medal that was in her pocket.
Serving lunch may be her day job. But it was the work she’s been doing after school that put a smile on her face and had her voice a little hoarse that Friday afternoon. The night before, Payer, in her first season leading the Hawks’ girls basketball program, guided them to a Division III district championship.
“I like it because I can get food any time I want to,” sophomore guard Pinky Burnett said. “Sometimes I’ll be running a little and she’ll be like, ‘It’s O.K.’ If it’s a game day, she’ll get me right. She’s not going to have me eat any junk food before, of course. I really like it because anytime I really need to talk to her, I can just go to her.”
Added sophomore guard Meira Mullins, “the Orange chicken is pretty bomb.”
Hartley, which was seeded third in the district tournament, defeated fifth-seeded DeSales 64-33 on Feb. 26 at Ohio Dominican University’s Alumni Hall to capture its first district title since 2022.
“I’m not allowed to wear anything around my neck with angles because of health department rules,” Payer said “But (the medal) was in my pocket. I’m going to hang on to that for a few days.”
Hartley is 18-6 overall this season and winners of the Central Catholic League after going 4-0.
Hartley’s Meira Mullins (4) works the sideline against DeSales during the Hawks’ district final win at Ohio Dominican last week. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The Hawks meet Granville in a regional semifinal on March 5 back at Ohio Dominican. The winner plays Toledo Central Catholic or Chillicothe Unioto in the final March 7, also at ODU.
Should Hartley advance, it’ll be their ninth trip to state with the most recent coming in 2022. The Hawks won state championships in 1776, 1978 and 2000.
“Our first goal was to change the culture into more of a team atmosphere,” Payer said. “It’s not just about one player or two players – it’s about the entire program and how we want to represent our school.”
Burnett is averaging 19.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 steals per game and Mullins 15.2 points and 5.3 rebounds to lead Hartley.
Both started playing basketball because of family.
Mullins wears No. 4 in honor of her brother, John, who died in 2019 of a brain aneurysm while playing in a youth baseball game.
“He was my biggest motivator,” she said. “We shared the same number up until I got to high school. I wear No. 3 in AAU. This year, it’s No. 4 because (junior forward Miah Smith) has it. I wear it because he’s John B. Mullins IV. I figured that was my best bet to have some sort of connection to him when I’m on the court.”
Burnett grew up in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas about a half-hour away from the Mexican border. She moved to Columbus about 5 years ago.
Burnett started playing football at a young age because her seven older brothers also played. But they all played basketball too.
“When I started playing basketball, I just loved the sport,” she said. “I don’t know – I feel like I was meant to be on the court. I started playing when I was 5 or six and have been playing ever since.
Hartley’s Miah Smith (right) looks to pass during the Hawks’ district final victory over DeSales last Thursday at Ohio Dominican. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“My dad got me started with it, but my brother was pretty elite. We grew up playing basketball outside my house. It was fun times.”
How did she get the nickname?
“When I was born, I was really light-skinned,” said Burnett, whose given name is Naomie. “When I would cry, I’d get really, really pink. So, my dad started calling me Pinky and it stuck.”
Burnett and Mullins have only played together since last season. They share a chemistry that seems much longer.
“I played her in the City championship our eighth-grade year – She went to Yorktown and I went to Woodward Park,” Mullins said. “Then, the next year we ended up going to (Hartley).
“We play well together. I think that Pinky and I work as a team defensively. I play up top. I’ll (stop the ball) and she smells it. She knows when the guard is panicking and she pokes it. We run the floor so well together … it’s a perfect system.”
Smith, classmate and fellow forward Zakhari Harrison (6.5 points per game), sophomore center Adyson Standard (5.2 rebounds per game) and senior forward Ella Schindler have all played key roles for the Hawks.
Senior guard Keegan McKnight missed the district final after breaking her collar bone in practice a couple of days prior to the game. She will miss the rest of the postseason.
Junior guard Samantha Messaros filled in and was lauded for her defensive performance against DeSales.
“That’s probably been the most rewarding part of the season is that we have some amazing kids,” Payer said. “Off the court, they’re good to each other (and) they’re good to their coaches. They want to get better. (We’re) not dealing with a lot of big egos and things like that.”
Hawks’ head coach Shannon Payer (middle), a Hartley alum, talks to her squad before capturing a district title win against DeSales at Ohio Dominican last week. Photo: Kevin Rouch