Girls Basketball: Worthington Christian working to improve its defensive intensity
Saturday, December 16, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Worthington Christian’s Jamie Custer (left) looks to drive by Waterford’s Kendall Sury during the “Battle in the 614” at Ohio Dominican Dec. 16. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Pushing past mental lapses and increasing its defensive intensity are among the areas Jamie Custer believes the Worthington Christian girls basketball team will improve on over the coming weeks.
It’s part of a growth process the Warriors hope translates into a long postseason after they earned a Division III district runner-up finish a season ago — one that Custer understands as well as anyone in the program considering her background.
Worthington Christian had another opportunity to progress Saturday in the Battle in the 614 at Ohio Dominican during a 45-29 loss to Waterford, which was a Division IV district runner-up last winter.
Custer, who was the team’s starting point guard the last two seasons, has been thrust into an offensive leadership role and finished with 19 points. She is averaging a team-best 15.7 on the season.
“You have to want it, and we’re a little bit more of a young team,” Custer said. “We don’t have a lot of subs but we’re going to make the best with what we have. In the third quarter, we got the ball out quicker and were looking for the open person.”
Custer’s family has been affiliated with Worthington Christian since its inception in 1973, with her grandfather, Jim Custer, being one of its founders.
Worthington Christian’s Palynn Wray goes to the hoop, beating the Waterford defense down the court during the “Battle in the 614” at Ohio Dominican Dec. 16. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Her parents, Daniel and Stephanie Custer, both attended Worthington Christian as well, and Jamie has attended the school since she was in kindergarten.
A Galena resident, Jamie has two younger sisters who also play for the program in junior Mandy Custer and freshman Abby Custer, and her cousin, junior Ellen Mousa, also is on the team.
“I’ve been around at the games and been a part of the program for a long time,” Jamie said. “It’s really cool, especially being with my sisters this winter and having my cousin in the program.
“We just need to focus more. We do like to get up and down the floor and we’re pretty fast. Our post player, (junior) Brooke Winfree, runs the floor really well and we’re just moving the ball quicker this year. I’ve had to learn how to take more shots.”
While the Warriors are 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the CBL, Waterford is 5-0 and figures to be a threat to go deep into the postseason again this winter behind the talent of 6-foot-4 junior post player Avery Wagner.
Wagner, who has been offered by Dayton and Youngstown State, finished with 16 points, as did junior guard Kendall Sury.
Both were key players in 2021-22 when the Wildcats won the state championship.
Worthington Christian’s Natalie Woodfin (left) battles for a loose ball with Waterford’s Leah Ryan during the “Battle in the 614” at Ohio Dominican Dec. 16. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“What (playing Worthington Christian) could do for us is that we haven’t seen anyone that could pressure us like them,” Wildcats coach Jerry Close said. “Our girls adjusted to the pressure pretty well, and that was something we struggled with last year. (Wagner) is a very skilled player, and she may be our assist leader as well. She’s not forcing shots and she’s played really well.”
Worthington Christian fell behind 22-12 by halftime. In the third period, behind a pair of steals and eight points from Custer and one steal apiece from Winfree and freshman Palynn Wray, the Warriors got back to within 29-24 before the Wildcats closed the period on a 5-0 run.
In the fourth quarter, Worthington Christian got as close as within eight points.
“Our hope is that we can learn what it means to beat good teams,” second-year Warriors coach Aaron Davis said. “The first half of our schedule is pretty competitive, and that’s intentional. We’re hoping to get a taste of what a district final type of game is like. We’re hoping to learn how to compete against good teams. We’re getting better.
“Jamie’s been pivotal for us this year. Her effort just oozes out. She’s the hardest-working player on the court every game we play, flying around the court, getting steals and loose balls and getting to the basket. I’m really pleased with her play, and her leadership is invaluable to us.”