How Karns City freshman Taylor Ritzert helped lift Gremlins over Butler
KARNS CITY — Most freshmen have modest expectations of themselves as they get acclimated to the varsity game.
Karns City girls basketball’s Taylor Ritzert was no different in that respect.
“I really had no clue what to think coming into the season,” she said. “I just wanted to have the opportunity to show how hard I work.”
In reality, Ritzert is far from a typical freshman. She began the year coming off the bench, but has been in the team’s starting lineup beginning with a game against Grove City in late December.
Thursday against visiting Butler, the Gremlins were struggling mightily on the offensive end, enduring a scoreless third quarter.
It was Ritzert who lifted the team from its shooting doldrums, tallying all 10 of KC’s points in the final period of a 29-26 victory over the Golden Tornado.
“We were missing every shot we took, and I was hesitant to take one myself,” she said. “But we continued to struggle and I tried to step up.”
Emily Hoffer’s free throw with 1:42 left in the game gave Butler a 26-25 lead, but Ritzert followed with her third bucket of the quarter. She added a pair of free throws, the final one with 1.6 seconds remaining to account for the final score.
Butler had possession prior to Ritzert’s final trip to the line, but teammate Hanna Dailey forced a turnover that Ritzert controlled before being fouled.
“I saw Taylor play in junior high last year, and couldn’t wait for her to get up to varsity,” KC coach Steve Andreassi said. “She has no fear, wants the ball in her hands. She is a true point guard, and those are pretty rare. She has to be on the floor for us.”
Butler (8-7) led 12-7 after one quarter, but was outscored 12-2 in the second. KC senior Naomi Venesky scored all 12 of her points in the first half on six field goals.
“We were face-guarding her, but she got her points in transition off turnovers and on offensive rebounds,” Butler coach Mark Maier said.
Despite shutting out the Gremlins (12-2) in the third period on 0-of-9 shooting, Butler missed a golden opportunity to pull away. Eva Stutz and Julianna Lockwood both drained a trey, but Butler scored just nine points to lead 23-19 with one quarter left.
Butler remained without starting point guard Malina McElroy, and it is unknown if and when she will return from a shoulder injury.
“It’s got to be next man up,” Maier said. “We competed throughout the game tonight, but that doesn’t always show up in the win column. That second quarter, when we were outscored 12-2, I think that is where the game was lost.”
BUTLER 26
Eva Stutz 2 0-0 5, Payton Kamerer 2 0-0 4, Emily Hoffer 1 4-7 6, Emily Cornish 1 0-0 3, Katie Dick 1 0-0 2, Jordan Ryan 1 0-0 3, Julianna Lockwood 1 0-0 3, Campbell Clouse 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 4-7 26.
KARNS CITY 29
Taylor Ritzert 4 5-8 13, Hanna Dailey 1 0-2 2, Naomi Venesky 6 0-0 12, Madison Mahood 1 0-0 2, Hannah Summerville 0 0-2 0, Alivia Farren 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 5-12 29.
Butler 12 2 9 3 — 26
Karns City 7 12 0 10 — 29
3-point goals: Butler 4 (Stutz, Cornish, Ryan, Lockwood); Karns City 0
