By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Basketball games are filled with all kinds of winning plays.

The most noticeable are the points scored and while those hold a high level of importance, they are not the only plays that have an impact on wins and losses.

There are many, many more.

And most have nothing to do with the actual act of scoring.

They are simply known as basketball plays — and coaches love them.

Rebounds, deflected passes, bumping cutters.

Proper passes into the shooting pocket, screens off the ball, moving without the ball.

Being the first on the floor for a loose ball, grabbing a bouncing ball instead of dribbling it, making the extra pass.

Disciplined eyes in the huddle, leadership in the locker room, leadership in the classroom.

Being a vocal leader, being a leader by example, being a positive leader in the midst of a game’s tough moment or even after losses.

Positive body language no matter what, the one with an uplifting message to a dejected teammate, the first to run over to pick up a teammate on the floor.

None of these basketball plays are part of a box score, but they have just as much to do with a win, if not more.

And the more of these types of players a team has, the more wins they will collect and the harder they will play.

These players are the ones who believe anything is possible, then get their teammates to believe the same thing.

They are the glue that holds a team together — no matter what the circumstances are.

It is not an easy description to fit into, but these players do.

I proudly present my 12th annual All-Glue Girl Basketball Team.

BROOKE PIERCE

Aurora, 5-foot-4, guard, junior

Coach Erika Greenberg: “Brooke has been an offensive asset, as well as a great defensive specialist. She has been playing through injuries and pain most of the season, but still shows up to practice daily with determination to make it through. We are looking forward to Brooke continuing a great junior season.”

ALYSSA LUCZYWO

Crestwood, 6-foot, forward senior

Coach TJ Henderson: “Alyssa is the definition of a team builder. She may not have all the stats, but the little things that she does for the program and the team throughout the day in the locker room, in the hallways and outside of the building help build the success we have. She is always positive and there to support her teammates at any time. She always looks for the positive and the best in everyone. Alyssa is a main factor of why we are the team we are this year.”

DELILAH RAHE

Field, 5-foot-10, forward, senior

Coach John Misenko: “Delilah does a little bit of everything for us. She passes, scores, rebounds, blocks shots and is one of the hardest workers in games and in practice.”

KOLBY FRESCH

Garfield, 5-foot-6, forward, senior

Coach Aaron Gilbert: “Kolby has become the definition of a glue player this season for us. She is asked to do many things: Guard 1 through 5, play positions 1 through 5 and she has taken on that challenge. She is a leader with this team on and off the court and usually is the loudest voice at each practice session. As her coach, I am very proud of the way she has approached her senior season and how she has accepted every challenge we have put in front of her.”

DANICA BANKS

Kent Roosevelt, 5-foot-8, guard, senior

Coach Craig Foreman: “Danica is a true leader on this team. She is a captain who is able to relate to every player on the team and pick them up. She also is someone who, stat-wise, is never a leading scorer, but I think she is a key scorer. She is someone who scores at key moments in the game. You also will always see her diving for loose balls and getting key rebounds and blocked shots. She also is an energy player, who runs the floor until tired, gets a break and goes back in and repeats. And, finally, she leads with a smile, something a glue player should do.”

AVA MILLER

Mogadore, 5-foot-4, forward, senior

Coach Jennifer Ritch: “Ava comes to basketball every day with a smile on her face and works hard to push herself and her teammates. She often has to guard post players much taller or bigger than herself, and she handles it with toughness and determination every time, knowing she has to outwork them for rebounds and on the defensive end in the paint. She is a great teammate and she does whatever is needed to ensure team success.

JAYLYNN WALKER

Ravenna, 5-foot-7, forward, senior

Coach Courtney O’Donnell: “Jaylynn is a great team player, who always picks her teammates up. She leads by example and is one of the county’s top leaders in taking charges. She never shies away from physicality and takes on the tough task, like guarding the other team’s best player.

ADDY GERMANN

Rootstown, 5-foot-2, guard, senior

Coach Joe Leonard: “Addy is an energetic player, whose hustle and grit is contagious. Behind that smile is a fierce competitor and leader.”

ALEXANDRA HRKACH

Southeast, 5-foot-6, guard, senior

Coach Ashley Callihan: “Alex is one of the toughest players to be part of the program. She is relied upon to defend the opposing team’s best player — guard or forward. She is always willing to embrace the challenge. She has really stepped up for us in times of need and always does the little things that don’t always show up in the stats, like diving for loose balls, taking charges, getting deflections and is an excellent communicator. Alex is also a great teammate, who brings energy and positivity, which is one of the reasons why she has respect from her team.”

RAEGAN HENDON

Streetsboro, 5-foot-4, senior, guard

Coach Carl Singer: “Raegan has been a great teammate since her freshman year. She brings a positive attitude every day and never seems to let any issues off the court affect how hard she works. She is kind of the mom of the team, helping her teammates to make sure they aren’t forgetting things and always know what is going on. On the floor, Raegan does a little bit of everything for us, hitting shots, being solid on defense, handling the ball and even, at her shorter size, battling for rebounds. We have a team full of outstanding young ladies and Raegan is definitely one of the leaders of that group. I have no doubt whatever she moves onto next, she will be successful.”

MAKENZI BLOCKINGER

Windham, 5-foot-6, guard, sophomore

Coach Jim Collins: “Makenzi is a hard worker and does all the hustle things a coach needs on their team.”