By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

THE TEAM

Head Coach: Jennifer Ritch, 12th year, 136-127 career record.

Coaching Staff: Bill Ritch, varsity assistant; Ann Murphy, JV; Mike Murphy, assistant; Ashley Jarvis, middle school; Amelia Morris, middle school.

2024-25 Record: 23-5 overall; 4-4 Portage Trail Conference; Division VII State Semifinalist.

Returning Letterwinners (9): Eden Cameron, sr.; Rylee Clark, sr.; Hayli Clester, jr.; Kasey Bolyard, jr.; McKenna Clark, jr.; Tali Bartholomew, soph.; Jessica Holler, soph.; Emma Moledor, soph.; Ava Murphy, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (4): Ava Miller, Amelia Morris, Ari Tompkins, Julie Tompkins.

League: Independent.

TEAM OUTLOOK

Veteran coach Jennifer Ritch has set four clear directives for her team: 

   1. Push the tempo;

   2. Control the glass;

   3. Shoot more effectively from the outside;

   4. Get to the foul line as much as possible.

The Wildcats enter the season following the greatest year in school history. After finishing in third place of the PTC, the Wildcats stormed through the postseason to capture a sectional title, district title and the school’s first-ever regional championship.

WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON IF…

“We need to stay healthy, push the pace, defend aggressively and rebound well,” Ritch said.

GUARDS

The heartbeat of last year’s team, twins Julie and Ari Tompkins, have graduated, leaving a gap for players to step up to fill this season.

Rylee Clark and Kasey Bolyard appear the most ready to answer the call.

Clark averaged 3.6 points per game last season and hit 30 percent of her 3-pointers.

“Rylee has a great shot and is not afraid to step up and knock it down. She is very quick, tough and athletic, and she can score from all over the floor.”

Bolyard averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game and was named Honorable Mention All-PTC. She will move into a role as the team’s primary ball-handler.

“Kasey helped us to great postseason success and was essentially clutch in our district championship win over Mapleton. She is very quick and athletic, has a pure shot and runs the floor like a gazelle.”

McKenna Clark is another versatile guard who can play any position on the floor.

“She is a very smart player, and she is a very good rebounder for her size.”

Three sophomores, Ava Murphy, Tali Bartholomew and Emma Moledor, will not only add depth, but will be expected to emerge into contributing roles.

“Ava is an excellent ball-handler, super athletic, tough, great shooter and will only get better with experience. Tali goes 110 percent at all times when she is on the court — she is fearless, tough, has a nose for the ball and is a tenacious rebounder.”

Moledor is currently sidelined with a meniscus injury, but Ritch has hopes that she will return before the season is over. If so, she will be another strong ball-handler and excellent shooter in the rotation.

FORWARDS

There is plenty of depth for the Cats in the frontcourt.

One senior, Eden Cameron, is joined by junior Hayli Clester and sophomores Jessica Holler, Kaylee Brady, Morgen Smith and Emalynn Hayes.

Cameron is transitioning from guard to forward this season.

“She is super intelligent and sees the floor better than most. Eden is a true team player and will do anything she’s asked to help the team.”

Clester may move back and forth between the backcourt and frontcourt.

“Hayli is extremely athletic, highly skilled and will add much needed height in our forward position.”

Holler is arguably the fastest player in Portage County. At the very least, she “gets down the floor faster than anyone I have ever coached,” Ritch said. It will be Holler’s first season on varsity.

“She is a tough competitor, and she can jump out of the gym. She will also be a defensive specialist for us.”

Brady, Smith and Hayes will largely find minutes on JV, but all could find spot minutes throughout the season on varsity.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Jessica Holler, soph.; Tali Barthholomew, soph.; Ava Murphy, soph.; Emma Moledor, soph.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“We are undersized and inexperienced,” Ritch said. “We also need to stay healthy.”

Injuries have already shifted the team’s backcourt.

“Our strength of schedule is tougher due to playing as an independent.”

TOP TEAMS ON SCHEDULE

Ritch pointed to Canton Central Catholic, Rootstown, Warren JFK and Northwest as four of the tougher teams they will face this season.

DID YOU KNOW?

After the team’s 23 wins last season, Ritch moved into the No. 12 spot for all-time career wins for Portage County girls basketball. Another longtime Mogadore coach, George Tompkins, tops the county list with 311 wins during his career that spanned 1993-2012.