Rayen's quiet captain

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cherrell Triplett is the perfect example of quiet leadership.
As the only senior on the Rayen School girls basketball team, Triplett has assumed that commanding role.
Even if she was a little wary about undertaking such a task at first, Triplett's high school career has prepared her for her final season with the Tigers.
She played varsity as a freshman, started as a sophomore on one of Rayen's most experienced teams and has developed into the kind of player to which teammates look.
"I look up to her a lot," said junior Erica Wilson, a starting shooting guard for the Tigers. "She's a great help to the team. She really pushes us hard.
"She's the only senior, and she's trying to show us an example of what we should be when we become seniors."
But Triplett's influence on her teammates is transformed in a quiet manner.
"Sometimes you don't even know her presence on the court," Rayen coach Holly Seimetz said.
At least verbally. The 5-foot-11 Triplett would prefer to let her performance speak for itself.
Dominant: Seimetz estimates that Triplett has averaged almost six blocks per game to go with her 16-point, 12-rebound average. At times, the Youngstown native can be dominant on the court.
"Cherrell is kind of like that utility person for me because she can be the guard, she can be the big kid inside, she can be the power forward," Seimetz said. "She's a little bit of everything."
With all of Triplett's varsity experience, it would seem natural for her to take the team's reigns and lead it. But that didn't come easily early.
"At first it was kind of hard for me to accept, but after I got into a game I accepted it then," Triplett said.
For nearly her entire basketball career, Triplett teamed with her sister, Cherron, who graduated last year. Cherron's departure left Triplett alone and gave her an opportunity to lead.
"Cherrell's become more of her own player this year because her sister's not here," Seimetz said. "She's always been in her sister's shadow."
Triplett said, "A lot of people didn't look up to me, so it was much easier. But now that [Cherron] is gone, it is harder because I'm in the spotlight."
Taking the reigns: While Cherron still attends Rayen's games, Triplett is quickly discovering how to take a group of young players -- Rayen also starts two sophomores and a freshman -- in the right direction.
"I wanted to know whether she was really going to be able to step up, being the only senior and being so quiet, and get that leadership role," Seimetz said. "She's not a yeller. She's not a screamer. The kids feel confident enough that if they get her the ball, they know she'll get the job done."
After losing their first two games to Canfield and Boardman, the Tigers have rebounded for a 5-4 record, including a victory over Leetonia in which Triplett scored a career-high 36 points.
"The games against Canfield and Boardman really woke us up," Triplett said. "After that, we got ourselves together."
Triplett plans to play basketball in college. She has spoken with some Division III scouts, who have witnessed her floor dominance and quiet demeanor.
"She just wants to play her game," Wilson said. "She feels it's her year and that she should do what she has to do."
richesson@vindy.com