Bodrick’s legacy is versatility

What is one of the best ways to conduct a test to determine how good a basketball player really is?

It’s simple: When a bunch of guys or girls get together to play a game of coed hoops indoors or outdoors, and the two “captains” choosing up sides are familiar with the quality of players, they usually will use their first choice to pick the best player.

That’s called the “law of the hoop courts,” since the choosers prefer to win than lose.

If Amber Bodrick were among the group, she probably would get picked first all the time.

That’s because the Thiel College senior women’s basketball player from Youngstown and Cardinal Mooney High has what they call versatility, meaning that she can do most things on the court very well, offensively and defensively.

In fact, when the 5-foot-7 senior guard-forward completes her final season this year, she will leave a legacy of versatility that will be hard to beat.

Entering this week, which will include the final regular-season game of her career Saturday at home to Grove City at 1 p.m., Bodrick is ranked in the top 10 at Thiel in six career statistical categories, including No. 1 in field goals made (709) and No. 2 in points (1,801).

She also is No. 3 in blocked shots (91), No. 4 in rebounds (801), No. 7 in steals (183) and No. 10 in assists (197).

In addition, Bodrick is ranked High in the number of career games played (90), but her ranking has not yet been determined.

In Saturday’s game, Thiel (10-12, 5-7 Presidents’ Athletic Conference) and Grove City will battle for the fifth-seeded spot in the upcoming PAC Tournament.

And with at least one other game looming in the PAC meet, Bodrick has a good chance to finish a little higher on Thiel’s all-time list in steals, blocks, rebounds and assists.

Thiel’s career leaders and graduation years are Tricia Kosenina, 1993, points, 2,086; Cindy Bynum, 1988, rebounds, 1,073; assists, Teresa Collins, 1988, 426; and Tammy Willrich, 2000, steals, 251.

Bodrick has been a Thiel standout ever since she stepped onto the court. She is three-time selection to the All-Great Lakes Region second team, and a three-time pick to the All-PAC first team pick.

She leads the current Tomcats in five statistical categories: scoring (17.3), rebounds (8.0), blocks (26), steals (44) and assists (2.8).

Bodrick enjoyed one of her finest overall performances last Saturday when she scored a season- and game-high 32 points and also added 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocked shots in an 86-60 win over Westminster. She had 21 points in the first half.

The daughter of Jerry and Doreen Bodrick, Amber is majoring in business administration.

While at Mooney, Bodrick scored more than 1,000 points, made the Associated Press Division III All-Ohio team twice and was picked to the All-Steel Valley Conference first team three years.

In her senior year, she averaged 25 points, 17 rebounds and three assists.

Bodrick also was first-team All-SVC in track and a member of the National Honor Society.

Five other area players also are on the Thiel roster, including Kimberly Stitt, a 5-11 sophomore forward from Hickory High who is second on the team in blocks (23) and rebounding (5.4). She also has 17 steals and is averaging 6.3 points.

The others are freshmen Brianna Pettway, 5-2 guard from Liberty; Danielle Bell, 5-8 guard from Campbell Memorial; Nina Gabrelcik, a 5-5 guard from Niles; and Rachel Doran, 5-5 guard from Badger High.

XJohn Kovach writes about college athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.