ZIPS’ BEST

By BRIAN DZENIS

bdzenis@vindy.com

Megan Sefcik is

bringing her best back to the Mahoning Valley.

The Austintown Fitch graduate is playing the best basketball of her career as she’ll suit up for the Akron Zips tonight against Youngstown State’s women’s basketball team in the Beeghly Center.

The redshirt-senior is averaging 21 points a game for the 3-0 Zips and is the team’s top three-point shooter going 15 for 32.

“My teammates are able to find me when I’m open. Very rarely do I create my own shot,” Sefcik said. “This team compared to others I’ve been on, we look for each other and our passing has been great. My teammates get credit for my scoring in every aspect.”

A lot is being asked of Sefcik in her final season as the lone senior on her team.

Akron is coming off a 9-21 season that ended with an 11-game losing streak and then-coach Jodi Kest’s retirement.

Sefcik was the returning leading scorer from that team and she was limited to 19 games of action because of a broken thumb.

In addition to scoring, she’s been asked to be more vocal.

“In high school, I was always vocal, but coming into college I was very quiet,” Sefcik said. “I was more of a behind-the-scenes leader. I could be vocal in practice, but I always tried to help players on the sideline, but this year I’m getting out of my shell more by being more vocal on the court.”

In her Fitch days, Sefcik said YSU was the first school to recruit her when the Penguins were under previous head coach Bob Boldon. She wanted to put some distance between her and her hometown, so she chose the Zips.

That stance has softened in the previous four years. She’s already graduated and is working towards a master’s degree in curriculum and instructions and has become a little homesick in the process.

“I want to come back home. I’d like to be an elementary school teacher and get into the coaching side of things,” Sefcik said. “Basketball has apart of my life for so long — since I was six or seven — I know my playing days are going to be over, but I still want it to be a part of my life.”