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YSU prepares minus depth high hoops main
Penguins will have just 11 playing this season
By Brian Dzenis
YOUNGSTOWN
With low numbers, Youngstown State’s women’s basketball team is aiming high.
The Penguins will carry 13 players on its roster heading into the 2018-19 season and only 11 will be able to play with junior transfers Ny’Dajah Jackson and Emma VanZanten sitting out the season because of NCAA transfer rules. Nine players from last year are elsewhere in a mix of graduations and transfers.
“There’s not a lot of us, but we’re really close with each other on and off the court,” forward Sarah Cash said. “When we come on the court, the chemistry is that much better.”
Head coach John Barnes said his team has open scholarships, but he’s playing the long game coming off a 16-16 campaign that included a first-round loss in the women’s basketball invitational.
“In this day and age, you’re recruiting so ahead of time,” Barnes said Tuesday. “Our 2019 class is done. We’ve had scholarships accepted for the 2020 class and now we’re on to the 2021 class. It’s crazy, but that’s the basketball world these days.”
The smaller roster has made for less drama in the offseason as there’s virtually no competition for playing time. Questions like how to address the departures of the program’s all-time leader in assists — Indiya Benjamin — and starting guard Nikki Arbanas.
After three years in a reserve role, West Branch graduate Melinda Trimmer looks to have a key role at the guard spot.
“I’m really excited for this last year. It’s such an honor to play behind Indiya for the last three years,” Trimmer said. “I’ve learned so much from her and I’m ready to use what I’ve learned to make the best of it.”
The other guards to pay attention to are fellow senior Alison Smolinski, who returns after missing a chunk of the season with a broken foot, and sophomore Chelsea Olson.
At five feet 10 inches, Olson could be anything from the starting point guard to playing at the four-spot. Olson was named to the Horizon League’s all-freshman team averaging 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds a game.
“Our expectations are really high for Chelsea,” Barnes said. “We’re going to have the ball in her hands a lot in terms of the decision making process, finding open players and making the players around her better.”
In the front court, Lordstown’s Cash is back as the team’s leading scorer and rebounder at 11.6 points and 4.5 points per game. As of the team’s three seniors, the soft-spoken Cash has taken on the assignment of being a leader.
“I just need be more vocal and do what I can to help everyone on the team,” Cash said. “My goal has always been to win the league and try to win as many games as we can.”
Junior Mary Dunn figures to be one of the team’s vocal leaders and see more time at forward. The former Horizon League Freshman of the Year saw her minutes decline in her sophomore year.
“It’s definitely tough. In my mind, the most important thing is the team,” Dunn said. “It was harder at the beginning of the year because we weren’t winning, but when we started winning, you realize your role actually does play a big role. I think every player on this team is important.”
Every player on the team will be important this year. Depth will be a challenge, but Barnes and the team have embraced it.
“It’s been nice. It’s just easier be closer. It’s easier to keep everyone on the same page,” Barnes said. “We’ve had great effort and we’re picking up things a lot quicker. They’re a lot of fun to be around and they’re enjoying it and that’s what you want as a coach.”