MONROE — The Monroe High School girls basketball team’s willpower has already been put on display. The Hornets refused to lay down after trailing by 12 points to Dixie in their season opener over the weekend.
“They have supported each other well at the start of the season and their willingness to not back down in the face of adversity, but rather support each other,” Monroe coach Chad Adolph said. “It’s shown already in the first contest of the year.”
Monroe marched back to secure a 48-43 win to start the 2022-2023 season.
“Despite their youth with a squad full of freshmen, their toughness and willingness to adopt a next-play mentality stands out the most,” Adolph said.
After coming off a 3-13 overall, 3-10 Southwestern Buckeye League performance a year ago, the Hornets are going to have to power through a portion of the season without two of their returning starters — senior Paige Frazier and junior Paityn Corthell — due to injuries. Both are expected to hit the court in January, according to Adolph.
Frazier only saw 11 games a season ago and averaged 9 points a game, while Corthell bucketed 5.2 points and brought down 4.9 rebounds a contest.
The other returning starters are senior guard Macy Creekbaum, senior forward Jasmine Dobrozsi and junior guard Saffron Weidner. Weidner led Monroe in scoring against Dixie with 20 points, while Creekbaum chipped in with 6 points.
Adolph said to keep an eye out for Weidner, Creekbaum and senior guard Alexis Lovejoy to be hitting shots from the outside as the season progresses.
Freshman guard Jordan McComas piled on 14 points for the Hornets against Dixie, and Adolph said he expects more of that from her this season.
Adolph noted that freshman forward Ryan Buskirk and Dobrozsi will anchor the middle, while freshman forward Emma Adolph and freshman guard Esmeraya Martinez could see some playing time and take on defensive specialist roles. Freshman guard Ava Heitmeyer could also see some playing time “as we look to change up defenses quite a bit,” Adolph added.
Rounding out the roster for Monroe is senior forward Natierra Simms and freshman guard Ariana Zegara.
The Hornets next take on Ross at home on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
2022-2023 Monroe Hornets Roster
(Number Player Grade Height Position)
0 Ariana Zegara FR 5’7 G
1 Saffron Weidner JR 5’6 G
2 Paityn Corthell JR 5’9 F
3 Paige Frazier SR 5’6 G
4 Ava Heitmeyer FR 5’9 G
5 Emma Adolph FR 5’10 F
10 Esmeraya Martinez FR 5’9 G
15 Ryan Buskirk FR 6′ F
22 Alexis Lovejoy SR 5’10 G
23 Jordan McComas FR 5’9 G
24 Macy Creekbaum SR 5’9 G
33 Jasmine Dobrozsi SR 5’10 F
40 Natierra Simms SR 5’9 F
2022-2023 Monroe Hornets Schedule
Nov. 19 at Dixie W 48-43
Nov. 22 Ross, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Middletown, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 Valley View, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 3 at Preble Shawnee, 1:15 p.m.
Dec. 8 Talawanda, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 10 at Bellbrook, 1:15 p.m.
Dec. 14 Oakwood, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 17 Waynesville, 1:15 p.m.
Dec. 19 at Fairborn, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 22 Harrison, 7:15 p.m.
Dec. 28 at Madison, 7:15 pm.
Jan. 5 at Franklin, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 7 Eaton, 1:15 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 12 Clinton Massie, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 14 at Oakwood, 1:15 p.m.
Jan. 19 Bellbrook, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 21 at Waynesville, 1:15 p.m.
Jan. 26 at Brookville, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 28 Franklin, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 Carlisle, 7:15 p.m.
