Medina County Sports Hall of Fame: 2016 Wadsworth girls were locked in en route to state title

The moment almost didn't feel real, but it proved to be a driving force to greatness. The undefeated Wadsworth girls basketball team was powerless in the first half against Mason's ridiculously long matchup 2-3 zone defense at Berlin Hiland's Classic in the Country Challenge on Jan. 17, 2016. Even superstar Jodi Johnson couldn't buy a bucket against the Comets' four 6-footers as the Grizzlies scored a meager six points in the first half. They didn't feel powerless, however. They still believed they belonged, proving such with a 24-point second half in a 41-30 loss and reminding themselves that they had met all challenges in the summer, highlighted by a semifinal appearance at the elite, invite-only Best of Maryland tournament. Motivated by revenge? Sort of, but not really. If Mason was the Division I state final opponent in March, great. If not, so be it. The same went for Toledo Notre Dame Academy, which had eliminated Wadsworth in each of the previous four seasons by a combined 22 points, in the Norwalk Regional final. Coach Andrew Booth placed a sign outside the locker room that said "12 points better." The rest of the season was, as Johnson proclaimed by coming up with the team's T-shirt catchphrase early in the postseason, "Strictly Business." There may never be a more level-headed yet intensely competitive state championship team from Medina County, regardless of sport. The cool, calm, collected, focused and entirely homegrown Grizzlies lived their dream, officially upsetting Mason 60-51 at 10:17 p.m. on March 12, 2016 to join the 1997 squad as state champions. For their efforts, they'll be inducted into the Medina County Sports Hall of Fame during Thursday ceremonies at the Galaxy Conference Center in Wadsworth. "Growing up in the community, growing up with these girls, growing up watching the tradition of Wadsworth girls basketball was something you wanted to be a part of," Johnson said. "It was always a state-championship caliber team. It's a hard thing to do, but we were able to get there and we were able to accomplish that. "In my sports career, there's nothing greater than that state championship and doing that with your community behind you and people you truly have a special relationship with." The roster While almost everyone agrees the state championship game was an upset — the consensus on press row had Wadsworth as a 10-point underdog — proper context is needed to understand that it wasn't exactly a fluke. The Grizzlies had gone 22-4, 25-3, 26-2 and 23-4 over the prior four seasons and couldn't break through — a la the 1970s Minnesota Vikings or 1990s Buffalo Bills — due to Notre Dame Academy, but their chemistry was undeniable. Yes, the 5-foot-11 Johnson was the offensive centerpiece because she scored 25, 29, 24 and 28 points while making 45-of-50 free throws (.900) over the final four games. To proclaim otherwise against one of the greatest stretches in Ohio tournament history would be foolish. How the rest of the pieces fit, however, was magical. "It was their skill level," Booth said. "We've had really good teams, but everybody who came out onto the court, they were very talented. That came from their work ethic. "What makes a good piano player? Practice. What makes a good shooter? Practice. Pass, dribble and shoot are the basics of basketball, and they could do that. As a group, they were super smart." There was 5-5 sophomore Sophia Fortner, a natural-born leader and tough-as-nails point guard who, like Johnson, spent her youth outplaying boys on the football field. There was sophomore Lexi Lance, a shy, jump-out-of-the-gym 6-1 center who could block shots yet also harass the perimeter, rebound and flash an eye-opening post move that eventually landed her a scholarship to Toledo. There was senior power forward Jenna Johnson, Jodi's 5-10 twin who talked 100 mph, was the best free throw shooter (.831) on one of the best free throw shooting teams in state history (.745) and a fantastic high-post attacker who could defend all five positions. There was 5-10 senior Laurel Palitto, an eccentric, free-spirited wing on an otherwise laid-back team who specialized in defense and precision passing, especially on the secondary break and into the post, but also could hit a 3-pointer in a big moment. There was sophomore center Peyton Banks, the sixth woman who was a 5-10 foul-drawing bruiser on the block but also a deadly shooter from 3-point range and the foul line, allowing her to break down opposing defenses in an entirely different manner than Lance. There was sophomore guard Maddie Movsesian, the quintessential "Tasmanian Devil" who was a defensive wizard/pest/open-court menace rolled into a sassy 5-7 package. There was 5-10 junior wing McKenna Banks, an introvert to the core who understood her jobs were to play defense, hit a mid-range shot or two and provide quality minutes so the starters could recharge. There was junior forward Olivia Chaney, a confident 5-10 volleyball player who also knew she was going to see minutes regardless of opponent and could impact a game with a charge or baseline jumper. Those nine were brilliant at understanding their roles, playing to their strengths, avoiding their weaknesses and, above all, rising to the occasion. In what amounted to the model of efficiency over the final two games, Wadsworth scored 118 points while shooting .474 from inside the 3-point arc (28-for-59) and a ridiculous .863 (44-for-51) from the foul line at Ohio State University's Value City Arena, whose arena atmosphere ate many great teams alive. "The biggest thing was the teamwork," Palitto said. "I remember Coach Booth saying after the season that each kid played their role really well. In the time or moment, you don't know what your role was. We all had a common goal, and those characteristics play out in life or a career by pushing through the hard times and hurdles. "When we lost to Mason, we put that goal in the locker room of we needed to be better. We were really goal-oriented and hard workers, from coaches all the way down to JV players. That's how I would sum it up. It held very true, and that's what I remember as a summary to that. "It was the consistency. Every day was not groundhog day, but this is how it is. You go hard, work hard, go home and do it again. The really never were extreme highs or lows. The extreme lows that could have been, someone filled that role." The season While the question of Notre Dame was always looming, there was a different vibe as Wadsworth ran roughshod through a regular season that extended its Suburban League winning streak to 89 games. Quality blowouts, the rare close wins and even league games where the Grizzlies could have sleepwalked their way to 30-point laughers felt the same. Wadsworth was never impressed with itself. The Grizzlies also never had a sense of falling into the temptation of emotionality in the moment — just chill confidence. Jodi Johnson scoring her 1,000th career point in a 61-40 win over returning regional qualifier Columbus Eastmoor Academy in the opener? Cool. Smacking eventual Georgia Class AAA state champion Morgan County 65-37 at Lakota West's Queen City Classic eight days later? No big deal. Pulling away late to edge eventual regional finalist Newark 54-46 at in their first Classic in the Country Challenge game? A good sign. Ineffective press against battle-tested Magnificat at the Wadsworth-hosted Believe Roundball Classic? Whatever, the half-court defense was elite in a 47-29 victory. Sweeping eventual regional qualifier Stow 47-26 and 43-28 in league play by beating the Bulldogs at their own, methodical game? Tournament practice. Putting the Mason loss behind them and annihilating eventual state semifinalist Solon 68-46 in the regular-season finale? Impressive, but the job wasn't done. "We always felt we could lose, then Mason happened and it was like, 'Oh," Palitto said. "I don't ever remember us feeling like we were No. 1 in the state the whole season. I felt like we were No. 10 and working to beat the Masons, the Lakota Wests and the Princetons. "We were a small D-I school. We're from nowhere. We don't produce a bunch of D-I players. We're just small-town girls. We're not supposed to be doing that, right? We're not those teams. We've got to work. We wanted it, and it paid off." The early postseason was when Wadsworth's depth, experience and ability to deflect to the hot hand were at their best. Peyton Banks, Lance and Fortner combined for 31 points in a 76-24 win over Brecksville. Jodi Johnson and Peyton Banks then combined for 26 points in a 33-0 run that highlighted a 67-44 blowout of Brunswick — Movsesian (4 points, 5 steals) also played well — and Jenna Johnson (13 points) and two-headed monster of Peyton Banks and Lance, who combined for 28 points, 19 rebounds and five assists, overwhelmed Berea-Midpark 80-50 in the Medina District final. Notre Dame was knocked off by Toledo Whitmer in the district finals — that mental block was no longer a problem heading into regionals — and the Grizzlies showed their mojo by leading 24-7 after one quarter and making a nearly impossible 30-of-33 free throws overall to crush Magnificat 73-49 in the North Royalton Regional semifinals. So, there they were, back in Norwalk for the fifth straight year. Whitmer dared Wadsworth to shoot from the outside — it made only 89 3-pointers all season — and the Grizzlies connected on only 3-of-18 shots in the first quarter and 8-of-33 in the half yet led 22-14 thanks to their trademark press. Movsesian stepped up due to Palitto's foul trouble and Jodi Johnson came alive, scoring 17 of the team's 25 second-half points en route to 29 overall. Whitmer cut the lead to four with 2:13 left and Wadsworth's new four-corner offense that would prove vital against Mason wasn't sharp, but the Grizzlies made 6-of-8 free throws to emerge 47-39. The weight of the world had been lifted. ... sort of. "Obviously it did bring a lot of emotion, but it wasn't the end goal for us," Jodi Johnson said. "That's just a part of the journey that we were on. That definitely felt sweet, for sure, to make it to state, make a final four, but winning that regional final wasn't the end goal for us. It was a step in the right direction, obviously, to get over that hump. It definitely propelled us to continually lock in and prepare for those Final Four games." While the players had a blast checking out Booth's tiny hometown of Lucas on the ride to Columbus, they were dialed in from the moment they stepped off the bus. Reynoldsburg presented a unique challenge in the March 11 semifinals, boasting a highly athletic D-I prospect at point guard in Adrian Crockwell (Oakland, Mich.) and an ultra-physical 6-3 center in Jalynda Salley (Coppin State, Md.). The Grizzlies fell behind 19-11 after one quarter despite getting Salley into serious foul trouble but kept the deficit reasonable, trailed 41-38 heading into the fourth and again showed they were far from a one-woman show. You see, Jodi Johnson was on the bench with four fouls, but there was no sense of panic. Peyton Banks was the key, giving the Grizzlies for good with a step-in 17-footer, Palitto (5 assists), Jenna Johnson (6 points, 5 rebounds) and Lance (8, 8) also starred and Reynoldsburg went without a field goal for a 6:52 in the stretch of the fourth. Jodi Johnson returned and Wadsworth was nearly perfect the rest of the way. She made 8-of-8 free throws in the fourth to finish 14-of-16 overall en route to 24 points. Wadsworth won 58-48 after scoring 18 of the final 23 points. "This is horrible, but it was hard because we were used to not playing in a stadium like that, so I had a hard time figuring out where the scoreboard was," said a laughing Palitto, who had a game-high five assists. "I wasn't score-focused. Maybe the other girls were and Coach Booth was, but it felt like we needed to get into a rhythm. The rhythm felt rushed, but once we calmed down, we were like, 'Oh, we're fine.' "Whenever we were doing well, the cheering increased and the stadium erupted and we're like, 'Oh, we're doing good!' I don't remember feeling flustered, but we had that confidence and trust in the coaches to lead us correctly. Even the community there, everyone was behind us." Boasting Lauren Van Kleunen (Marquette), Jailyn Mason (Arkansas, Rutgers), Samari Mowbray (Eastern Kentucky), Mariah Campbell (Prairie View A&M) and Sammie Puisis (Florida State, Southern Florida, WNBA camp invite) in the starting lineup and Anna Brinkman (Northern Kentucky) and Allie Reicher (Aurora, Ill.) off the bench, Mason, which lost Tihanna Fulton (Canisius, N.Y.) to a knee injury in a semifinal win over Solon, clearly had superior talent and size but showed signs of being beatable in the second half of the first meeting. What the Comets didn't know was the well-connected Booth, whose ability to unassumingly dig for information is his most overlooked personality trait, did some detective work and learned that Mason didn't show its full cards at Berlin Hiland. Cincinnati-area opponents told Booth the Comets preferred to start games in a man defense, get a lead and switch to their signature 2-3. That was music to Booth's ears. As such, the championship strategy was simple: Play like your hair's on fire, grab the lead, strategically stall a bit while still looking to score to keep Mason out of the 2-3 and roll the dice. Every casual observer mistakenly assumed Mason made a tactical error coming out in man, but Booth had a hunch it was coming. Then again, even Booth couldn't have imagined how the first quarter would play out. Lance tapped the opening tip forward to Palitto, who then fired to a streaking Johnson for a layup six seconds in — the Grizzlies ran that set piece successfully at least a dozen times during the season — and it was game on after roaring to 10-0 and 16-3 leads. "There shouldn't be a question as to how focused we were," Jodi Johnson said. "One, you're in the state final, regardless of who you're against. Two, it's against the team that you gave you your only loss during the season. Three, Coach Booth had that '12 points better' sign up the rest of the year knowing this moment would probably come. "We've been seeking this, wanting this and begging for this moment, and it's about to happen. How are we going to respond? Do we expect the same thing to happen as the first time? No, we're going to lock in and have a different outcome this time." The initially shell-shocked Comets (26-3) made a desperate charge behind Van Kleunen (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Jailyn Mason (10 second-half points, 3 assists). A 16-point lead at halftime had evaporated to three with 2:14 to go. Like they did all season, Johnson (28 points, 12 in fourth quarter) and Fortner (6, 5 assists, 3 steals, 8 turnovers) found the extra drive that makes legends. Holding on for dear life against a trapping 1-3-1 zone in the second half — the circumstances never allowed the Comets to get into their 2-3 — the stars combined to will home 6-of-6 free throws over the final 1:39, with the rowdy student section belting "M-V-P, M-V-P" whenever Johnson squared up. Mason missed all five shots attempts over the final 2:14 as Wadsworth (28-1) scored seven of the final eight points, leading to a raucous celebration. The victory fulfilled a dying wish for super fan Zane Walker, who had seated himself at center court for each game with foldout chair and notepad in tow. He passed away Feb. 7 at the age of 81, and Wadsworth first paid its respects with the signature regular-season blowout of Solon less than a week later. "I love watching that (Mason) game back because, dang, we were trying to set a tone," Jodi Johnson said. "We were fired up and the whole fricking community was behind us, which was sweet. The energy was electric to start that game. We let them pull back in a couple times here and there, but we never lost that focus and stayed locked in. "There was added emotion to that with Zane Walker passing away. Before he passed, we went and saw him at the hospital and he said, 'All I want is for you girls to win a state championship.' That helped us lock in even more. Unfortunately he was not able to be there with us, but we accomplished that goal together and for him. That added more emotion to that win for us." The aftermath The next 48 hours were a whirlwind, including Jenna Johnson grabbing Palitto outside the locker room to remind her she had to shave her legs after not doing so out of superstition since the regular-season loss to Mason. The Grizzlies partied with fans in the Value City Arena practice gym and at nearby Buffalo Wild Wings before finally getting back to the hotel, whose location was a secret to even the parents, before the gravity of the moment finally hit like a ton of bricks. Sleep was at a premium, and players and coaches were running on pure adrenaline when they headed back to Wadsworth for a Sunday parade on the square. The next week of school was a blur, with studies continuously interrupted by congratulations and war stories from the weekend of a lifetime. There were signs placed in players' yards by community members, asking passers by to offer their congratulations by honking their vehicles. There were visits to elementary schools, the Johnson twins and Palitto being stunned at how nice their longtime SL rivals were at the Tri-County All-Star Game and Booth lighting the ceremonial match at the iconic Blue Tip Parade. Life eventually moved on, but basketball was far from over for most. Jodi Johnson won the D-II national championship with Ashland the next season, was national player of the year in 2018 and finished with a 133-4 record in a brilliant collegiate career that was cut short by the 2020 tournament being canceled by COVID-19. She is preparing to move within Ashland with college sweetheart husband Austin Phillips and son Landon. Lance played in 63 games over four years as a backup post at Toledo. She's back in Wadsworth. Fortner played with Lance at Toledo for one season before joining Jodi Johnson at Ashland, where she backed up star point guard Renee Stimpert, one of Jodi Johnson's closest friends. Fortner then dabbled in college coaching at Gannon (Pa.) and Mercyhurst (Pa.) before joining Booth's staff part time this winter and starting a basketball training business. Peyton Banks became a multi-time NAIA All-American at Siena Heights (Mich.), scoring 2,193 points, and was inducted into the school's hall of fame before it closed following this school year. She was an assistant at Malone before giving up coaching to raise son Archie with high school sweetheart husband Trevor Smith. Palitto and Movsesian had cups of coffee at Rio Grande and John Carroll before focusing on schoolwork. Both work primarily out of state. Jenna Johnson played intramurals at Kent State, often dominating the competition in her first chance to be a go-to scorer. She graduated from Ohio State, married high school sweetheart Barry Fernholz, recently welcomed daughter Drew to the world and is a dental hygienist in Arkansas. Chaney married high school sweetheart Alex Jones and is an accountant in Columbus, while McKenna Banks still lives in Wadsworth. Booth remains the Grizzlies' coach and now owns a 418-116 record with other state berths in 2018 and 2026. Assistants Mark Postak and Mike Schmeltzer Sr. are still on the staff, with Tom "Judge" Carnes only recently retiring but keeping a watchful eye on the program from afar. The memories are still fresh from a decade ago, mostly from off the court. What resonated most was the sense of home, especially from the community support during those two days in Columbus. Palitto and Jodi Johnson voices became noticeably more passionate when talking about it. These kids were — and in some cases still are — Wadsworth through and through. No move-ins. No collection of AAU talent skirting the rule book. Just red and white Grizzly pride. "The week we got back (from Columbus), Mick Movsesian (father of Maddie), emailed me and said, 'I wanted you to know that this team did the hardest thing for a high school group to achieve. They won the big-school state championship with all homegrown kids,'" Booth said. "You know what? That's probably not too far off. That's probably a bit rare." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.