It was supposed to be a year where other teams in the area finally caught the Twinsburg Tigers.
After losing the best post player in decades, University of Maryland standout Malina Howard, many people around the Cleveland area were licking their chops at the chance to finally get through Twinsburg on their way to the state final four.
Someone forgot to tell Twinsburg's Ashley Morrissette
What Morrissette did this season was perfect. No, really, it was perfect. She has led the Tigers to a 28-0 record this season, and a berth in the state final four. Twinsburg takes on Lewis Center Olentangy Orange tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Ohio State University's Value City Arena. How has Morrissette been rewarded for her and her team's great season?
By winning the most prestegious individual award one can: Ohio's Ms. Basketball
Why Ashley Morrissette?... The 5 foot 9 inch senior has done a little bit of everything for the Tigers. She is currently averaging 19.1 points, 6.5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals a game. She has the Tigers riding a 43 game winning streak overall, and a 73 game winning streak against teams from Ohio. Twinsburg is currently the two time defending state champions in Division I girls basketball.
Twinsburg coach Julie Solis, in a quote to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, describes Morrissette this way:
"When you lose a player like Malina Howard, come back and go unbeaten and make it to the final four, you need a special player and Ashley is that player. She is very deserving of the honor because she is the best player in the state of Ohio"
Mrs. Clutch?... Morrissette comes up big against the best competition. Look no further than her games against Solon, arguably the second best team in the state. In their second meeting Morrissette scored 12 of her game high 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers, up by only a point entering the quarter, won by six. In last Friday's regional final game, Morrissette scored 15 points, added six rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot as Twinsburg held off a late Solon rally to win 44-41. By the way, She also held Solon's first team All-Ohio player Kristen Confroy to nine points.
The Purdue University recruit remains humble about winning the award:
"I was very grateful to even be considered for the award. To actually win it, I'm proud, humbled and thankful for the teammates I have."
Morrissette won the award over finalists Alexis peterson of Columbus Northland, Amanda Cahill of Clyde, Karli Bonar of Shadyside, and Kristen Confroy of Solon. She is looking forward to trying to win her third consecutive state title:
"To win it this year would be even sweeter because not too many people expected us to get this far"
Congratulations to Ashley Morrissette, and good luck to the Twinsburg Tigers this weekend as they shoot for their third consecutive state title.
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