Marietta High girls' basketball head coach Scott Cozzens remembers when Erica Dawson first left her mark on opponents around the Mid-Ohio Valley.
"It was her sophomore year in a sectional championship game against Sheridan," Cozzens recalled. "She just tore up those Sheridan guards. We already knew she was going to be special, but I think she kind of proved to the district how good she was going to be. That was kind of her 'coming out' party."
Two years later, the 5-foot-9 Dawson was named first team All-Ohio in Division II for the second year in a row by the Associated Press.
Article Photos
JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times
Marietta’s Erica Dawson (22) made the All-Ohio first team for the second straight season.
Dawson averaged 28 points per game this season to go along with eight rebounds, four steals and three assists per contest. She did all this while missing almost one-third of the season with a wrist injury.
"It's just incredible," Cozzens said. "She had several games where she had a triple-double in points, rebounds and steals."
Dawson, Xavier-bound in the fall, helped lead the Lady Tigers to their fourth consecutive sectional championship this season. Some of her highlights from this winter include a 41-point performance in a victory over Warren, a 31-point showing, including a game-winning 3-pointer, against ECOL-foe New Philadelphia in the season-opener and a 37-point night against Waterford en route to a triumph on "Senior Night."
Fact Box
AP Girls Division III All-Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The 2012-13 Associated Press Division III All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION III
FIRST TEAM: Cassidy Wyse, Archbold, 5-10, jr., 14.1; Terra Stapleton, Proctorville Fairland, 6-4, jr., 17.4; Kelsey Dugger, Gates Mills Gilmour Acad., 5-8, jr., 14.1; Hanna Plybon, Orrville, 5-10, sr., 24.6; Abby Cash, Casstown Miami East, 6-0, sr., 12.0; Jessica Kinney, Martins Ferry, 5-9, sr., 21.6; Marley Hill, Cols. Africentric, 6-2, sr., 17.7.
Players of the year: Hannah Plybon, Orrville; Terra Stapleton, Proctorville Fairland; Marley Hill, Cols. Africentric.
Coaches of the year: Mike Coreno, Beachwood; Jon Buchanan, Proctorville Fairland; Brenda Friend, Collins Western Reserve.
SECOND TEAM: Bre Nauman, Richwood N. Union, 6-0, sr., 17.3; Aaliyah Dotson, Canton Cent. Cath., 5-6, sr., 11.0; Mackenzie Kizer, Warren Champion, 6-0, sr., 19.3; Taylor Graboski, Upper Sandusky, 6-1, jr., 17.4; Rachel Myers, Findlay Liberty-Benton, 5-7, jr., 15.6; Jenna Stegmaier, Cuyahoga Hts., 5-10, soph., 19.1; Mikah Aldridge, Beachwood, 5-6, jr., 19.1; Natalie Billing, Anna, 5-11, sr., 16.7; Tori Leader, Portsmouth West, 5-10, sr., 21.5.
THIRD TEAM: Natalie Carpenter, Johnstown-Monroe, 5-6, jr., 18.4; Deidra Combs, Beverly Ft. Frye, 5-10, sr., 11.4; Amisha Herd, Zanesville W. Muskingum, 5-5, jr., 12.6; Kayla Byler, Burton Berkshire, 5-10, sr., 20.5; Jenny Grigsby, Franfort Adena, 5-9, sr., 17.0; Emily Fite, Seaman N. Adams, 5-11, sr., 19.4.
Special Mention
Taylor Dickson, Baltimore Liberty Union; Emily Williams, Fredericktown; Taylor Buchanan, Beverly Ft. Frye; Allie Hinton, Newcomerstown; Kelsey Miller, West Lafayette Ridgewood; Cori Medley, Belmont Union Local; Megan Miller, Middletown Madison; Ashton Lovely, Jamestown Greeneview; Makayla Rosselot, Fayetteville; Laney Lewis, Lynchburg-Clay; Leanna Adkins, Oak Hill; Lexie Barrier, Ironton; Brittney McNamara, Elyria Cath.; Karissa McGrath, Elyria Cath.; Kelsea Brown, Andover Pymatuning Valley; Jamie Willis, Atwater Waterloo; Emily Zehentbauer, Hanoverton United; Kylie Frizell, Smithville; Tanaya Beacham, Youngs. Ursuline; Brittany Gross, Bloomdale Elmwood; Theresa Jackson, Collins Western Reserve.
Honorable Mention
Mason Jamison, Richwood North Union; Morgan Kirkbride, Baltimore Liberty Union; Kim Lloyd, Cols. Ready; Clarisa Lyons, Cardington Lincoln; Darianne Seward, Cols. Africentric;
Chelsie Roberts, Woodsfield Monroe Central; Katie Ellzy, Cadiz Harrison Central; Katlynn Dunlap, Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley; Morgan Liedtke, Beverly Ft. Frye; Emily Baker, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley;
Maria Englert, Cin. Purcell Marian; Megan Hatfield, Georgetown; Katie Heckman, Versailles; Kirsten Paul, Fairfield Cin. Christian; Olivia Philpot, Middletown Madison;
Kylie Berry, Minford; Peighton Williams, Portsmouth; Fay Proehl, Wheelersburg; Madison Davis, Nelsonville-York; Chandler Fulks, Proctorville Fairland; Ariel Schweickart, Ironton; Hayley Carle, Chillicothe Zane Trace; Natalie Cooper, Frankfort Adena; Shelbi Van Meter, Crooksville; Charlene Stout, Bainbridge Paint Valley; McKenzie Coriell, Lucasville Valley; Cady Gilmore, Bidwell River Valley; Ashley Adkins, Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant;
Jessica Vormelker, Orwell Grand Valley; Jessica Janota, Gates Mills Gilmour Acad.; Halle Dorko, Independence; Aneisha Hardin, Beachwood; Nicole Felice, Shaker Hts. Laurel; Alison Schafer, Columbia; Riley Schill, Elyria Cath.;
Sydney Beasley, Youngs. Ursuline; Brooke Barreca, Newton Falls; Megan Forney, Atwater Waterloo; Grace Reilly, Mogadore; Courtney Hydrick, Hanoverton United; Megan McKean, West Salem Northwestern; Ashley Richardson, Doylestown Chippewa;
Katie Simon, Findlay Liberty-Benton; Ciara Albright, Genoa; Brigan Wymer, Delta; Macey Sheerer, Bucyrus; Emily Wood, Ontario; Paige Brady, Bucyrus Wynford.
AP Girls Division IV All-Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The 2012-13 Associated Press Division IV All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION IV
FIRST TEAM: Abby Siefker, Ottoville, 6-2, sr., 17.1; Jill Blacksten, Newark Cath., 6-1, soph., 19.0; Karla Bonar, Shadyside, 5-7, sr., 19.5; Shaye Thomas, New Madison Tri-Village, 5-4, sr., 14.9; Sarah Cash, Lordstown, 5-10, jr., 22.5; Sydney Clark, N. Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad., 5-8, sr., 12.0; Jenna Burdette, Reedsville Eastern, 5-9, jr., 18.1; Miranda Palmer, Arcadia, 5-6, sr., 15.3.
Player of the year: Abby Siefker, Ottoville.
Coaches of the year: Dave Kleman, Ottoville; Randy Baker, Arcadia.
SECOND TEAM: Brooke Drayer, Waterford, 5-8, sr., 14.7; Bri Staats, Danville, 5-8, soph., 20.4; Randa Payne, Mansfield St. Peter's, 5-9, sr., 22.6; Kaylee Patton, Waynesfield-Goshen, 5-9, sr., 26.5; Kelsey Tietje, Hamler Patrick Henry, 6-3, sr., 18.0; Jen Arnzen, Portsmouth Notre Dame, 6-2, sr., 19.7; Darian Rose, Ft. Loramie, 5-8, jr., 17.3.
THIRD TEAM: Anya Misko, Sugarcreek Garaway, 6-0, sr., 18.0; Nickyla Garverick, N. Robinson Col. Crawford, 6-1, sr., 21.3; Michaela Nelson, Xenia Christian, 5-8, sr., 16.0; Molly Nash, Zanesville Rosecrans, 5-10, jr., 15.7; Kaye Solak, Lowellville, 5-8, sr., 15.3.
Special Mention
Kristin Crews, Cols. Tree of Life; Dana Parkman, Gahanna Christian; Audrey Rettstatt, Worthington Christian; Nicole Smolenak, Bridgeport; Regina Hochstetler, Belin Hiland; Hayley Holenka, Shadyside; Cassie Sachs, Cin. Country Day; Amanda Slone, Troy Christian; Hannah Miller, Ironton St. Joseph; Heather Cox, Leesburg Fairfield; Chandler Brown, Beaver Eastern; Mariah McGhee, Cleve. VASJ; Sharday Baines, N. Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Monet Saunders, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Molly Walsh, Newbury; Jessica Isler, Windham; Ally Jones, Bristolville Bristol; Ashley Harrison, Columbiana Crestview; Khylea Fullum, Columbiana; Morgan Merriman, Dalton; Sydney Mast, Kidron Central Christian; Haley Horstman, New Knoxville.
Honorable Mention
Jessica Grubb, Sugar Grove Berne Union; Logan Mattix, Morral Ridgedale; Ashleigh Parkinson, Newark Cath.; Annie Rohrer, Plain City Shekinah Christian; Caroline Wollenburg, Newark Cath.;
Caitlyn Kroll, Bridgeport; Olivia Bower, Bowerston Conotton Valley; Cassidy McCullough, Hannibal River; Courtney Putt, Sugarcreek Garaway; Kendra Schlabach, Berlin Hiland; Alexis Kirkbride, Zanesville Rosecrans;
Jessie Crowell, Covington; Jamie Dodane, Mechanicsburg; Maryah Martin, Yellow Springs; Teha Richards, New Madison Tri-Village; Kylie Wilson, Russia;
Giulia Elli, Franklin Furnace Green; Emily Widdowson, Portsmouth Clay; Mercedes Tackett, Sciotoville Community East; Kaci Messer, South Webster; Katelyn Hughes, Belpre; Chelsey Paxton, Waterford; Jordan Parker, Reedsville Eastern; Ellie Bostic, Crown City South Gallia; Meghan Caldwell, Crown City South Gallia; Brittany Mounts, Beaver Eastern; Brittany Reader, Latham Western;
Shannon Harless, Fairport Harding; Kydall Wellons, N. Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Selena Benz, N. Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Toni Beuck, Cleve. VASJ; Payton Buell, Willoughby Cornerstone Christian; Becca Willis, North Eaton Christian Community School; Nicole Iden, Newbury;
Allison Bell, Cortland Maplewood; Pam Pierce, Lisbon David Anderson; Dari Heller, Windham; Rachel Durbin, Lowellville; Stacey Coblentz, Kidron Central Christian; Brooke Dawson, Cortland Maplewood;
Darian Westmeyer, Tol. Christian; Melissa Michel, Miller City; Hannah Tong, Carey; Amber Gerdeman, Leipsic; Taylor Willeke, Ada; Marissa Myles, Holgate; Kasey Adelsperger, Sycamore Mohawk; Chelsea Winner, Maria Stein Marion Local.
As a sophomore, Dawson earned third team All-Ohio honors and last season was named Division II Ohio Co-Player of the Year.
"It just has a lot to do with the media and coaches respecting her and what she's done," Cozzens said.
Dawson has certainly made an impact on the program.
"She's been a good role model for girls' basketball here at Marietta," Cozzens said.
The Warren Lady Warriors, who earned a share of the SEOAL championship this season, were represented by seniors Jordanna Rauch and Emma Ryan on the honorable mention All-Ohio list.
Rauch and Ryan were the top two scorers on the Amy Colgrove-coached squad, which upset undefeated Jackson and also defeated Marietta for the first time in four years.
Also being honored from Division II was senior Darian Apperson (Special mention) and junior Vada Clemens (Honorable mention) from Morgan.
Apperson and Clemens led the Tim Bowman-coached Lady Raiders to 15 wins this season, second most in school history. Apperson broke the school record by tallying 36 points in a 57-52 win over Tri-Valley earlier in the year, while Clemens finished the 2012-13 campaign with 59 3-pointers, also a school record.
In Division III, the regional champion Fort Frye squad saw senior Deidra Combs make the third team All-Ohio list.
The 5-11 Combs has averaged 11 points per game this season in the well-balanced Lady Cadet attack while also being one of the team's top rebounders and defenders. Combs was an honorable mention selection last season.
Also from the Dan Liedtke-coached Cadets, seniors Taylor Buchanan and Morgan Liedtke earned special mention and honorable mention honors, respectively.
Buchanan, the team's leading scorer with 12 points per game, was a first team selection in 2011-12 and is heading to Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fla.) this fall.
The sharp-shooting Morgan Liedtke has averaged around 10 points per game this season for the Cadets, but has upped it to 15 per game in six postseason contests.
Also from Division III, Monroe Central senior Chelsie Roberts was an honorable mention pick. The 5-7 Roberts led the Lady Seminoles in scoring this winter and was a four-year letter-winner.
Waterford senior Brooke Drayer made second team All-Ohio in Division IV. Averaging 14.7 points per game this season, Drayer, who was Division IV Southeast Co-District Player of the Year, helped lead the Lady Wildcats to a sectional and district championship this season. Waterford also claimed a share of the TVC-Hocking Division championship with Reedsville Eastern.
The 5-8 Drayer, a four-year starter at the point guard position, was a first team honoree a year ago.
Fellow Waterford senior Chelsey Paxton was an honorable mention pick for the second year in a row. Belpre freshman Katelyn Hughes rounded out the area selections on the honorable mention list.
