When your tradition-rich girls basketball team wins a Division I regional championship for the first time in 10 years, sticking out during postgame celebrations can be a little difficult. Everyone’s happy, everyone’s hugging, everyone’s smiling, so on and so forth.
Laurel Palitto cherished Wadsworth’s 47-39 win over Toledo Whitmer on Saturday arguably more than anyone.
Laurel Palitto shoots for Wadsworth. RON SCHWANE/GAZETTE
The fun-loving senior embodies what makes great teams great. She’s sacrificed so much to help the Grizzlies earn a berth in the state semifinals, and she doesn’t think twice about it.
What made the net-cutting so special for Palitto, though, was how much she loves her team and school. It’s a good bet no Wadsworth player cried more during that one-hour celebration at Norwalk High.
“We have worked so hard,” said Palitto, who then paused before continuing. “I’m going to cry again. I’ve cried a lot. I don’t know why. To finally get to where we’ve wanted to reach since we’ve been little kids, it’s been unreal. I’m excited about it, and to have the support of the community is so great.
“When Jodi (Johnson) lifted that trophy into the air, I broke down because everyone was standing and cheering. My family and friends were grinning ear to ear, and I looked at my teammates and they were doing the same. I was thinking, ‘I love this.’ It humbled me a lot.”
Palitto has done her fair share of humbling opponents in three seasons as a starter — Wadsworth is 75-6 — and her contributions can’t be measured in statistics.
A 5-foot-10 small forward, Palitto averages 3.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals. That doesn’t seem like much, but it’s extremely important to point out Palitto is totally cool with that.
When your team has other future college players such as Jodi Johnson, Sophia Fortner, Lexi Lance and Peyton Banks, there’s no reason to try to play hero.
And when your 26-1 team earns the privilege to step onto the court Friday night against Reynoldsburg (23-5) at Value City Arena, there’s no reason to argue with the results. Just enjoy the ride.
“I can’t believe this is going to be the last week,” Palitto said. “It’s going to make me sad. We’ve had some good moments and fun memories. We’ve known each other since basketball camp, city league, travel league. They’re my second family. I’m going to miss this a lot. I know that right now.”
Players don’t start for teams like Wadsworth for three years without ability. Make no mistake: Palitto can play. The University of Rio Grande wouldn’t want her to play basketball and study sonography if she couldn’t.
Known as “Lo” to her teammates, Palitto specializes in defense, unselfish passing and jump shots within the flow of the offense. She also isn’t afraid to get physical — she has taken four charges this season — is a career 68 percent foul shooter and a 3.6 grade-point average proves she takes the classroom as seriously as basketball.
Palitto remembers her varsity promotion and being blown away by the speed of a summer league game at Solon. She also remembers the honor that came with starting as a 10th-grader and how close her bond remains with then-seniors Hannah Centea, Peyton Booth and Madison Gilger.
Palitto played power forward her first two seasons before assistant coach Mark Postak recommended flipping spots with then-small forward Jenna Johnson. The move outside has highlighted Palitto’s strengths, as she is second on the team with 19 3-pointers, masterful at running the secondary break and money at throwing post-entry bounce passes that often split multiple defenders in the key.
Like the rest of the team, however, the soccer player gets the biggest thrills at the other end.
“My favorite part of defense would have to be doing something really well for a long period of time and the crowd all of sudden starts clapping,” said Palitto, who has 330 points, 155 assists and 147 steals in her 88-game career. “At Medina (in the district tournament), we got a good stop and an and-one. It was pass to pass to pass to pass and finish, and everyone was included. It was a beautiful play, and I loved it. I feed off the crowd.”
One of the team’s emotional leaders, Palitto also has a dry, goofy and sometimes self-deprecating sense of humor. Without breaking stride, she blurted out “at least I think that’s how I think” and sarcastically said this close-knit group of girls is “sometimes too comfortable” with each other.
Asked to explain why she’s that way, Palitto said she was raised to “live outside your comfort zone, have fun and enjoy the moment while it lasts.”
Coach Andrew Booth appreciates that Palitto is comfortable in her own skin.
“She knows when it’s time to get serious and have a little fun,” said Booth, who also praised Palitto for her dependability. “I don’t think it can always be the coaches that set that tone. It’s going to have to be a player. She’s certainly been one of those kids for us, for sure.”
Palitto’s memorable career is coming to a close, but it’s not over yet. Despite all the excitement, she couldn’t be more focused.
The Grizzlies aren’t going to Columbus to soak in the atmosphere. They’re going to Columbus to bring home a state championship.
“We definitely have a job, and it’s a passion,” she said. “We don’t want to lose. We’re going down there to win because (late fan) Zane Walker asked if we could do it for him. I hope we do it for him, and I hope we do it for the fans. We’ve had a lot of support.
“I don’ t know my life without (Wadsworth basketball), honestly, since going from little Laurel to big Laurel. My best friends have come from this program, my family has grown in this program, my community is in this program. I’ll remember these people forever. When I don’t wear that jersey again — and I can’t imagine the day — I’ll remember it was great to have this much support. I don’t deserve it.”