Wadsworth’s Jodi Johnson goes up for a shot against Eastmoor Academy’s Ovian Whitlow-Moore during the second quarter. (RON SCHWANE / GAZETTE)
Albert Grindle
The Gazette
WADSWORTH — It was that awkward moment when Jodi Johnson had absolutely, positively no idea what in the world was going on.
The Wadsworth star had just hit a 3-pointer with 2:14 left Friday in what ended up being a 61-40 Grizzlies victory over three-time defending Westerville Division II District champion Eastmoor Academy. Longtime coach Andrew Booth immediately called timeout, and Johnson received congratulations from twin sister Jenna.
It took a few seconds to sink in, but the 5-foot-11 shooting guard figured out what had happened when she heard public address announcer Jason Knapp’s voice: She had scored her 1,000th career point.
Booth presented Johnson the game ball and the crowd roared in approval, leading to a shy smile from the humble senior, who never has been comfortable as the center of attention.
“I honestly didn’t even know I was close,” Johnson said, “but Coach put it into perspective in the locker room when he said in 40 years of Wadsworth High School basketball, only (nine) people have done this. So, obviously, I’m very honored.”
A Division I first-team All-Ohioan, Johnson became the 27th Medina County player to reach the milestone. She also joined Katelyn Vujas (1,562, class of 1999), Cassie Schrock (1,391, 2007), Julie Ruhlin (1,338, 1988), Jen Uhl (1,304, 2007), Elisa Inman (1,173, 1999), Jessica Henry (1,142, 1995), Sarah Wilfong (1,040, 1993) and Cheryl Althaus (1,064, 1979) in Wadsworth lore.
The Ashland recruit outshined the Warriors’ Amani Burke (9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals), the sister of Utah Jazz point guard Trey Burke, and finished with 22 points (7-for-21 shooting), seven boards, five steals, two assists and two blocks.
Johnson’s moment in the spotlight came after Wadsworth (1-0) had finally secured a comfortable lead in the non-league game. The Grizzlies were in their secondary break, and Jenna Johnson (7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists) found her sister, who hit nothing but net near the Wadsworth bench.
“I make that three and then (Booth) calls a timeout,” Johnson said with growing excitement. “Jen comes to me and she’s like, ‘Good job!’ and I’m like, ‘What? Uh, thanks? I finally made a three.’ Then they started announcing it on the loudspeaker or whatever and I was like, ‘Oh.’
“I didn’t realize (Jenna) threw me the pass. That was cool, though. That’s awesome.”
The rest of the game was hack-infested and inconsistent with 47 fouls, 59 free throws and 44 turnovers. Sporting neither a starter taller than 5-foot-8 nor depth, Eastmoor Academy stuck around for a while but, like so many opponents over the years, wore down against Wadsworth’s pressure.
The Grizzlies looked like a state title contender right out of the chute and took a 19-5 lead just 3:35 in. They outscored the Warriors 17-5 in the third quarter, but the second and fourth were ugly with a combined 7-for-30 shooting and stretches of sloppy play.
Sophomore point guard Sophia Fortner was in midseason form and finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals, while center Lexi Lance added six points and six boards.
Eastmoor Academy was 1-for-16 in the decisive third quarter, as Wadsworth, which won the rebounding battle 44-30, stretched a 39-26 halftime lead to 56-31.
“We knew we had to come out strong against this team because we knew their past and what they had on their team this year,” Johnson said. “We did in the first quarter, but in the second quarter we got out of control. At halftime, we talked, fixed everything and calmed down in the third quarter and fourth quarter.”
None of that could overshadow Johnson’s night, however, as she unknowingly etched her place in the history books.
“The big thing that is enjoyable for us coaches is the type of kid she is,” Booth said. “When you see a kid that’s such a great kid, very humble, very talented but works very hard and gets to a milestone like that, it makes you feel good for them.”
Note
| Wadsworth’s junior varsity won 46-15. Leah Maher had 10 points. |
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.
Wadsworth 61, Eastmoor Academy 40
EASTMOOR ACADMEY 13 13 5 9 — 40
WADSWORTH 26 13 17 5 — 61
Eastmoor Academy — Darryl Daniels 1-0-2, Jala Belcher 0-3-3, Amani Burke 4-0-9, Mahogany Merritt 5-2-15, Samaria Rodgers-Gossett 1-1-3, Ovian Whitlow-Moore 0-2-2, MChale Grent 1-1-3, Destiny Wooten 1-0-2, Teresa Craig 0-1-1. TOTALS: 13-10-40.
Wadsworth — Jenna Johnson 1-5-7, Laurel Palitto 1-0-2, Lexi Lance 2-2-6, Jodi Johnson 7-7-22, Sophia Fortner 5-4-15, McKenna Banks 1-0-2, Peyton Banks 1-1-3, Olivia Chaney 1-0-2, Maddie Movsesian 0-1-1, Maddie Sonntag 0-0-0, Alexa Conley 0-1-1, Meggie Flanigan 0-0-0. TOTALS: 19-21-61.
3-point goals — Merritt 3, Burke, Jo. Johnson, Fortner. Rebounds
— Eastmoor Academy 30 (Burke 6), Wadsworth 44 (Jo. Johnson, Fortner 7). Assists — Eastmoor Academy 6 (Belcher 4), Wadsworth 9 (Jo. Johnson 2, Palitto 2, Je. Johnson 2). Records — Eastmoor Academy (0-1), Wadsworth (1-0). Junior varsity — Wadsworth 46, Eastmoor Academy 15.