Girls Basketball Insider: Work ethic paying off at Greeneview

Sophomore Ashton Lovely shines as Rams power to a 5-1 start.

Ashton Lovely (32) of Greeneview is posting big stats this season for the Rams. She averages 26.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic Ashton Lovely (32) of Greeneview is posting big stats this season for the Rams. She averages 26.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 8:30 PM Tuesday, December 20, 2011

JAMESTOWN — With a new team and coaching staff, Greeneview High School girls basketball first-year coach Gregg Haines didn’t know what to expect.

The Rams’ work ethic, however, has paid off. Greeneview is 5-1 heading into the Christmas break, with key victories over West Liberty-Salem, Mechanicsburg and Oakwood.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but the girls are playing hard,” Haines said. “The effort that the girls have put forth has really showed.”

Sophomore guard Ashton Lovely is piling up big numbers for the Rams (5-1, 3-1 Ohio Heritage Conference). She averages 26.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.

“I haven’t seen a female basketball player do what she does,” Haines said. “She can do a lot of things the guys can. She’s fun to watch when she’s on. I definitely think she can play at the next level.”

Known as a scorer, Lovely doesn’t get enough credit for her passing, Haines said.

“There are times she’s thrown the ball and I think ‘How’d that get through there?’,” Haines said.

Defensively, the Rams are allowing 40.8 points per game. Lovely had 12 steals in their win over Northwestern, while Natasha Siebenaler is averaging 3.0 steals per game.

They’ve also got three players — Lovely, Jackie Liming and Sophie Sonneman — averaging more than 1.1 blocks per game.

“(Lovely) just has a nose for where the ball is going to be,” Haines said.

“She has the basketball IQ to read defenses and what different players are going to do to get steals.”

She’s also taking over a leadership role and is getting help from lone senior Caitlin Walters.

“That’s my biggest goal for her,” Haines said. “She’s maturing into a leader.”

While Haines is happy with the team’s start this season, he knows many games remain, and teams can have a letdown in the middle of the season.

“I hope that doesn’t happen with us,” Haines said.

The goal is contend for the Ohio Heritage Conference title.

“If we keep playing hard and play as a team, we can put ourselves in a position to be in the hunt,” Haines said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365, Michael.Cooper@coxohio.com or on Twitter @SNS_Wizard.

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