Since the Ohio Ms. Basketball award’s inception in 1988, The Morning Journal coverage area has yet to produce a winner of the coveted award.
Enter Grace Kingery from North Ridgeville, whose exceptional performance on both ends of the court game after game.
The question has to be asked. Could she contend for Ohio Ms. Basketball?
After the Ball State signee recorded a 27-point, five-block, three-steal and seven-rebound performance in a 52-49 win over Avon Lake, she averages 28.4 points per game, 11.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 2.4 blocks.
Avon Lake vs. North Ridgeville girls basketball: Rangers win completes season sweep
Time and time again, she has showcased her limitless seemingly limitless range. Combine that she stands at 6-foot-1 and has guard skills, she becomes a mismatch for nearly every opponent.
She has the third highest point per game average in Ohio, according to MaxPreps.
"I think regardless, if she is in (the Ohio Ms. Basketball conversation) there or not, we all know that she is one of the best players to ever come through this and in the state," North Ridgeville coach Amy Esser said. "She is going to have an amazing end of her (North Ridgeville) career and go to Ball State."
In the Rocky River Travel Basketball Girls Hoops Classic, Pirates coach Jamey Pfahl assigned 5-11 Mackenzie Russell on Kingery.
She was an All-Ohio midfielder on the soccer pitch. Russell transitions her length and athleticism to the basketball court. Despite that, Kingery scored 25 points in the first half, 32 total, for North Ridgeville to win, 44-39.
“What made (Kingery’s) performance so great was that I thought we were playing great defense. Mackenzie (Russell) was all over her, and she kept hitting shots and she was playing great,” Pfahl said after the game.
Avon Lake coach Paul Appel had to think outside the box to guard her, even with Shoregals defense stalwart Izzie Polinko guarding her. Yet, he still felt compelled to double-team Kingery.
“We never ran girls at people to double team and tonight we did that for the first time. … You also have to give a lot of credit to North Ridgeville,” Appel said. “I thought they shot really well. There are not a lot of girls you can double off of because they have a lot of capable players. It makes (playing defense) hard.”
Over 14 games played her highest scoring performance was 45 points against Elyria in an 80-51 win. Ten days later, she scored 38 in a 63-47 victory against Lakewood.
Kingery showcased herself as more than just a scorer. Against Avon Lake, she recorded five blocks, three steals and seven rebounds. The latest performance put her average to 11.5 rebounds per game, 1.9 steals and 2.4 blocks.
"What (Kingery) puts on the floor every day doesn't necessarily have to be points, even though most times we need that from her. It's whatever the team needs for us to win," Esser said. "That is all that kids care about. She could care less about records and awards. All she wants to do is win. You can see it in every aspect of her game."
With Kingery leading the charge, North Ridgeville (12-3, 6-1 in SWC) has a chance to win its first conference championship since 1995. However, it plans to take the season one game at a time.
"I take it one game at a time. I worry about the future when it comes, so I take it step-by-step," Kingery said.
The Rangers will travel to square off against Amherst (7-6, 4-4 in SWC) on Jan. 20. The Comets lost to Avon, 51-47, but played North Ridgeville tough, for the Rangers to scrape by with a 59-51 victory.
The Morning Journal coverage area has yet to produce a Ms. Basketball winner. Northeast Ohio has had 16 winners.
Canton McKinley's Kierstan Bell was the last winner from Northeast Ohio. She won the award three years in a row (2017-19).
In comparison to last year's Ms. Basketball winner, Dee Alexander (Cincinnati Purcell Marian), she averaged 26.2 points per game, 10.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.6 assists en route to a Division II state championship.
Alexander was a sophomore in the 2022-23 season. Among the seven finalists, four of them were underclassmen.
Other 2022-23 Ohio Ms. Basketball Finalists
Sinai Douglas, Toledo Start, 5-4, Jr.: 16.8 points per game, 6.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 5.3 steals.
Madison Greene, Pickerington Central, 5-7, Sr.: 15.2 points per game, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, Division I regional champion.
Saniyah Hall, Laurel, 6-0, Fr.: Amherst native, 20.8 points per game, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 steals, 2.6 assists, 1.6 blocks.
Rylee Sagester, New Madison Tri-Village, 5-6, Sr.: 21.7 points per game, 4.2 assists, 2.4 steals, 41.9% 3-point shooter, Division IV state champion.
Corri Vermilya, Loudonville, 5-9, Jr.: 29.5 points per game, 12.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 6.5 steals.
Reagan Vinskovich, Belmont Union Local, 6-2, Sr.: 22 points per game, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.5 assists.
