Caston wins 1A girls basketball regional

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 9:03 AM

By Johnny McCrory

The Caston Lady Comets had to wait until mid-afternoon Sunday for the IHSAA draw to find out where, who and when they would play at this Saturday’s girls basketball semistate.

On Saturday, Caston didn’t allow for much mystery or drama in defeating Bethany Christian, 44-29.

Caston’s defense dominated the defending 1A state runners-up. Senior leading scorer Zoe Willems reached her season average of 20 points but she got little offensive help. Fellow senior Mariah Stoltzfus scored six and Morgan Chupp made a late-game three pointer to round out the Bruins scoring.

Caston held Bethany Christian to 9-of-38 shooting from the field (23%) and outrebounded the Bruins by 10, 29-19.

Up by ten at halftime, Caston increased the lead to 18 at the end of the third quarter, 37-19.

Caston head coach Josh Douglass said after holding down the Bruins offense the fourth quarter became a game of keep-away.

Douglass won a regional at Riverton Parke in 2012. He said winning the regional at Caston is extra special.

Addison Zimpleman led the seventh-ranked Comets (22-3) with 14 points. Madisyn Douglass scored 11 and Isabel Scales added 10.

On Sunday, Caston was slotted into the 1A brackets at Frankfort’s Case Arena for Saturday’s semistate. The Comets will play in the second semifinal and will face fifth-ranked Marquette Catholic (22-4).

The first semifinal at Frankfort will feature second-ranked Clinton Central (24-1) and Union City (14-12).