Licking County trio racing for Mount Vernon Nazarene

On Jan 19, 2023

The Mount Vernon Nazarene women’s indoor track team has a distinct Licking County flavor.

Watkins Memorial graduate Ashley Burgess, Licking Valley graduate Grace Chesser and Johnstown graduate Lily Scarberry joined Lyssi Snouffer on the winning 1,600 relay last Saturday during Capital’s Comet Opener. The foursome ran a time of 4:16.91.

Burgess, a sophomore, also won the 400 (1:04.03) with Scarberry, a freshman, placing third (1:06.41) and Chesser, a junior, fourth (1:06.61) for the Cougars, who are coached by former Granville Christian coach Ellis Gallion.

In the men’s meet, Watkins graduate Zion Park cleared 14-feet-1 to win the pole vault for host Capital.

Sharps, Shumate meeting ahead

A pair of former Newark stars are set to match up again Saturday.

Morgan Sharps and her Bowling Green women’s basketball teammates host Katie Shumate and her Kent State teammates in a battle of two of the Mid-American Conference’s best teams at 1 p.m. Saturday with a rematch set for 2 p.m. Feb. 11 in Kent.

Sharps, a senior, is averaging 10.4 points per game, shooting 43% from the field and 39% from 3-point range for the 15-2 Falcons, who beat rival Toledo 88-76 on Wednesday. She left Wednesday night’s win with an injury, but she has a season high of 26 points and has scored in double figures in four of the last six games.

Shumate, a senior, is averaging 10.4 points, shooting 40% from the field and 84% from the foul line, and 5.7 rebounds per game for the 11-5 Golden Flashes. She had a season-high 23 points in a 59-56 upset of Oklahoma State on Nov. 20.

The Shumate siblings also are having a quite a season as J.T. Shumate, a senior, is averaging a team-best 18.4 points per game for the Toledo men’s basketball team. Shumate is shooting a blistering 58% from the field, 43% from 3-point range and 90% from the line for the Rockets, who visit Buffalo at 8:30 p.m. Friday for a game broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Emma Shumate, a freshman, has recorded a team-best 15 blocks for the Ohio State women’s basketball team. Shumate has made six 3-pointers and grabbed 14 rebounds off the bench for the unbeaten Buckeyes, who are ranked No. 2 and host Iowa at 7 p.m. Monday for a showdown to be broadcast on ESPN2.

Hinton finds niche at Malone

Newark graduate Elijah Hinton has been an offensive threat for the Malone men’s basketball team. He scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in an 86-80 overtime victory at Lake Erie.

Hinton, a sophomore, has six double-digit scoring games for the 11-4 Pioneers. He is shooting an efficient 49% from the field and 50% from 3-point range, averaging 8.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Antritt in Rio Grande lineup

Newark Catholic graduate Harlei Antritt has been in the center of the action during another impressive season for the Rio Grande women’s basketball team.

Antritt, a sophomore, has started every game for the 17-2 Red Storm and scored a high of 15 points in the season opener against Miami-Hamilton. She is averaging 5.6 points, shooting 41% from the field and 71% from the foul line, and 6.2 rebounds per game.