Toronto Lady Red Knights Reflect on a Milestone Season and Look Ahead to the Future
2025 Winter Season Recap Series
The 2025 season for the Toronto High School Girls Basketball Team was a journey filled with grit, growth, and groundbreaking accomplishments. Under the leadership of Head Coach Rusty Hodgkiss, the Lady Red Knights battled through adversity, leaned on their leaders, and made school history by earning a spot in the OVAC (Ohio Valley Athletic Conference) tournament for the first time in program history.
Finishing with a record of 9-14, the team’s year was far from perfect on paper, but it was full of pivotal moments, personal development, and signs of a bright future.
Stars on the Court: Who Made It Happen
One of the biggest keys to the Lady Knights’ competitiveness this season was the dynamic performance of Senior Tatum Derrington. A powerhouse on both ends of the floor, Derrington led the team in assists, blocks, and rebounds, and was second in scoring, steals, and deflections. Her all-around contribution made her the engine that kept the team moving forward in close contests.
Sophomore Jayna Reeves had a breakout year, leading the team in scoring. According to Coach Hodgkiss, her evolution as a player was evident. “She finally realized that she can’t be guarded,” he said. “She was more aggressive, really got to the hole, and shot the ball well from three.” Her growth in confidence turned her into a consistent offensive threat.
Josie Dickinson was the team’s defensive cornerstone, a relentless on-ball defender, and a spark plug on offense. As the season progressed, she began to see the floor better and created more scoring opportunities for her teammates.
Highs, Lows, and Learning Moments
The 2025 season wasn’t always smooth sailing. With limited depth—only seven players typically in rotation—the Lady Knights often wore down late in games, leading to narrow losses in contests they could have won.
Still, the team managed some impressive achievements. Making the OVAC tournament for the first time in school history was a historic moment and a validation of the players' hard work and Coach Hodgkiss's leadership.
Early in the season, the Lady Knights dominated a much larger and more successful school, giving the team a boost of confidence and setting the tone for what they were capable of.
Among other high points were victories over Wellsville, Buckeye Local, and East Palestine, and a hard-fought game against a talented Malvern squad in the season finale. These moments reminded the team—and their community—of the potential within the program.
One of the most emotional points of the season came after a rollercoaster of wins and losses. After defeating a rival to push closer to a tournament berth, the Lady Knights stumbled against another rival that hadn’t beaten them in five years. That loss briefly knocked them out of position for the OVAC tournament—until fate intervened and the other team lost its final game, allowing Toronto to get back in.
Rising Stars and Steady Leaders
One of the most promising developments was the growth of the team’s underclassmen. Jayna Reeves took major strides forward and emerged as a focal point of the offense. “We needed her to score as a freshman, but she was hesitant,” said Hodgkiss. “This year, her confidence really took off.”
Olivia Owings also had a strong start to the season, contributing on the boards and on offense. The hope is that she can build off that momentum in the offseason and return with even greater consistency.
Then there was Tatum Derrington, who not only delivered statistically but also blossomed into a leader in her final year. “Tatum was shy and kind of quiet at practice for three years but really came out of her shell this year,” said Hodgkiss. “She led by example.”
The other senior, Maddie, was a newcomer to Toronto but made an instant impact with her energy and attitude. “I only wish we had a chance to have her for four years,” said the coach. “She fit us like a glove.”
Challenges, Responses, and Resilience
The Lady Knights were fortunate to avoid major injuries for most of the season. However, late in the year, Josie Dickinson injured her ankle—a blow that affected the team’s already thin rotation. Despite the setback, Josie adapted, using her basketball IQ to anticipate plays and assist in transition.
Tough losses, while frustrating, didn’t dampen the team’s spirit for long. “The losses were only tough the night of,” said Hodgkiss. “They washed it off and bounced back at practice the next day with positive energy.” That kind of resilience proved to be a crucial part of the team's ability to keep pushing through the season.
A Future of Possibility… and Responsibility
Looking ahead, Coach Hodgkiss is both excited and cautious about the future. With a core of talented sophomores set to return, the Lady Knights have the potential to become a strong team in the coming years. But the next step requires more than talent.
“We have a chance to be really good IF we put in the work,” Hodgkiss emphasized. “As a program, the kids have NEVER done the offseason stuff. We usually come back a year older but not better. We have a chance—I fear it will be wasted.”
That honest assessment underscores the importance of offseason preparation. The team is introducing the Ballogy training program, which offers skill development and performance tracking. But like any tool, its effectiveness depends on how much the athletes are willing to invest in it.
Beyond technical skills, the team must also improve its physical strength to compete with the more physically demanding teams on their schedule. Finishing at the rim, shooting under pressure, and rebounding with tenacity are all areas marked for improvement.
Building on a Foundation of Growth
While the 2025 season didn’t produce a winning record, it did something perhaps even more valuable—it laid a foundation. With new program milestones achieved and young talent stepping into bigger roles, Toronto Girls Basketball has taken a leap forward.
The future depends on what comes next. Will the players embrace the offseason grind? Will the lessons of this year fuel a more focused and determined team? Time will tell.
But one thing is clear: the Lady Red Knights are no longer just participating—they’re building something. And if they continue down that path, the best may be yet to come.
Stats and more information about the Toronto Girls Basketball program can be found on MaxPreps.
 tournament for the first time in program history.
Finishing with a record of 9-14, the team’s year was far from perfect on paper, but it was full of pivotal moments, personal development, and signs of a bright future.
Stars on the Court: Who Made It Happen
One of the biggest keys to the Lady Knights’ competitiveness this season was the dynamic performance of Senior Tatum Derrington. A powerhouse on both ends of the floor, Derrington led the team in assists, blocks, and rebounds, and was second in scoring, steals, and deflections. Her all-around contribution made her the engine that kept the team moving forward in close contests.
Sophomore Jayna Reeves had a breakout year, leading the team in scoring. According to Coach Hodgkiss, her evolution as a player was evident. “She finally realized that she can’t be guarded,” he said. “She was more aggressive, really got to the hole, and shot the ball well from three.” Her growth in confidence turned her into a consistent offensive threat.
Josie Dickinson was the team’s defensive cornerstone, a relentless on-ball defender, and a spark plug on offense. As the season progressed, she began to see the floor better and created more scoring opportunities for her teammates.
Highs, Lows, and Learning Moments
The 2025 season wasn’t always smooth sailing. With limited depth—only seven players typically in rotation—the Lady Knights often wore down late in games, leading to narrow losses in contests they could have won.
Still, the team managed some impressive achievements. Making the OVAC tournament for the first time in school history was a historic moment and a validation of the players' hard work and Coach Hodgkiss's leadership.
Early in the season, the Lady Knights dominated a much larger and more successful school, giving the team a boost of confidence and setting the tone for what they were capable of.
Among other high points were victories over Wellsville, Buckeye Local, and East Palestine, and a hard-fought game against a talented Malvern squad in the season finale. These moments reminded the team—and their community—of the potential within the program.
One of the most emotional points of the season came after a rollercoaster of wins and losses. After defeating a rival to push closer to a tournament berth, the Lady Knights stumbled against another rival that hadn’t beaten them in five years. That loss briefly knocked them out of position for the OVAC tournament—until fate intervened and the other team lost its final game, allowing Toronto to get back in.
Rising Stars and Steady Leaders
One of the most promising developments was the growth of the team’s underclassmen. Jayna Reeves took major strides forward and emerged as a focal point of the offense. “We needed her to score as a freshman, but she was hesitant,” said Hodgkiss. “This year, her confidence really took off.”
Olivia Owings also had a strong start to the season, contributing on the boards and on offense. The hope is that she can build off that momentum in the offseason and return with even greater consistency.
Then there was Tatum Derrington, who not only delivered statistically but also blossomed into a leader in her final year. “Tatum was shy and kind of quiet at practice for three years but really came out of her shell this year,” said Hodgkiss. “She led by example.”
The other senior, Maddie, was a newcomer to Toronto but made an instant impact with her energy and attitude. “I only wish we had a chance to have her for four years,” said the coach. “She fit us like a glove.”
Challenges, Responses, and Resilience
The Lady Knights were fortunate to avoid major injuries for most of the season. However, late in the year, Josie Dickinson injured her ankle—a blow that affected the team’s already thin rotation. Despite the setback, Josie adapted, using her basketball IQ to anticipate plays and assist in transition.
Tough losses, while frustrating, didn’t dampen the team’s spirit for long. “The losses were only tough the night of,” said Hodgkiss. “They washed it off and bounced back at practice the next day with positive energy.” That kind of resilience proved to be a crucial part of the team's ability to keep pushing through the season.
A Future of Possibility… and Responsibility
Looking ahead, Coach Hodgkiss is both excited and cautious about the future. With a core of talented sophomores set to return, the Lady Knights have the potential to become a strong team in the coming years. But the next step requires more than talent.
“We have a chance to be really good IF we put in the work,” Hodgkiss emphasized. “As a program, the kids have NEVER done the offseason stuff. We usually come back a year older but not better. We have a chance—I fear it will be wasted.”
That honest assessment underscores the importance of offseason preparation. The team is introducing the Ballogy training program, which offers skill development and performance tracking. But like any tool, its effectiveness depends on how much the athletes are willing to invest in it.
Beyond technical skills, the team must also improve its physical strength to compete with the more physically demanding teams on their schedule. Finishing at the rim, shooting under pressure, and rebounding with tenacity are all areas marked for improvement.
Building on a Foundation of Growth
While the 2025 season didn’t produce a winning record, it did something perhaps even more valuable—it laid a foundation. With new program milestones achieved and young talent stepping into bigger roles, Toronto Girls Basketball has taken a leap forward.
The future depends on what comes next. Will the players embrace the offseason grind? Will the lessons of this year fuel a more focused and determined team? Time will tell.
But one thing is clear: the Lady Red Knights are no longer just participating—they’re building something. And if they continue down that path, the best may be yet to come.
Stats and more information about the Toronto Girls Basketball program can be found on MaxPreps.){kind=tracking}
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