First Posted: 3/29/2015
BATH TOWNSHIP — It was quite a run for the Bath Wildkitten seniors.
Four Western Buckeye League titles.
A WBL record of 36-0.
One state appearance and three trips to the regionals.
An overall current streak of winning 42 straight regular-season WBL games.
And at the heart of it this year was Bath 5-foot-9 senior guard Maddie Dackin.
Today Dackin is honored as The Lima News’ Dream Team player of the year. She heads the girls basketball Dream Team.
“It’s definitely amazing,” Dackin said of the last four years. “Looking back it means more now than it did when we were going through it. It’s always the goal (to win the WBL), but it’s pretty amazing (the streak).”
Added Bath coach Greg Mauk, “Our senior class was a real successful group and Maddie was the catalyst for all that. She set the tone with her offseason work.”
The girls basketball coach of the year is Troy Yant (Ottawa-Glandorf), who guided his team to the Division III state championship game and a 26-3 record.
Dackin helped the Wildkittens to a 23-2 season this year. They advanced to the regional semifinals before falling to Toledo Rogers.
“We wanted to go farther, but what we did was a huge accomplishment,” Dackin said.
Dackin averaged 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2 assists. She was the WBL player of the year, first team all-district and third team all-state.
“She had a great year for us, and not just with scoring,” Mauk said. “She improved her game in four years more than any other player I’ve had in my 17 years as coach. She worked her tail off.”
Dackin not only delivered from the outside, she also knocked down 15-foot jumpers and sliced her way to the basket for driving layups.
And when the Wildkittens needed her the most, she delivered. Even in the regional semifinal loss, Dackin had 22 points, with four 3-pointers, and six rebounds against a much taller Rogers team.
“She played like a player of the year should play in big games,” Mauk said. “She wasn’t afraid to put herself in a position to win the game. She wanted the ball in her hands.
“And she was the senior leader, always, in practice or games. She knew what had to be done on the floor and communicated that on the floor.”
Dackin is the fourth and final sister to come through the Wildkittens’ basketball program. She followed Alex, Rachel and Taylor.
“They definitely pushed me to be better,” Maddie said.
Dackin will run track this spring to stay in shape for basketball, as she has signed to play at Ashland.
She’s already planning her summer basketball program.
“Over the summer I’ll be working hard for Ashland,” Dackin said. “I’m definitely super excited about Ashland. I want to get better at shooting, ball handling and taking it to the hole.”
