GRANVILLE, Ohio -- In what was sort of a last minute scheduling change, Granville opened its season against non-league opponent Olentangy Orange on Tuesday.

The Blue Aces are coming into the season with high expectations and a loaded roster full of underclassmen talent and it showed immediately. Behind the play of talented super sophomore Ella Wigal, Granville jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 54-45 win over the Pioneers.

Wigal led all scorers with 19 points, getting to the rim at will and helping Granville maintain its high transition tempo. Joining her in double figures was junior guard Cate Schieber, who finished with 11 points. Senior guard Lainie Hilaman had a major second half and finished with nine points.

The rest of the scoring was spread among several players, as Granville got a healthy dose of production from its entire roster. The Aces played a fast pace, full court style of basketball, speeding Orange up and forcing turnovers in the backcourt.

For the Pioneers, senior guard Reese Miller led all scorers with nine points on three triples. Sophomore twin guards Kayla Delmore and Emma Delmore each added eight points in an impressive showing against a very good opponent. 

While only having three seniors on the roster, Granville is a very talented team complete with plenty of young, intriguing prospects. Wigal and Schieber were very impressive on Tuesday, while fellow sophomores Ava Gossman, Ella Hoover and freshmen Aliyah Moore and Harper Annarino showed flashes of the talent that they all possess. 

Look for the Aces to compete at a district title level in Division II this year, as they are talented, lengthy and deep.

For Orange, the Pioneers are young, but have enough pieces to improve on a 4-win season a year ago.

Let's take a look at some of the prospects that stood out the most to us.

Ella Wigal (5'11 WG / Granville / 2023): The 5-foot-11 Wigal has a major future. While she is one of the state's best golfers, she is also one of the better young prospects in Ohio on the hardwood. Going for a game-high 19 points, Wigal showed great flashes of her major ability off the bounce as a big wing guard. Grabbing rebounds and pushing the tempo all game long, Wigal was a huge threat in transition, as she has the speed, quickness and length to get by defenders to the rim. She also showed good vision on the break and found open shooters all game long. We were most impressed with her toughness, grit and physicality on the defensive end, as she pressured the hell out of the ball and made it difficult for opposing ball handlers all game long. She plays with a chip on her shoulder that makes her easy to root for, which when you combine with her natural talent, length, IQ and athleticism, make her one of the most intriguing prospects that we've seen in the last few months. 

Kayla Delmore (5'8 PG / Olentangy Orange / 2023): Immediately popping off the radar by scoring Orange's first two buckets, Delmore was one of the top stock risers in Tuesday's game. The 5-foot-8 guard is a talented shot creator that did an outstanding job in the face of tight ball pressure from the taller, longer Wigal. Delmore has a shifty handle and knows how to play at different speeds which help her keep the defense off balance. We were really impressed with Delmore's ability to get to the basket and finish, as she had one of the most efficient performances of anyone on the floor. Delmore has a high basketball IQ and is a great competitor, which will help her continue to improve and enhance her game going forward. 

Cate Schieber (5'9 PG / Granville / 2022): Whew. We are big fans of Schieber's game. She plays with a certain edge and toughness that her teammates feed off of. The junior guard had an elite showing on the defensive end, pressuring the ball at a very high level while also playing the passing lanes to come up with a few steals. Schieber rebounded like a grown woman, despite not being the biggest player on the floor, going up through contact and showing no aversion to physicality. On the offensive end, Schieber has a tight, shifty handle, she has great vision as a passer and a really smooth shooting stroke that helped her knock down two three-point field goals. You need tough, heady, smart players like Schieber in order to win at a big level. 

Emma Delmore (5'8 PG / Olentangy Orange / 2023): The Delmore sisters are the key to the Orange program going forward and we liked what we saw from Emma on Tuesday. A reliable ball handler that can handle pressure, create offense and make the correct pass, Delmore is a true point guard that can also step out and make an outside jumper. Ball control is key against teams like Granville that pressure and trap and Delmore had a strong showing against a team that thrives off turnovers. Keep an eye on the Delmore twins of Orange. 

Lainie Hilaman (5'7 G / Granville / 2021): Ultimate role player. On a team full of stars, Hilaman has no problem filling her role as the scrappy guard that does all the little things. That's exactly what she did on Tuesday, as her motor and intensity on defense stood out the most. Defending the ball with great toughness and physicality, Hilaman helped force a handful of steals and carried that over to the offensive end where she finished through contact on two And-1 finishes. Hilaman and Schieber form a tough one-two punch in the backcourt that sets the tone with their physicality and commitment to defense. 

Carley Phillips (5'11 F / Olentangy Orange / 2023): In a matchup against a team full of long athletes, Phillips had a strong showing on the interior for Orange. With a long, lanky frame, Phillips has a soft touch around the basket and showed the ability to hit from close range against pressure. As she continues to get more reps under her belt and adjusts to the physicality of the game, Phillips will have a chance to add more layers to her game, as she showed to have a reliable handle and capable jump shot. The Pioneers have a strong young core and Phillips will be a key part of it for years to come.

Reese Miller (5'6 G / Olentangy Orange / 2021): Hitting a game-high three triples, Miller showed off the game's best shooting stroke on Tuesday. While Delmore did most of the dirty work for Orange in the backcourt, Miller was a reliable outside shooting threat that helped the Pioneers offense get going in the first half.