Caston hopes home court a plus in Saturday's girls basketball regional

The Caston Lady Comets have had a week to get back to work after capturing the program’s second ever sectional title last Saturday at South Newton High School.

Now, the defending 1A girls basketball runner-up is coming to town to play the Comets for a berth in the semistate.

Seventh-ranked Caston (21-3) will host Saturday’s 1A regional against #15 Bethany Christian (18-6). Last year, the Bruins made their first state championship game appearance and lost to top-ranked Lanesville, 60-41. The 24-4 season by Bethany Christan provided the program with its first sectional title since 2016 and first ever regional title.

The Bruins defeated Tri-County at the Caston regional, 38-30.  Caston just edged Tri-County by a point last Saturday to win the program’s only other sectional title since 1985.

Caston was scheduled to play Bethany Christian near the end of the regular season but it was canceled by weather. Comets head coach Josh Douglass isn’t disappointed that game failed to happen.

Bethany Christian returns its top scorer from last season, 5’7” senior Zoe Willems.  Willems has upped her scoring average from just over 17 points per game last season. Now, Willems averages 20.6 ppg to go with 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

Senior Mariah Stoltzfus is the only other double-digit scorer at 11.5 ppg.

Bethany Christian won the Caston Regional last season but it was a neutral court game. This time, it’s expected to be anything but.

Comets head coach Josh Douglass.

Caston senior Addison Zimpleman.

Caston senior Isabel Scales looks forward to being on the home floor but does realize some pressures.

Even though this is a first for this class of Caston basketball players, several comparisons have been drawn to the softball run to the state championship last season. Coach Douglass says this offers some different daily challenges.

GIANT fm Sports WROI coverage of Saturday’s regional begins at 6:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.

At 4 p.m., the Caston gym will host a 3A regional between #7 Benton Central (25-3) and #2 Norwell (20-4). It’s the first meeting between the programs since a Norwell regional victory over Benton Central in 2021.