FCA’s Mershimer reaches scoring milestone by always being in attack mode

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Fairfield Christian Academy junior talks about scoring 1,000 career points. Tom Wilson/Eagle-Gazette

LANCASTER - Scoring 1,000-career points is not an easy chore and it is a major accomplishment reaching that goal, but when a player accomplishes that milestone halfway through their junior season, it shows they have a knack for scoring.

Fairfield Christian Academy’s Celeste Mershimer reached the 1,000-point plateau just over a week ago.

“It is kind of unbelievable, really,” Mershimer said. “When I first came here as a freshman, it was never my goal or anything to score 1,000 points, but towards the beginning of this year, I started realizing it was going to happen and It feels really good and feels I like I accomplished something great. I felt very relieved when it was over, though.”

Mershimer is usually the smallest player on the court, but she is tenacious, relentless and can score in many different ways. She is always in attack mode.

If opposing defenses give her space, she will knock down a 3-pointer, but most of her scoring comes from taking the ball to the basket, and even though she is usually the shortest player, she is able to somehow create just enough room to get her shot off against much-bigger players. More than anything, she is fearless and she does a great job finishing around the basket.

“She is really good at penetrating into lane and she makes some really difficult shots around the rim,” Fairfield Christian coach Ben Bethel said. “She is also a really good the 3-point shooter and it was makes her such a tough person to guard. She is crafty with the ball and she can get through tight spaces and get to the rim where most people can’t do that. She is more creative than most players are at getting to the rim.”

Mershimer is also a winner. During her two-plus years as a starter, the Knights, who are 14-2 overall and ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press state poll this season, have not lost a game in the Mid-State League-Cardinal Division. Also during that time, they have won two district championships have won 60 games.

“A lot of her success has been how much and time and effort she has put in and all of her hard work,” Bethel said. “We have had a lot of success as a team, and a lot of that is because of her play She is a great scorer, a good leader and someone that every game I expect the best from her and she knows that.”

Mershimer fully understands that she is expected to put up big numbers, as far as scoring, each and every game, but she also realizes she can’t do it by herself, which is why she makes sure she gets her teammates involved.

“Every single game I try to focus on being consistent with my scoring because that is a huge part of the game, and as a key player you need to be reliable,” Mershimer said. That is something I’ve focused on and over the last two years, it has just build up and I didn’t even realize how much I was scoring, but it feels great.

 “It kind of plays into being selfish, as far as scoring a lot, but I’ve been working on really trying to get everyone involved. I’m trying to help my teammates get better. As a point guard, I need to know when to shoot or pass.”

Mershimer has improved her scoring output each year. She averaged 12 points per game as a freshman, 17 as a sophomore, where she was named third team All-Ohio, and this year, she is averaging 19 points per game.

“Because of my height, I’ve really had to adjust my game,” Mershimer said. “It all comes down to screening and using my dribble and creating space to help me get open. Coach also sets us up with some good sets and that helps, as well. I just love playing the game, and having success as an individual, more importantly, as a team, makes you work even harder.”

twilson@lancastereaglegazette.com

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Twitter: @twil2323