Ellet scoring record staying classy with Caitlyn Holmes, Markita Griffin-Roberts | Ulrich

When Caitlyn Holmes breaks the Ellet girls basketball scoring record by passing Markita Griffin-Roberts, they will both be worthy of applause.

Holmes is continuing to build her high school hoops legacy down the stretch of her junior season, and Griffin-Roberts cemented her status as an all-time City Series great three decades ago.

It's refreshing when a torch is passed in such a classy way.

Ellet (16-6) won the City Series championship last month for the third consecutive season and will be seeking its second Division I sectional title in as many years when it tips off against Avon (13-10) at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The victor will advance to a district semifinal, where it'll meet the winner of another Thursday night sectional final between Parma Heights Valley Forge (2-20) and Archbishop Hoban (17-3).

Ellet appears to be on a postseason collision course with top-seeded Hoban. On Dec. 13, Hoban won 49-45 at Ellet.

With 1,230 career points, Holmes needs 25 to tie and 26 to break Griffin-Roberts' record of 1,255.

Griffin-Roberts ended her high school career in 1995 as the Beacon Journal Player of the Year. Now in her 20th season as an Ohio High School Athletic Association-licensed basketball official, Griffin-Roberts is thrilled for Holmes and cheering for the teenage guard to knock out the milestone this season.

“I think there's no better person,” Griffin-Roberts, 46, said by phone. “She's very sweet, very humble, loves the game.”

And this is crucial to understanding the value of Holmes' pursuit: She doesn't have a history of padding her stats against the weaker City Series teams.

Everyone involved with Akron Public Schools realizes some schools struggle with participation numbers in athletics and experience difficulty keeping certain sports programs afloat. The City Series Player of the Year, Holmes views matchups against those types of opponents as opportunities for her supporting cast to gain confidence.

Through 22 games this season, Holmes is averaging 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.4 steals. A deeper dive reveals her scoring average against City Series teams is 13.7 compared with 21.7 versus nonleague competition.

Holmes and coach Nick Harris want her best statistical production to come against the top opponents on Ellet's schedule.

“That's what it should be,” Holmes said. “I don't think it's right for me to go and give East 50, and then go post on social media I got my thousand points. I don't think that's right.”

Don't confuse Holmes' maturity and sensibility with a lack of competitiveness.

When Holmes and Griffin-Roberts met two years ago, Holmes inquired about the Ellet girls single-game record for 3-pointers held by Griffin-Roberts. The number is eight. Holmes has reached six thus far, and she's informed Griffin-Roberts she's shooting to surpass her.

“I'm coming for all the records,” Holmes said. “I'm trying to do everything.”

In December, Holmes committed to play basketball at Kent State University. Griffin-Roberts had a stellar collegiate career at Ball State and is ecstatic she and Holmes will have the Mid-American Conference in common.

In the meantime, Holmes has a legitimate chance to become the most highly decorated girls basketball player from an APS program in 30 years. Griffin-Roberts is the last from the City Series to be voted first-team All Ohio, a selection she earned in Division I as an Ellet senior in 1995.

Holmes was a second-team All-Ohio choice in Division I last season as a sophomore.

“The eras have changed,” Griffin-Roberts said. “I believe that the '90s era, the early 2000s era were very high level. I think the City went slightly down, but when Caitlyn Holmes arrived in the City Series, I believe she put the City Series back on the map.

“I used to pride myself on defense when I was in high school and college, but I think I would have a hard time staying in front of her. So the girls that I played against, the girls that I've officiated, I would easily say in the last 30 years she's in the top five of the guards that I've seen in the City Series.”

Holmes sets the bar high for herself. She aspires to have her Ellet jersey retired by the school — which would be unprecedented. She knows postseason success is needed to bolster her case. Thriving beyond high school wouldn't hurt, either, and she already has MAC Freshman of the Year on her list of Kent State goals.

Last season, Ellet beat Cleveland Heights for a sectional crown before falling to Canton McKinley in the next round. A key difference for the 2023-24 version of Ellet is the presence of standout junior wing Sanaiiya Gray, who transferred after two seasons at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

The farther Ellet advances in the tournament this time around, the closer Holmes would be to setting a new school scoring record for girls and boys basketball players combined. A 2017 Ellet graduate, A.J. Gareri, holds the record with 1,286 career points. Holmes needs 57 points to top his total.

Remember, Holmes is still a junior, so she will be able to address any unfinished Ellet business next season.

More on Caitlyn Holmes choosing KSU: Ellet guard makes college basketball recruiting decision with home in mind

Griffin-Roberts said she believes the revival of the girls basketball team led by Holmes has been great for the Ellet community. She's right.

Akron City Council recently honored Holmes and her teammates for their City Series three-peat. The players and coaches met Mayor Shammas Malik and attended a council meeting.

Griffin-Roberts has been an advocate through it all. She has even rejected officiating assignments involving Ellet because she acknowledges her heart remains with her alma mater.

“It means a lot,” Holmes said, “and I'm glad she's supporting us and me.”

For anyone fortunate enough to be in a position like Griffin-Roberts, this how championing a younger generation ought to be done.

More Greater Akron high school sports: Breaking down 50 players to watch in girls basketball districts

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Caitlyn Holmes to set Akron Ellet basketball scoring record