Photo by Kim North Katrina Davis, left, is presented with a plaque from Bellaire girls’ basketball head coach John Farrier earlier this week. Davis was the Ohio Division III Player of the Year in 2020 and didn’t have the chance to be recognized due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BELLAIRE — Five years ago, Bellaire’s Katrina (Kat) Davis dominated opponents on the basketball court. So much that she was named the Buckeye State’s Division III Girls Player of the Year.

Due to COVID-19 and the fact that she attended Bluefield State University, she was never given a proper recognition. That came to fruition last week when she was presented with a plaque by head coach John Farrier at halftime of the Big Reds game with Martins Ferry inside the ‘House of Champions.’

“We didn’t have the opportunity to recognize her during her senior year due to the no crowds mandate, so we decided to do it tonight,” Bellaire head coach John Farrier said.

“It means a lot. I’m glad to be back and able to watch the girls play,” Davis said.

Davis said she has way too many memories to single out one or two from her career, but wanted to thank her coaches (Farrier and Hutch McFeeley) and the fans that show their continued support.

“I have so much respect for both of them,” she added. “It was nice to have a lot of people come and watch us play, and looking around tonight, the fans still come out and support the Big Reds.”

During her career at Bellaire, Davis finished in the top 3 in points (1,563), rebounds (782) and steals (312). In her senior campaign, she lit it up for 27.3 points per game, averaged 8.7 rebounds and charted 7.6 steals.

At Bluefield State, the first two years the Big Blue were independent.

“There was no conference, so we just played to play,” she remarked. “Then we got into the CIAA. It was a change … a challenge but it was fun and exciting.”

Davis currently works as a CNA at the Weirton Geriatric Center.