Despite 0-2 start, don’t count out Eastwood girls in NBC

By: 
J. Patrick Eaken

Eastwood girls basketball has had a rough start to its season, but that’s because they faced off with two of the toughest opponents Northwest Ohio can offer.

First, the Eagles traveled to western Fulton County, where they fell to Archbold, 42-28. Then, Elmwood six-foot senior wing Brooklyn Thrash accumulated 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 steals in leading the visiting Royals to a 58-49 win over Eastwood in both team’s Northern Buckeye Conference opener.

It can only get easier from there, even though the Eagles fell to the NBC preseason favorites they gave the Royals a battle, trailing by just three with 3:10 remaining.

 “I like our team’s ability to score the ball via the quick strike or running through our offense,” coach Nick Schmeltz said.

The Eagles backcourt was supposed to be led by 5-foot-6 senior wing Makenna Souder and 5-7 sophomore guard Kayla Buehler. However, Souder is already out for the year after suffering an injury during soccer season.

“Kayla will be our primary ball handler and has experience in the position from previous seasons,” Schmeltz said. “Kayla did a wonderful job this summer running our offense and has the ability to score from the position as well. 

 “Kayla took on primary point guard responsibilities this summer while Kenna Souder was gone with her club soccer team. She has improved immensely with her confidence and that has allowed her to play with more freedom and aggression.She can take care of the ball for us and is a good passer, but she is also capable of being a double-digit scorer for us night in and night out.”

At the forward positions are 5-8 senior guard Aubrey Haas and 5-8 senior guard/forward Kaitlyn Luidhardt. Haas was a first team All-NBC and All-District 7, second team Northwest District and honorable mention Division III All-Ohioan last year after averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, four steals and 2.4 assists and she is the only athlete at Eastwood to score 1,000 career basketball points 100 career goals in soccer. Luidhardt averaged 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds. 1.4 steals and 1.2 assists.

“Kaitlyn is a smart and skilled forward that has the ability to finish at the rim but also step outside and knockdown shots beyond the arc,” Schmeltz said. “We will need her to have her best year yet as a senior for our team to reach its full potential.

“Kaitlyn has had a great fall with the volleyball team, and we hope that will carry over to basketball.

“She, too, is playing with improved confidence, and she is fully recovered from an ACL injury now. She is moving well and gives versatility as she can play inside and outside for us.”

Schmeltz has players who can excel on the defensive side of the ball, too. 

“Sophomores Amelia Ward, Reilly Might, and Saylor King will all see significant time. Those three will be tasked with guarding the opposing teams point guard and we will use them at the front of our press to create pressure and disruption,” Schmeltz said.

“Those three all come with great athleticism, speed, and quickness. Ward also provides some added height and length at the position too.

“Saylor and Reilly saw some action last year as freshmen and now will be counted on as full-time varsity players. They will play extremely hard for us and will improve each day as the season goes on,” Schmeltz added

Others likely to contribute include Sarah Spradling, Grace Kingery and Audrey Sandberg.

“Spradling and Kinger are juniors who will get a chance to prove themselves this year at the varsity level. Spradling gives us size inside at 5-10. Sandberg, a senior, has dedicated herself this summer and fall to basketball and will get her chance as a senior to have a role on our team.”

Schmeltz sees the top four in the NBC battling it out for a title, just like last year.

“The NBC will be very good, especially the top four teams. I hope to be able to finish somewhere in that top four with Elmwood, Lake, and Woodmore,” Schmeltz said.

“Rossford and Fostoria will be improved this year as well giving our conference increased depth. You will have to come prepared to play every night in the NBC. Last season we had two teams from our conference in district finals and I can see that as a likely scenario again this year.”

Schmeltz’s teams are a combined 90-52, won back-to-back league championships in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and he was District 7 Coach of the Year in 2019.

Schmeltz had at least two players injured on volleyball and soccer teams this fall, plus the soccer team had a deep tournament run, reaching the regional final only to lose 4-2 to eventual state runner-up Ottawa Glandorf.

Schmeltz said that could factor in what style his team uses early on, but his teams have always been up-tempo with full court pressure.

“I would expect us to be a work in a progress early on. Many teams had a two-to-three-week head start on us as we waited for our soccer and volleyball players to return from their fall tournament runs. Twelve of our 21 rostered players were on either the volleyball or soccer team.”

 

 

 

 

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