Haas Eastwood’s answer for Schmeltz’s graduation

Eastwood guard Aubrey Haas, a 5-foot-8 junior, has become the Eagles’ answer for the graduation of Jamie Schmeltz, now playing at Walsh University.

The 5-foot-9 Schmeltz was a second team All-Ohioan during her senior season and earned back-to-back District Player of the Year during her junior and senior seasons. She was honored with four District 7 first-team accolades and helped her team win two Northern Buckeye Conference championships. For her career, she totaled 1,572 points, 579 rebounds, 316 assists, and 131 made three-pointers, averaging 20.2 points and 7.4 rebounds.

This year Haas is coming close to Schmeltz’ scoring average, putting up 20 points per game, five rebounds and 2.7 assists. It helps that Haas played and learned from Schmeltz for two years and Jamie’s brother, Nick, is her coach.

“Aubrey has been a workhorse for us,” Schmeltz said. “We’ve asked her to pick up the scoring slack from Jamie’s departure. Aubrey averaged 15 points a game last year as a sophomore, but right now she’s averaging 20 as a junior. Teams know that she is our leading scorer, and they are trying to take her away. She does a good job in scoring in a multitude of ways. She can get to the rim, she is a free throw shooter and she can knock down a three if we really need her to. So, she’s played really well for us.”

Haas’ athleticism is on display when she anticipates a pass. She comes out of nowhere, intercepts, and in a second has an easy lay-up at the other end. She can also pick-pocket a dribble in an instant, which has the same results.

“She gives it all on defense. She is all over the place. She has done a really good job. For whatever reason, she is like a heat seeker to the ball. She finds that thing and she is there,” coach Schmeltz said.

Haas takes pride in Eastwood’s team defense, which is averaging 18.6 steals per game. She leads the way with 3.9 steals and nearly three deflections per game and 5-5 junior guard Makenna Souder is averaging 3.2 steals.

“I think we have stepped up our defense,” Haas said. “We have a lot of different zone variations, a lot of different options that we can do, and I think we are pretty quick. We move around well; we can get up and down the floor and most teams can’t run with us. We play a pretty fast game, so I think we really look for those transition plays.”

Moenter’s ‘ceiling high’

Brenna Moenter, a 6-foot-3 junior, is next in scoring, averaging 9.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.7 blocks, and has just over two deflections per game, but she is out for the season with a broken bone in her knee. 

Moenter was also averaging 2.5 assists, and even with her height, her basketball skills are uncanny. You would think she would play only in the paint, but she can handle the ball in the backcourt or on the wing as well. But she will be hard to replace for the remainder of this season.

“She has had a really good year for us,” coach Schmeltz said. “She’s averaging nearly a double-double points and rebounds, but really what sets her game apart is that she can facilitate for us. She passes well, she gets steals and she gets blocks. 

“If you look at her stat sheet, it is filled across the board there. She can do everything. She can step out (and shoot outside) — a 6-foot-3 junior, we are excited for her. I think her ceiling is quite high still. She has room to grow and she has done a great job for us.”

Typically starting for the Eagles is Makenna Souder (3.1 pts., 3.1 reb., 3.1 asst.), 5-8 junior Kaitlyn Luidhardt (6.8 pts., 2.4 reb., 1.2 asst., and one steal per game) and 5-7 senior Jaylee Souder (2.1 pts., 2.5 reb., 1.3 steals, 1.6 asst.). 

The Eagles’ bench is deep, often rotating 10 or more players because of full court pressure and a fast-paced transition offense. Paige Rost, a 5-9 junior, has been their top outside shooter, hitting on 42 percent beyond the arc, and she is averaging 4.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Kayla Buehler, a 5-7 freshman, is averaging 4.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals. 

Others getting significant minutes are freshmen Reilly Might, Amelia Ward and Saylor King, juniors Sydney Ameling, Audrey Sandberg and Kendall Gedert and seniors Reegan Sheets and Hannah Friend. All 15 different players have contributed to scoring. Nine are averaging over one steal per game, six have dished out over one assist per game, and each brings a different weapon. Prepare for one, and the other will get you.

With Moenter out, Schmeltz says, “We will look for junior Kendall Gedert and freshmen Amelia Ward and Kayla Buehler to have more of a role now. Luidhardt, Rost, and Jaylee Souder will play mostly the forward position for us now.”

After closing the regular season hosting Rossford on Thursday, Eastwood hosts Wapakoneta next Tuesday, travels to Otsego Thursday, Feb. 11, and then the big rematch at Lake on Thursday, Feb. 13.

In the Division III tournament, Eastwood, the No. 2 seed, will host the winner of Lake and Evergreen on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. That winner will advance to the Anthony Wayne district tournament semifinal on Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. In last year’s district at AW, Lake won a championship by defeating two other NBC teams that had defeated the Flyers twice during the regular season, and Schmeltz believes something like that could happen again.

“Our district is pretty crazy. It’s essentially the NBC minus Woodmore, and the NWOAL minus Bryan,” coach Schmeltz said. “There are some good teams in both of those conferences. I think it is truly up for grabs. If you say a couple teams, I would not be shocked if they win the districts and are on to regionals. It could be a lot like last year when Lake went on their run. That wouldn’t shock me if a .500 team or so puts it together come tournament time and can win the district.”

Whatever happens at the district tournament, Schmeltz says his players are just pleased to be on the court during a global pandemic.
“We’ve been grateful with COVID that we’ve been able to play,” Schmeltz said. “Our girls have done a good job, knock on wood. We’ve avoided team quarantine and stuff like that. But we’ve been able to play in 17 games, have had over 50 practices so far. Our girls have done a good job handling all the protocols and guidelines and stuff like that. We’re appreciative. Media is still covering us and stuff, so we thank them for that. It’s been a little crazy, but we appreciate everybody trying to keep it as normal as possible.”