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11-24-2011, 06:57 AM
Highlands
Coach: Jaime Walz-Richey (174-111 in 10 seasons)
Last season: 19-11 (district runner-up, lost to St. Henry in region quarterfinal)
Key players: Jr. F Leah Schaefer, Jr. C Jesse Daley, Jr. G Ava Abner, Jr. G Vanessa Fisse
Outlook: The junior-heavy Bluebirds will be running the offense through their post players, Schaefer and Daley, who complement each other with differing skill sets. Schaefer is the catalyst, able to take her defender anywhere. That helps free Daley down low where she is a force with vastly improving skills. It's up to Abner, the point guard, to make sure the post presence gets the ball. Senior guard Sydney Watson and junior guard Emilie Parton are being asked to step into larger roles. "It's going to be a battle with NCC," Walz-Richey said. "Our main goal is being ready to compete every night no matter what name is on the other jersey."
Coach: Jaime Walz-Richey (174-111 in 10 seasons)
Last season: 19-11 (district runner-up, lost to St. Henry in region quarterfinal)
Key players: Jr. F Leah Schaefer, Jr. C Jesse Daley, Jr. G Ava Abner, Jr. G Vanessa Fisse
Outlook: The junior-heavy Bluebirds will be running the offense through their post players, Schaefer and Daley, who complement each other with differing skill sets. Schaefer is the catalyst, able to take her defender anywhere. That helps free Daley down low where she is a force with vastly improving skills. It's up to Abner, the point guard, to make sure the post presence gets the ball. Senior guard Sydney Watson and junior guard Emilie Parton are being asked to step into larger roles. "It's going to be a battle with NCC," Walz-Richey said. "Our main goal is being ready to compete every night no matter what name is on the other jersey."
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11-24-2011, 06:58 AM
t has been a banner year for Highlands girls' basketball coach Jaime Walz-Richey, who was inducted into yet another hall of fame this month at ceremonies celebrating athletes and personalities honored by the Northern Kentucky Athletic Directors' Hall of Fame.
For all her accolades, Walz-Richey would love nothing more than to hang a championship banner in the gymnasium of her alma mater.
"One of our goals is always to win the regional," the coach said.
At one point, Walz-Richey held 12 Kentucky records, including career assists and steals, and ranked in the top 10 in national prep history in seven different categories. She was named Kentucky Miss Basketball in 1996 and Parade Magazine's National Player of the Year. She remains Kentucky's all-time leading scorer - male or female - with 4,948 points.
The 1996 Highlands graduate played on three Ninth Region championship teams including the Bluebirds' 1994 state runner-up. Highlands hasn't won a regional title since taking back-to-back crowns in 2000-01. That was before Walz-Richey became head coach.
In her 10th season at the helm, Walz-Richey wants to return the Bluebirds to title-winning form. The regional tournament is in March. The season begins Dec. 1. The Bluebirds are attempting to make the regional field for the ninth time under their legendary coach, and they are poised to make some noise in the final after reaching the semifinals in 2004, '07 and '09. "I feel like we will be a really good team," junior Leah Schaefer said.
Schaefer, an athletic 5-foot-11 forward, is a mismatch waiting to happen because of her size and ball skills.
"I'm looking for mismatches because Leah can go inside or outside," Walz-Richey said. "If she has a smaller girl on her, she will post her up. If she gets a bigger girl on her, she can take her to the outside and we'll open up the inside that way."
What makes Schaefer extra deadly is that she has a near-mirror twin in the front court in 5-11 junior center Jesse Daley, who can benefit from opposing team's preoccupation with the shifty Schaefer, a crafty player learning all the right moves from the greatest offensive force the state has ever known.
Schaefer averaged 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. Daley averaged 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds. Schaefer shot 104-for-258 from the field and Daley shot 107-for-235. "If I can come outside with a bigger person on me, that opens up one side to Jesse," Schaefer said. "Jesse can score, too."
That's the plan in half-court sets. When the Bluebirds are in transition, Schaefer or Daley can lead the break, if that is what's required.
"I'm looking to attack and get up and down," Walz-Richey said. "We're big and we're long this year and we're pretty quick. We have to find other people to step up and help the big girls."
Junior point guard Ava Abner is the veteran leader. It's her job to make sure Highlands exploits the mismatches that Schaefer and Daley create. Abner is a high-energy defensive pest, but she will be expected to score more while finding Schaefer and Daley.
Senior guard Sydney Watson and junior guards Vanessa Fisse and Emilie Parton have played some important minutes. The coach is asking them to assume more important roles so that the Bluebirds can get on a roll and claim that elusive regional title.
"I'm very confident that we'll be pretty good this year," Walz-Richey said.
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...ofty-goals
For all her accolades, Walz-Richey would love nothing more than to hang a championship banner in the gymnasium of her alma mater.
"One of our goals is always to win the regional," the coach said.
At one point, Walz-Richey held 12 Kentucky records, including career assists and steals, and ranked in the top 10 in national prep history in seven different categories. She was named Kentucky Miss Basketball in 1996 and Parade Magazine's National Player of the Year. She remains Kentucky's all-time leading scorer - male or female - with 4,948 points.
The 1996 Highlands graduate played on three Ninth Region championship teams including the Bluebirds' 1994 state runner-up. Highlands hasn't won a regional title since taking back-to-back crowns in 2000-01. That was before Walz-Richey became head coach.
In her 10th season at the helm, Walz-Richey wants to return the Bluebirds to title-winning form. The regional tournament is in March. The season begins Dec. 1. The Bluebirds are attempting to make the regional field for the ninth time under their legendary coach, and they are poised to make some noise in the final after reaching the semifinals in 2004, '07 and '09. "I feel like we will be a really good team," junior Leah Schaefer said.
Schaefer, an athletic 5-foot-11 forward, is a mismatch waiting to happen because of her size and ball skills.
"I'm looking for mismatches because Leah can go inside or outside," Walz-Richey said. "If she has a smaller girl on her, she will post her up. If she gets a bigger girl on her, she can take her to the outside and we'll open up the inside that way."
What makes Schaefer extra deadly is that she has a near-mirror twin in the front court in 5-11 junior center Jesse Daley, who can benefit from opposing team's preoccupation with the shifty Schaefer, a crafty player learning all the right moves from the greatest offensive force the state has ever known.
Schaefer averaged 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. Daley averaged 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds. Schaefer shot 104-for-258 from the field and Daley shot 107-for-235. "If I can come outside with a bigger person on me, that opens up one side to Jesse," Schaefer said. "Jesse can score, too."
That's the plan in half-court sets. When the Bluebirds are in transition, Schaefer or Daley can lead the break, if that is what's required.
"I'm looking to attack and get up and down," Walz-Richey said. "We're big and we're long this year and we're pretty quick. We have to find other people to step up and help the big girls."
Junior point guard Ava Abner is the veteran leader. It's her job to make sure Highlands exploits the mismatches that Schaefer and Daley create. Abner is a high-energy defensive pest, but she will be expected to score more while finding Schaefer and Daley.
Senior guard Sydney Watson and junior guards Vanessa Fisse and Emilie Parton have played some important minutes. The coach is asking them to assume more important roles so that the Bluebirds can get on a roll and claim that elusive regional title.
"I'm very confident that we'll be pretty good this year," Walz-Richey said.
http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...ofty-goals
11-24-2011, 06:58 AM
11-24-2011, 06:58 AM
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