Bahr, Schmitz Miller honored by Big East

By MITCH MAERSCH

Ozaukee Press staff

Cedar Grove-Belgium’s top offensive option stood out despite being the focus of opponents’ game plans this season, and that led senior Alexis Bahr to a spot on the Big East Conference South Division second team.

Bahr was joined by her teammate Tara Schmitz, who earned honorable mention. Ozaukee junior point guard Natalie Miller also received honorable mention.

Bahr, a 5-foot-9-inch forward, led the Rockets with 14.1 points per game, shooting 139-for-289 (48.1%) from the field and 86-for-204 (42.2%) on three-pointers while grabbing 4.8 rebounds per game.

Bahr nearly reached 1,000 career points.

“She picked it up at the end. She really played some nice basketball,” coach Mike “Bik” Bikman said.

In the playoffs, Bahr scored 27 points in an 87-39 win over Kenosha Christian Life, shooting 11-for-14, and 22 in a 74-55 loss to the Prairie School, when she went 10-for-11 on free throws.

“Overall, she just did a great job and other teams knew that she was our scorer, so it was tough for her when she got double teamed,” Bik said.

“She was the heart and soul of this team — a captain, a senior, a great leader.”

Schmitz was a versatile co-captain who filled in as needed.

“We had her play post. She never played post. She said, ‘I’ll go wherever you want  me to play,’” Bik said.

“She went outside and hit some nice threes. She could go anywhere on the court and be a threat.”

Schmitz was the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 9.5 points per game. She shot 90-for-215 from the floor (41.9%), and was second on the team with 6.7 rebounds per game.

As a co-captain, Schmitz took charge, Bik said.

“She always stepped up. We’re down by 15, down by 20. ‘Hey we can do this,’” she would tell the team.

Schmitz has already been voted as a team co-captain for next season, along with Kateyln Morris.

Bahr and Schmitz also excelled on defense.

“It was one or the other on the best player,” Bik said.

The pair led the Rockets to a 10-9 record in the South Division and 14-12 record, their first winning season since 2011.

Bahr is one of three seniors graduating and the only starter. The Rockets return most of their core team next season.

For Ozaukee, Miller averaged 11.9 points per game, shooting 86-for-261 (33%), just one point per game from the team lead.

Despite standing 5-4, the scrappy and tough Miller led the Warriors in rebounds with 8.5 per game. She also led the team in assists with 3.1 per game and steals with 2.4 per game despite missing the last couple of games due to injury.

“Natalie has certainly been a consistent starter for us throughout the season. She gives her all on the court,” coach Linda Weyker said.

“She was our leading rebounder which shows her determination on the court to always get after the ball and never give up.”

The Warriors went 4-19 but only lose starter Evelynn Geis to graduation. Geis led the team in scoring with 13 points per game and was second in rebounds with 8.2 per game.

Ady Ketterhagen of Oostburg, which won the South Division with a 19-0 record, was named Player of the Year. She averaged 17.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and four assists per game.