Pair carries Ozaukee to season-opening victory

The Ozaukee High School girls’ basketball team has huge shoes to fill this year as the most prolific scorer in school history, Becca Schauer, graduated in summer. Schauer also posted the career record in assists and was named the Big East Conference Player of the Year last year.

In their season opener Nov. 24 against Berlin, two players stepped up in a big way to lead the Warriors to a 70-59 victory.

Junior Sophie Uhlenberg poured in a career-high 28 points and had four rebounds and four steals.

Junior Gabby Klas netted 27 points, including seven three-pointers, along with grabbing five rebounds.

Cami Miller had a team-high 11 rebounds and Caitlyn Weyker had eight rebounds and seven assists. Natalie Miller had six assists and five rebounds.

The Warriors are under new leadership this season as Jason Pollard takes over for Tim Wolff, who led Ozaukee to multiple seasons with double-digit victories.

As Pollard gets to know his players, he has been impressed with his team’s ability to work together.

“This is a very unselfish group of players looking to build on each other’s strengths and make each other better,” he said.

“This year’s team is made up of several multi-sport athletes and the work in the offseason is paying off in the gym.  We have some senior leadership from last year and a very committed junior class that has been putting in the time and effort over the summer and during our contact days.”

The Warriors also have some young talent.

“We have a strong incoming freshman class that is challenging and pushing the varsity program,” Pollard said.

Having graduated five seniors who had considerable playing time a year ago — including Big East second-teamer Greta Klas — the Warriors lack experience. Four players return.

“With so many openings, the players are still identifying their roles and finding where they fit within the program,” Pollard said.

The Warriors’ starting lineup is led by guard/forward Gabby Klas. Last year, she averaged 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game and earned Big East honorable mention.

Cami Miller, the team’s only senior, starts at center. She averaged 3.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season.

Juniors Uhlenberg, Madison Karmasin and Caryn Ernisse have earned starting guard positions.

Pollard wants to use a fast-paced offense, and the team has nine guards to do it.

Besides the starters, they are sophomores Hope Halvorson and Roxanne Barnes and freshmen Natalie Miller, Caitlyn Weyker, Kenna Pierson and Meredith Clark.

Junior Ruth Utecht and freshman Morgan Kirmse will see time at center.

Sophomore Evy Geis and freshman Isadora Decker are forwards.

“This is a very driven and competitive group.  I think some of the returners believe their season was cut shorter than they expected last year and are willing to do their best that does not happen this year,” Pollard said.

Ozaukee will try to play as many games as last season in three fewer weeks, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pollard said he expects Mishicot and Howards Grove to push for the Big East title, and said Oostburg, Random Lake and Cedar Grove-Belgium return good chunks of their rosters.

Ozaukee hosted Manitowoc Lutheran on Monday, will host Oostburg on Thursday, play at Mishicot on Saturday, at Oostburg on Monday, Dec. 7, and at St. Mary Catholic on Tuesday, Dec. 8.