Sunday, January 16, 2000
NORTHERN KY. INSIDER
Walz leaves her troubles behind
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Jaime Walz had every excuse to mail it in this basketball season. If you know her, though, you knew she wouldn't.
Walz was determined to cap her star-crossed career at Western Kentucky with a super senior season. Through 14 games, the Highlands grad has done just that.
“I'm happy with the way I'm playing,” she said. “I'm playing with the confidence I had in high school. Now when the ball leaves my hand, I think it's going in.”
Walz is averaging 14.3 points per game and leads the Sun Belt Conference in 3-pointers made per game (2.9). She's fourth in the conference in 3-point shooting (.398) and is averaging 5.9 rebounds per game, a strong stat for a shooting guard.
Walz is coming off the best week of her career. Last Tuesday against Miami (Fla.), she scored a career-high 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and tied a single-game school record with six 3-pointers. Thursday against Louisiana-Lafayette, she nearly recorded the first triple-double in school history, totaling 17 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
“She has taken her game to another level,” WKU coach Steve Small said. “She is taking control and making this her team.”
The former national High School Player of the Year hit every pothole possible her first three seasons in college. Shooting slumps. Benchings. A coaching change. Arthroscopic knee surgery. Whiplash.
And last year, when she finally began to bloom, the biggie: an ACL tear.
When this season started, it had been just nine months since Walz's left knee was rebuilt. But the Lady Toppers needed her more than ever: Because of graduation, a transfer and no signings, they had just nine scholarship players.
Since then, two other players have suffered ACL tears and the starting center, Kenosha Chastang, left the team. Including walk-ons, WKU had just eight players on its roster Thursday — half what teams normally field.
“It has been interesting,” Walz said. “But we've pulled together as a team. We're finding ways to win.”
Despite knee soreness, Walz has averaged 35.4 minutes per game — one of four starters averaging 34 or more minutes. The Lady Toppers (8-6) have struggled against a schedule rated the eight-toughest in the Ratings Percentage Index, but their current three-game winning streak and No. 43 RPI suggest they could be headed to the NCAA Tournament.
“That would be a great way to go out,” Walz said. “A lot of people have said this is a team of destiny.”
HILTZ JOINS IRISH: The film “Rudy” chronicled Dan “Rudy” Ruettiger's experience as a Notre Dame football walk-on. Now there's a new “Rudy” — in basketball.
John Hiltz, a 1998 Covington Catholic graduate, has joined Notre Dame's basketball team as a walk-on. The sophomore has played in four games, totaling six points and three rebounds in six minutes.
The highlight came Dec. 28 in a 97-71 victory over Elon College: In just three minutes of action, Hiltz made both of his field-goal attempts and both free throws, two rebounds and a blocked shot. In his postgame comments, Irish coach Matt Doherty said jokingly, “The only problem I have is John Hiltz came up to me after the game and thinks he should be starting now.”
The Irish (11-5) have won seven consecutive games.
RULE CHANGE: Starting with the 2001-02 season, no Kentucky high school basketball teams will be allowed to start practice before Oct.15 or play games before the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Currently, schools without football can start practice Oct. 1 and play games Nov. 15. The change was approved Wednesday at the KHSAA's annual Delegate Assembly meeting.
SOCCER PICKS: Northern Kentucky boys soccer coaches have an advance poll for the 2000 season. They predict Covington Catholic to be No.1, followed by Highlands, St. Henry, Boone County, Scott, NewCath, Conner, Ryle, Simon Kenton and Campbell County.
Neil Schmidt is The Enquirer's Northern Kentucky sports reporter. Call him at 578-5582 or send e-mail to nschmidt@enquirer.com.
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