National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.
If you are ready to take your recruiting to the next level, click the Get Scouted button below to be evaluated by an NSR College Scout.
Get Scouted Scouting CareersJunior post player helps team to reach Wisconsin state tourney
By Dave Boehler, Special to the Journal Sentinel
Most people already know about New Berlin Eisenhower guard Nicole Bauman, a Wisconsin recruit who was recently named state player of the year after leading the Lions’ girls basketball team to the Division 2 state tournament this weekend.
But the post play of 5-foot-11 junior (and 2013 NSR softball prospect) Katie Lang and 5-10 junior Jenny Weiland is another reason Eisenhower (26-0) is in a semifinal matchup against Reedsburg at approximately 3:15 p.m. Friday.
“You don’t have the season we’ve had with one player,” Eisenhower coach Gary Schmidt said. “Both of them emerged as two of the finest post players in the state.
“When you get two kids who each average 11 points, and the way they both defend, that’s a huge advantage for us. I think people look at us and say we’re not really a big team. You get two kids who average 11 points and do such a good job on the defensive side . . . I couldn’t be more pleased. They may only be 5-11, but they play 6-2 in my eyes.”
When it came to the center position last season, eyes were on the 6-0 Anna Hahn, an honorable mention all-state player who is now on the team at Clarke University in Iowa. Hahn was a natural fit to play the position, thanks to her height and strong post moves. Weiland and Lang had been used mostly on the wing. Lang admits it has been an adjustment since it’s her first season playing center. Weiland at least played the position a bit last year.
“None of us were used to being a post,” Weiland said. “I got to like it after awhile. I figured even though I’m down low half the time, if people are man-to-man, we run the swing anyway. So I’m not always going to be sitting down there.”
In the swing offense, Weiland and Lang start low on the block. When the ball is passed to the wing, they both set screens up top. Weiland – or Lang – then gets the ball and reverses it to the other wing. Weiland eventually ends up in the outside corner, the ball is swung to the other side and each girl returns to the block where she started.
“It opens a lot up,” Weiland said. “It keeps everyone moving and no one is in the same spot for a large amount of time. Usually you’re not staying anywhere for more than 2 seconds.”
Defensively, Lang prides herself on getting stops and is called a student of the game by her coach.
“Game in and game out, we always put her on the toughest defensive assignment,” Schmidt said. “Take a look at who made all-(Woodland) Conference, and day in and day out, she usually has stopped them.
“I always tell the kids, especially in the post, you’re going to have one-on-one coverage. Be physical and deny the ball. They’ve done a great job, bought in to ball denial and allow no easy looks inside to make it tough on the other team. When you offset size for speed, you can gain an advantage there.”
Teams usually don’t gain any advantage when Lang or Weiland leaves the game. Junior Allison Persick (5-8) and sophomore Jessa Hahn (6-0) replace them off the bench.
“This is both their first year on varsity, and I think they’re doing great of what’s expected of them,” Lang said. “Especially giving me and Jenny a little break. I think it really helps us.”
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.