Walz-Richey wants to be known as "caring person"

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The honors for her great playing career may continue to trickle in 17 years after the amazing career ended.

Jaime Walz-Richey just received induction into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. But above anything else, the 35-year-old wants to be known as “a very caring person.”

That’s why Walz-Richey said coaching is tough sometimes. Her older brother Jeff Walz said virtually the same thing weeks ago. Walz is the head coach of the University of Louisville women’s basketball team.

“I have to make basketball decisions that may affect (parents’) daughters’ playing time,” Walz-Richey said. “I wish everyone could play equally, but I can’t do that. As a coach, I have a job to do. As a person, that hurts me because I care about every one of those girls on and off the court. When you talk to them, they’ll tell you that.”

Her husband of nearly 10 years, Bert Richey, said her personal plaques and trophies like the 1996 Gatorade Player of the Year are stored away in their downstairs basement. But pictures with players current and past grace the refrigerator because the relationships are more important to her than her personal awards.

Richey even said the entire family is that unselfish. Walz-Richey said and her three older brothers along with her parents had dinner and took vacations as a family.

The family played a vital role in her basketball career. She still leads the state of Kentucky with 4,948 all-time career points.

“It’s been neat to watch her grow,” Walz said. “My brothers and I have been really proud of what she accomplished. She has a positive impact on a lot of players. I like how she handles herself on the sideline. I think she’s done a great job with the teams she’s had at Highlands.”

During her playing days, Walz-Richey helped Highlands to three 9th Region championships. The Bluebirds finished state runner-up to the now defunct M.C. Napier of Hazard her sophomore year in 1994. While she likes to win, Walz-Richey said not winning a state championship as a player does not drive her coaching-wise.

“I just want them to have the same experiences I did in high school,” Walz-Richey said. “This group of girls this year got a taste of it. They saw people at the regional tournament games from the community that hadn’t been to our games all year. When teams do well, the community of Fort Thomas comes out to support you.”

Walz coached his sister for a year at Western Kentucky University. He said things worked out well and she learned some things from him that year.

“It was the same thing,” Walz said. “We enjoyed the year we had together. It was no problem. You’re just coaching basketball at that point in time.”

Richey has been an assistant at Highlands for a couple of years. He said he understands his role as an assistant and the couple does not bring the coaching job home while around their two daughters Jenna and Bailey.

“As the assistant coach, it’s my job to make suggestions just like all the other assistants,” Richey said. “She asks me what I think about certain situations and I tell her my opinion. Sometimes, you goes with it and sometimes, she goes with what she feels is best to make the kids successful.”

Six seniors graduated from this past year’s 26-8 squad that won the 36th District Championship and finished 9th Region runner-up to eventual state runner-up Notre Dame. Three are playing college sports next year. Leah Schaefer and Jesse “Dirt” Daley will play at Xavier University and Thomas More College respectively and Ava Abner will play soccer at Arkansas State University. Ava Abner said her bond with Walz-Richey developed over a period of time.

“She actually has been coaching me for seven years,” Abner said. “She’s like my mom. I even call her Mom. She taught me a lot about my ability, myself and how to step up to the plate when my team needs it. When it comes to life, I’ll be able to use it on the job.”

One of her former players in Angela Healy played at nearby Northern Kentucky University. Healy now teaches sixth grade and was just named head coach at Greeley Central just north of Denver, Colorado and Walz-Richey was one of the first people to know that.

“(Walz-Richey) taught me that hard work and dedication will breed success,” Healy said. “She was an example of it throughout her entire playing career when I watched her play in high school and in college. She showed me that same work ethic and commitment as a coach. She also allowed players to develop as leaders on the court with play calling and decision making. As a coach myself now, I hope to grow my players into that role, too.”

The relationships with the current players developed because Walz-Richey has been head coach for 11 years. The Bluebirds are 201-125 during that time with three district championships.

“It’s nice for the school and community to have a consistent coach,” Walz-Richey said. “The elementary and middle schoolers see me at their practices and some of their games. When they get to high school, they know me already.”

That’s been the case for returning players like rising sophomore Brianna Adler. Adler’s older sisters Mallory and Alex also played for Highlands during Walz-Richey’s tenure.

“I think if you want to be good, you have to put the time and effort into it every day,” Adler said. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is to play with your heart. That’s something I think our team struggles with every year. We may not be into the game as much as we should be.”

Adler and Haley Coffey will be the returning starters this season. Other returning players looking to take bigger roles include Tomi Blanton, Whitney Quillen, Lydia Graves, Alex Combs and McKenzie Leigh.

“We all have to get physically stronger,” Walz-Richey said. “We have a great group of girls coming back. Everyone will have to step up and do more. I think we have the ability to do that as long as we work hard in the offseason and get better. A lot of them are playing AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) so they’re back at it getting better.”

Walz-Richey said the staff is already gearing toward the next steps with the program. During the summer, Highlands often partakes in team camps and summer basketball. That has included trips to Louisville in the past.

200 and Advancing



G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands post Alex Combs (42) prepares to shoot a free throw in Friday's 9th Region quarterfinal contest against Covington Holmes. Highlands won 55-42 for its first region win since 2009 and 200th since head coach Jaime Walz-Richey took over in 2002.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – The win was not a surprise.

But it still marked a huge victory for several reasons. The most important reason is the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team advanced to the 9th Region semifinals for the first time since 2009 with the 55-42 win over the Covington Holmes Lady Bulldogs on Friday at the Bank of Kentucky Center at Northern Kentucky University.

The win also marked the 200th victory in the 11-year tenure of Jaime Walz-Richey against 124 defeats. Highlands also improved to 25-7 with its ninth consecutive win and matched the 2008-09 team for the most wins in a season since Richey became head coach.

“Thankfully, we had that lead because we had a meltdown in the second half that we hadn’t seen since the beginning of the year,” Richey said. “We were just running away from the ball on offense. On defense, we weren’t rebounding the ball.”

Like most coaches do, Richey quickly downplayed the milestone win. She pointed out she does not play like she did during her remarkable high school career when she scored a state-record 4,948 points in the 90s.

This marked just the fourth time the Bluebirds won in the region quarterfinals since 2002. They lost in the regional semifinals in 2004, 2007 and 2009.

Highlands once again won with defense and offensive balance. The Bluebirds made 19-of-42 shots for 45 percent with six three-pointers and held the Lady Bulldogs to 13-of-47 shooting for 28 percent and three triples.

Highlands saw nine different players score. Leah Schaefer led the way with 14 points and Emilie Parton scored 10. Teammate Brianna Adler made two three-pointers on her way to nine points with Jesse “Dirt” Daley and Haley Coffey following with eight and seven respectively.

“We’ve had someone step up every single game,” Richey said. “In the districts, it was Vanessa Fisse. Emilie has been playing well lately. We were able to play eight or nine people in the first half.”

Tamra Holder did play for Holmes and led the way with 12 points. But Highlands held sophomore guard Deja Turner to just nine points.

“(Richey) told us to make (Turner) go left,” said Ava Abner, Highlands guard. “In the first three quarters, we definitely did that. When we did, we had help side (defense). The biggest key is the girls were in the gaps. That’s how we stopped them defensively. We let up in the fourth quarter. But a win is a win.”

The Lady Bulldogs got back in the game with their rebounding. They won that battle 39-27, including 19-8 on the offensive glass. Jameela Salaah led Holmes with 11 rebounds and Daley led Highlands with eight.

Highlands built a 19-point halftime lead with good defensive pressure. Holmes recorded 10 of its 14 turnovers in the first half. Highlands recorded just 10 turnovers and had eight steals to six for the Lady Bulldogs. Abner led the Bluebirds with three thefts.

Highlands also distributed the ball better making 10 assists to four for Holmes. Schaefer, Abner and Alex Combs dished out two assists each.

The Bluebirds surged ahead for good with a 16-0 run to finish the first quarter and lead 18-4. Parton scored eight points during the run making consecutive three-pointers from the left corner and Adler finished it with a four-point play with 4.9 seconds remaining. She made a three-pointer from the right corner on an isolation play and made the ensuring free throw.

Highlands finished off the second half with a 4-0 run to go up 35-16 at halftime. Schaefer made a three-pointer from the right wing with two seconds left.

Holmes started the first quarter in a 3-2 zone defense. But Parton’s three-pointers made the Lady Bulldogs extend their defense. That opened things up inside for Daley. Daley scored all eight of her points in that quarter.

“I knew going into the game they were going to double down because of how the game went the last time we played them (Daley scored 16 points in the last meeting),” Daley said. “So I started kicking it out more. Once we started hitting three’s, they couldn’t double-team anymore. My teammates talk to me and let me know how many girls are guarding me.”

Holmes came out in the second half in a 1-1-3 zone defense and again packed things in tight in the paint. The Lady Bulldogs won the third quarter just 7-6 to trail 41-23 entering the fourth quarter. Adler and Coffey scored Highlands’ lone buckets on three-pointers.

“We had worked on the 1-1-3 the entire week,” said Scott Calcaterra, Holmes head coach. “After we got the draw against Highlands, I knew I would have to come up with something different than what they’d seen. Jaime is such an experienced coach that I felt if we went to it too early, they’d do something different.”

Highlands appeared to put the game away with a 7-2 run to start the quarter. The Bluebirds led 48-25 after Parton scored and 50-28 with 5:05 remaining following a Fisse score.

But Holmes did not go away quietly. The Lady Bulldogs used a 14-0 run to trim the margin to 50-42 with a minute left using pressure defense. But Highlands made 5-of-8 free throws in the final minute to pull away.

“The guards definitely had to take control of the game and slow it down a bit,” Coffey said. “We had to pass it to the post players and have them keep it under control also.”

Highlands also beat Holmes, 76-60 on Jan. 13. The Bluebirds face a rematch with Union Ryle in the semifinals Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Highlands dominated the Lady Raiders, 76-56 on Jan. 11 in Fort Thomas. Highlands is 4-0 in 9th Region rematches this season.

But in that contest, Ryle played without injured guard Dawn Johnson. That started a seven-game losing streak for the Lady Raiders (12-18).

“We have to play our game and know where they’re shooters are,” Richey said. “We’re going to have to make some adjustments with Dawn playing. They have to match up against us too so we’ll see.”

Ryle hopes to run up and down the court like crazy. The Bluebirds have the size advantage over the Lady Raiders.

The winner faces either Boone County or Notre Dame on Monday at 7 p.m. for the region crown. Boone County has won five of the last nine region titles.





Highlands comes up with huge win over defending 8th Region champs

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands senior Vanessa Fisse (15) makes a move on Walton-Verona's Shelby Mullikan (15) in Saturday's game in Fort Thomas while teammate Ava Abner (22) gets in position. Highlands won 44-40 for its 21st win of the season.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team knew it would be tested Saturday as both teams geared up for the postseason.

Like many teams, Highlands has had its struggles in big games this season. But the Bluebirds (21-7) came through for a 44-40 home victory over the Walton-Verona Bearcats for their 15th win in 18 games. The Bearcats (16-8) won the 8th Region crown last year and had won four in a row coming into the game.

“Just being able to come through in a close game is great, especially a week before Districts start,” said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands head coach. “It’s about a year of maturity and doing the little things. We executed on offense and made some stops defensively.”

Every small thing made a huge difference in this one. Highlands needed to hit some outside shots because Walton-Verona packed the lane against the Bluebirds Twin Towers of Jesse “Dirt” Daley and Leah Schaefer.

The Bluebirds came through making 12-of-36 shots for 33 percent, including five three-pointers. On the other side, the Wildcats made 13-of-37 shots for 35 percent.

Schaefer still led Highlands with 10 points and Daley managed seven. But five of Daley’s points came from the free-throw line as Walton-Verona constantly challenged her when she attacked the basket.

“As you get older, you realize it’s not about how many you score,” Daley said. “It’s about whether the team wins. The amount of points and assists I had helped my team win. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That’s what we did.”

Those seven points put Daley into elite company as she joined the Highlands 1,000-point club for her career. The 1,000th point came at a crucial time with 36.9 seconds remaining. It gave Highlands a 42-38 lead.

Daley became the 16th girl in Highlands history to make the club. Schaefer also hit a free throw at home to reach quadruple-digits in the Bluebirds’ 64-30 season-opening win over Dixie Heights on Nov. 27. Daley has played basketball with many of her teammates for years.

“It means a ton,” Daley said of doing it the same season with Schaefer. “We’re really close. It’s cool to be able to walk back here in 20 years and see my name on the wall.”

Highlands made its free throws down the stretch to seal the win. The Bluebirds hit 15-of-21 for 71 percent overall, including 8-of-11 in the fourth quarter for 73 percent. Walton-Verona made 13-of-15 free throws for 87 percent.

Brianna Adler made all six attempts on her way to nine points for Highlands. Adler made two with 49.2 seconds to put the Bluebirds up 41-36 and two more with 6.5 seconds remaining to make the final score.

“In a close game like this, you have to make your free throws,” Adler said. “If you don’t, opponents have a good chance of catching up with you. We all have our own (free throw) routine. We shoot free throws every day in practice for at least 20 minutes.”

Hailey Ison scored with 38.6 seconds following Adler’s first pair of free throws to trim the Highlands advantage to 41-38. Ison then made two free throws with 29.7 seconds left to make the score 42-40.

Following a Highlands miss, the Bearcats had a chance to win the game. But Courtney Sandlin missed a three-pointer and Adler grabbed the rebound.

The Bluebirds led 33-32 entering the fourth quarter. After a Coffey free throw, Sandlin tied the game with two free throws. But Daley found Schaefer cutting to the rim and Schaefer made two free throws to put Highlands up for good at 36-34 with 5:48 left.

That’s when Ava Abner came up huge for the Bluebirds. Walton-Verona backed off her on the perimeter because Abner does not score much. But she let a three loose and made it to give Highlands a 39-34 advantage.

“It was about time,” Abner said. “I usually rely on my teammates to hit the big threes. They were relying on me for that one. I just did what my team needed.”

At the other end, Michele Judy scored with 2:50 left to make the score 39-36 Highlands. Walton-Verona took two timeouts with less than two minutes left before Judy Missed a shot near the basket and Coffey grabbed the rebound setting up the dramatics in the final minute.

Defensively, the Bluebirds contained the Bearcat inside-outside duo of Sandlin and Judy. Judy finished with 12 and Sandlin 11 after they scored 28 and 21 points respectively in a 64-54 win over Newport Central Catholic on Wednesday. Sandlin recently returned from a wrist injury.

“We told them before the game we had to know where those two are,” Richey said. “We can’t let those two beat us. We were going to let some of the other players shoot. But we really had to double down on Judy some.”

The game stayed close in the first quarter before Highlands finished it with a 7-0 run to go up 13-6. Emilie Parton made a three-pointer from the left corner with 45 seconds left to finish the run.

Highlands struggled in the second quarter losing it 16-5. Judy tied the game with 3:13 left in the half and Sandlin made a free throw and shot to put Walton-Verona up 20-16. Following two Daley free throws, Judy scored again to give the Bearcats a 22-18 halftime advantage.

But that lead did not last long. Highlands started the half with a 9-0 run. Adler made a three-pointer before Daley scored a bucket and hit two free throws and Coffey recorded a steal and fast-break score.

Walton-Verona did come back to tie the game at 28. But Vanessa Fisse untied it with a three-pointer to give Highlands a 31-28 advantage. Following an Ison score, Schaefer hit a lay-in in the center before Judy made two more free throws for the Bearcats.

Highlands closes out the regular season against Simon Kenton (23-4) on Thursday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Highlands bests Boone County, Southwestern

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands guard Ava Abner (22) drives to the hole against Southwestern's Allie Venable (2) in Friday's contest. Highlands won both games in the State Farm Holiday Classic to move to 9-4 on the season. The Bluebirds face Pleasure Ridge Park for the tournament championship at 4:15 p.m. today at Conner.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HEBRON – The thought may be scary for opponents.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team knocked off two more good opponents in the State Farm Holiday Classic on Friday to improve to 9-4. Highlands beat the Boone County Lady Rebels, 46-40 in overtime and 12th Region contender Southwestern Lady Warriors, 51-37. The Bluebirds will face 12-2 Pleasure Ridge Park for the classic championship at 4:15 p.m. this afternoon.

Highlands had not beaten Boone County (7-5) since Jan. 13, 2009 by a 54-43 count in Florence. The Lady Rebels have won three of the last four 9th Region titles and have had the same head coach in Nell Fookes since the 1985-86 season.

“The seniors had not beaten (Boone County) in high school,” said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands head coach. “We talked about that before the game. We needed to play our game and we almost gave it to them. We know we can play much better than we have.”

Highlands once again had balanced scoring. Vanessa Fisse led the way with 15 points and Brianna Adler had 12 making 10-of-12 free throws. Fisse made 3-of-6 three-point attempts.

Highlands sees different players rise up in different games. Sophomore Alex Combs followed Adler and Fisse with eight points and four rebounds.

The difference in the game came at the free-throw line. Highlands made 11-of-15 free throws for 73 percent and Boone County made 7-of-13 for 54 percent. Highlands also hit 15-of-47 shots for 31 percent and 5-of-15 three-pointers for 33 percent. Boone County made 13-of-50 shots for 26 percent including 7-of-23 three-point attempts for 30 percent.

Highlands played a zone and held Lady Rebel standout guard Jessica Jones to six points. The Tennessee Tech signee did grab nine rebounds before fouling out.

Dallis Knotts led Boone County with 13 points and Alexis Switzer followed with 11. Switzer added four rebounds.

Highlands led 18-14 at halftime and 26-20 entering the fourth quarter. But Boone County won the fourth quarter, 18-12 to force overtime.

Highlands won the rebounding battle, 39-36. Senior Jesse “Dirt” Daley led all rebounders with 10 for the Bluebirds.

“You can tell we’re progressing and that we haven’t hit our peek yet,” said Ava Abner, Highlands guard. “We still can get better. I think that our defensive rebounding will get us where we need to go.”

Highlands had been playing without injured seniors Leah Schaefer and Emilie Parton. Schaefer made her return Thursday and played in both games Friday. Parton did not play in either contest Friday.

“We’re not completely healthy,” Richey said. “Leah and Emilie are not 100 percent. (Parton) played a little (Thursday). We’re not going to be 100 percent until the end of January. But my younger girls are gaining confidence. We can be a dangerous team when we’re clicking together. They trust in one another.”

Schaefer scored just four points against Boone County but erupted for 14 against Southwestern as Highlands won all three Pool B contests. The Xavier signee made 6-of-7 free throws to go with three rebounds and a blocked shot.

Fisse put together another stellar game with 12 points. She did not hit any three-pointers but did make all five two-point attempts. Daley added 10 points.

Highlands once again saw many other player do small things to help record the victory. Lydia Graves made two crucial three-pointers and Adler had three steals with Abner and Fisse recording two each.

“It’s good that we have different people we can rely on,” Combs said. “When we had Leah (Schaefer) out, we had other people step up. That’s made our team stronger.”

Highlands led 24-19 at halftime and 38-30 entering the fourth quarter. That lead let the Bluebirds spread the court and attack the rim from different directions.

“We feel we have great guards,” Richey said. “If we do a spread, we can take care of the ball and also take girls off the dribble like we did.”

Highlands hit 19-of-36 shots for 53 percent, including 3-of-9 from three-point range for 33 percent compared to 13-of-34 for 38 percent, including 6-of-22 from three-point range for Southwestern (8-5).

The Bluebirds also made 10-of-12 free throws for 83 percent. Southwestern made 5-of-9 free throws for 56 percent.

Adison Corder and Samantha Fitzgerald kept the Lady Warriors in striking range. Corder made 5-of-9 three-point attempts on her way to 19 points. Fitzgerald added 12.