But just two games into the season, 6-foot-3 senior center Ellen Smith tore a knee ligament.
Though a significant blow, it’ll take more than that to topple the Jills. Instead of seeing it as losing a player the Jills look at it as gaining a student coach.
“She’s still here every day. She’s at practice, she’s at games,” Oakwood coach Aaron Oakes said. “I told her she can certainly help out some of our younger kids that are trying to fill in for her, so she becomes a coach to some extent.”
The Jills will be fine, just like Smith, who still has her scholarship to play for Ohio University for next season.
“If I didn’t have a scholarship already, I’d probably be devastated,” said Smith, who scored 23 points in Oakwood’s season opener. “(Ohio) said to rehab really hard and I’ll be back in the game in six or seven months. If I’m not ready, I’ll have to be redshirted, but it’s no big deal.”
For now, Smith will help prep the Jills for what they hope is a season to remember for a different reason.
“I think we have a shot at the SWBL and going back to districts,” Smith said. “If everybody works together, it can happen.”
Six-foot senior forward Brooke Trauthwein creates mismatches with an inside-outside game, 6-1 sophomore forward Elizabeth Haley is a blue-collar competitor and 5-8 senior forwards Ashton Ehler and Kailey Nolan add depth and experience.
Oakwood (4-1, 2-0 SWBL Southwestern Division) also receives a boost in the next couple weeks with the return of junior guard Claire Davis, who is close to returning from a broken leg suffered during soccer season.
Oakes said she could be cleared to play as early as this weekend — two months ahead of schedule.
Senior Kelsey Dillon stepped up in Davis’ absence, making the Jills that much deeper.
“I think we look at this as a year if we’re going to do some things, especially in the tournament, this will be one of our better opportunities,” Oakes said.
Oakwood lost to Chaminade Julienne in the sectional final last season, denying the Jills consecutive district final appearances.
Oakwood reached the district final in 2009, its first trip since 1992.
As for the SWBL title, the Jills will have to take down Bellbrook, winners of the SWBL nine of the past 10 seasons.
“We want to make our stamp (on the program),” said Trauthwein, who averages 14.8 points per game, “kind of make (district) a tradition and starting it off by winning SWBL and getting farther in the tournament this year.”
About the Author