1,000-point scorer Maria Maringer helps Danbury climb to new heights
Maria Maringer wouldn’t have known if she didn’t do it.
Scoring 1,000 career points truly was icing on the cake for Maringer as Danbury earned the first district championship in program history. Lakers coach Joe Miller didn’t tell Maringer she was approaching the milestone in a sectional final, but she sensed a bit of a buzz.
“I didn’t realize that was the one,” Maringer said. “I was thinking about the second half, I was dialed in. I drove with my left hand and coach called a timeout. It was one minute in, we weren’t tired. It hit me why coach called a timeout.
"The fans seemed to know. It might sound weird, it was never something I had my eyes on. I was fortunate to have four years of varsity to get there. I just wanted to play as hard as I could. It happened along the way, having fun one game at a time.
"Being part of a successful team like the team we’ve had was always a dream; 1,000 never was.”
Girls basketball Ross' Robinson, Port Clinton's Lanier, Gibsonburg's Evarts first-team Northwest District
There are no milestone postponements in the postseason. Miller called a timeout so the announcer could quickly recognize the achievement.
That’s probably a spotlight-avoiding scenario Maringer preferred.
“My teammates ran for a hug,” she said. “I wouldn’t be there without them. That was special. With a timeout, it was the whole team. Originally, it was only the five on the court for a hug.”
Maringer averaged 15.2 points and three steals. She was named to the first team in the Northwest District.
“As long as the focus is on the team achieving things, individual success will come,” she said. “It’s always more fun when everyone is playing together and not for themselves.”
Maringer scored 22 points in a victory over defending league champ Lakota early in the season. She scored 24 of Danbury’s 60 points in a win over Woodmore as Miller took note of how good his team could be.
She scored 18 points against Buckeye Central in the sectional final, her final home game. Don’t forget she typically guards the top scorer on the other team, and shuts her down.
Miller told Maringer the team needed her to be more aggressive on offense. She responded with 18 points on eight shots, with seven makes and four free throws.
The Lakers encouraged Maringer to carry a scoring load. That’s why, more than any other topic, Maringer was excited to talk about junior Maci Brown.
Brown and Miller helped Maringer unlock new tools to flourish. Brown averaged 4.4 assists and 3.2 assists for every turnover.
“If you can run, Maci can find you,” Maringer said. “Her passes are insane and on point. I loved playing with her. She’s a perfect example of a point guard. She does everything right and controls the offense.
“She’s super quick with the ball. A returning point guard with Ella McDonald, Mia McDonald, Thea Brickner, Katelynne Bergman and Sarah Gracemyer will be great for the Lakers.”
Maringer could hardly wait for high school. She didn’t dream of 1,000 points.
“In middle school, we had successful teams and the teams above and before had been successful,” she said. “I looked forward to playing with them. I knew we had athleticism and potential. I knew they’d be a fun group.”
Danbury (24-3, 16-2) won a game at district for the first time last season and won two games at district for the first time this year.
Gibsonburg and Tiffin Calvert also advanced to regional this season.
“We’re lucky to be in a league as talented as the SBC,” Maringer said. “Playing teams that can get to that level prepared us and gave us an opportunity to play against great players like Gibsonburg’s Elly Evarts.”
The Lakers beat the conference champion Golden Bears 61-59 in the last game of the regular season.
“At home on senior night,” Maringer said. “That was big for confidence into the tournament. Our posts [Kelly Uhinck, Mia McDonald] had two straight double-doubles.”
Oak Harbor coach Dick Heller was Maringer’s coach her first two years.
“There have been a lot of influential people,” she said. “Coach Miller is one of my biggest supporters. He believed in me. I started out with my sister [Gabby] as a freshman and sophomore. Having her to rely on we worked well together.
"My teammates have been influential. I love all of them; we’re more a family.”
Maringer took the message of Heller and Danbury assistant Joe Fetzer to heart that you can always control effort and attitude. Lakers assistant Ryan Beam worked with Maringer on shooting whenever she asked.
“When I was younger, I was defense oriented,” she said. “My offense wasn’t refined but I could hustle on defense. As I got older I developed more driving and shooting. Defense is always more fun, it’s fun to get after it.
“I’ll always be more defense minded.”
Maringer earned a starting role long before her freshman season was over.
“Having that foundation helped; by junior year I was confident,” she said.
Maringer is a lofty example on and off the court. She was No. 1 in her class and Merit Scholar finalist.
“Watching the community come out and support us,” she said. “Danbury is a small place but people came to watch and the next day the elementary students give us high-fives. It’s a great atmosphere to play in.”
mhorn@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Danbury's Maringer joins OHSAA girls basketball 1,000-points club
