Callie Hales is not your typical freshman. How the Gilbert guard is making instant impact
Callie Hales knew it was now or never.
The Gilbert freshman guard had been sitting on the bench for a long stretch after committing her first foul during the team's Raccoon River Conference game with Adel-Desoto-Minburn on Tuesday.
ADM had used a big run in the second quarter to take control of the game. But Gilbert began chipping away in the third quarter and had gotten to within striking distance when Hales returned to the floor midway through the fourth quarter.
Hales took full advantage of her opportunity to make an impact. Soon after returning to the floor she drove toward the middle of the lane and lofted a running floater that found its way into the basket.
“When I came out with my fourth foul, (assistant coach) Xary (Nunez-Hiraldo) pulled me over and gave me a pick-me-up,” Hales said. “Then I was like a little fired up. Ella (Henningsen) had a great hand-off that made the line open. It was really fun because then we were ahead.”
That basket turned out to be Hales' only of the game, but it gave the Tigers their first lead since early in the second quarter at 49-48.
ADM briefly went back on top, but Hales had an answer once again. She took the ball up the floor and kicked it out to sharpshooter Mia Kautman, who sank a 3-pointer from the wing to give Gilbert a 52-50 lead.
“Mia is such a great shooter,” Hales said. “If it doesn’t go down, I’m honestly shocked because she makes every single one. I know I can drive and if they double in, it’s an easy kick-out to Mia.”
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Even though Hales eventually fouled out, the Tigers never trailed again. They pulled off a 56-54 victory to even their record at 2-2 on the season and go to 2-0 in the RRC.
Despite being just a freshman, Hales was ready for moments like Tuesday night.
“She knows what she’s doing,” said Gilbert guard Mollie Schnormeier. “We trust her with the ball.”
Hales said she has been playing basketball for as long as she can remember. She played club ball with the All-Iowa Attack and Peer Prep and was ready to make an instant impact upon joining the high school ranks this fall.
Entering the ADM game, Hales was already one of the best point guards in the RRC. She averaged 5.3 points and 5.3 assists with nearly a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
“We have some great pieces, so having her play the point right out of the gate and play unselfishly — she's been really steady,” said Gilbert coach Mike Frisk. “She doesn’t play like a freshman, she’s playing like one of those juniors right now.”
Hales has a knack for finding open teammates. As a lefty, she is a good ball-handler who can beat defenders off the dribble, but her real strength is seeing the floor and getting her teammates open looks.
“When you’re left-handed and crafty and find open people at the right time, all the time, she passes extremely well,” Frisk said. “She understands what’s going on. She’s cerebral.”
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During last Friday's 49-48 comeback victory at Carroll, Hales played a big part in the Tiger triumph with four assists and steals apiece. Her clutch plays against ADM show she is gaining more and more confidence on the court.
“I see every game that she’s evolving,” said Kautman. “At Carroll last Friday she had some amazing assists to me. She always runs court well and she’s a lefty, which helps with everything. I’m excited to see her ball.”
Hales said she wants to end up leading the RRC in assists this season.
“That’s one of my individual goals,” Hales said. “We’re 2-0 in the conference now and it’d be great to keep that up too.”
If Hales keeps improving every week Gilbert has a chance to put a scare in the top teams of the RRC and make a run at a winning season.
“I just love watching her confidence grow,” Schnormeier said. “That’s what we need on the court. The fact that she is able to find everyone that’s open is so helpful. She’s essential.”
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Freshman guard Callie Hales is an elite playmaker for Gilbert basketball
