Freshman quite a treat for Golden Bears
Elly Embers Evarts.
That's not really the middle name of Gibsonburg's freshman, but she was on fire last week. She canned eight 3-pointers in a victory over Old Fort and seven in a win over St. Joseph Central Catholic.
It's not a certainty eight in one game is a program record. It's even more safe to say that 15 in two games is and 66 points in the same span is likely another.
Regardless, there will be more to come.
"The main goal is 2,000 points," she said. "That would be the most in [program] history. I want to be a team player, but in the end, that's the goal."
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Evarts scored 36 points against Old Fort and 30 against SJCC. She began to feel as though she couldn't miss, like a continuous heat assessment.
"Once I hit eight in the first game, I felt like it would carry over," she said. "I'm increasing my confidence. Once it carries over to one [bucket], I try to carry it over to the rest. Once I hit a few I started to shoot on the move.
"I usually get my feet set. There were a few shots I only take in practice; heat check. I was more confident; I took more shots, even if I wasn't completely open."
Every time Evarts checked, she was still aflame. In fact, she stays smoldering with a 22.2 points average to lead the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division, and the other two divisions for that matter.
She made 61 3-pointers at 41% and shoots 49% from the field. She adds 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 3.8 assists per game.
"Middle school and high school are way different," she said. "My biggest struggle; if I'm not shooting well, like Norwalk. Get over it. Jaz [Morant] is a great leader. If she misses, she doesn't get down. I need to be like her.
"As a freshman, I'm still emotional a little. I'll get better. It starts in practice [against] two great defenders in Jaz and Sophe [Paul]. In middle school, I didn't get pushed that much. Now, in games it feels easier because those girls aren't the girls guarding me at practice.
"They get me prepared for most defenses. I try to make them work. Back door cuts. Me and Ansley Fleming communicate. We get excited. These girls understand and they like basketball and they're focused."
They're learning to make each other better.
"I pass it to Sophe," Evarts said. "I'm getting face-guarded, so I run around and set screens and set picks. Then, I get the ball back. I'm better at moving without the ball. I never had to do that before. Winning comes because we're a team.
"I might hit shots, but the girls get me open looks. I don't want it to seem like a one-man team. I don't want to hear that."
We haven't seen it, but Evarts can connect from the logo at midcourt. Don't be surprised.
"The volleyball line is a good distance," she said, "I can be accurate. Farther back in practice, I feel confident."
Evarts doesn't remember making eight 3-pointers in any game at any level.
"Maybe a summer league thing," she said. "I started off rough. I missed my first two 3-pointers and a layup. I made a buzzer-beater [to end the first quarter]. 'Here we go.' It went from there. I made seven in a row."
She's heard that Gibsonburg is led by a freshman who eventually will hit a wall. That the Golden Bears won't provide her with enough support.
Gibsonburg is unbeaten in the SBC River Division and would clinch a share of the championship with a victory Thursday against winless St. Mary Central Catholic. The Golden Bears visit Woodmore on Saturday.
"That's one of the main goals; win that," Evarts said. "Our school won that one time [1976]. They were co-champs. Outright would mean a lot to the program. It would be cool to win it, but we want to win outright.
"Put it out there: This is our league. It's what we've always been looking for. We have a connection. We have great chemistry as a team and we deserve it."
Gibsonburg lost only to Bellevue this season. It beat Norwalk, Port Clinton and Elmwood in a deliberately difficult nonconference schedule.
The Golden Bears embraced the challenges.
"It prepared us, especially for the tournament," Evarts said. "That was the whole goal. It helps prepare us under pressure. Some of the schools are double our size; bigger, stronger faster. Norwalk went to overtime; you have to get used to the intensity with the tournament coming up.
"The environment is crazy for every basket. It's fun."
Evarts' middle name isn't Embers. In fact, her first name isn't technically Elly.
Her mom must have known Brielle Elizabeth Evarts would pollinate a program, create a buzz and sting like a BEE. Plus, all Golden Bears love a sweet honey treat.
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Gibsonburg OHSAA girls basketball
