Eisenhower’s Hintz running the show

Contrary to what some might think, this will not be Julia Hintz’s final act at New Berlin Eisenhower.

“I get that (comment) often: ‘She has to be a senior by now,’ ” Lions coach Gary Schmidt said, “but she’s only a junior and she brings a lot of energy, court sense.”

That kind of talk is probably wishful thinking for foes. Hintz has been a thorn in the side of the opposition since she arrived at Eisenhower. She led the team in scoring and assists as a sophomore and is on track to do the same this year.

She enters the state tournament averaging 13.8 points per game with careerbests in assists (5.4 per game) and assistto-turnover ratio (2-to-1).

“Not only can she score from anywhere – she takes deep, deep threes – you can’t leave her open anywhere, but she sees the court so well, especially if you get into a running game,” said Schmidt, whose team faces Monroe in a Division 2 state semifinals at 3:15 p.m. Friday at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon.

Eisenhower’s 2016 state title team was led by Chelsea Brackmann, now a sophomore at Bradley University, but overall that team was young. Two players who started in the state final, Hintz and senior Katie Ludwig, remain, as does senior forward Hannah Plockelman and Alicia Putney, who came off the bench.

New Berlin Eisenhower at a glance

Coach: Gary Schmidt, 17th season (350-70).

Record: 23-3, 12-0 Woodland West (first).

Key players: Julie Hintz, 5-8, jr., G, 13.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.4 apg; Hannah Plockelman, 6-0, sr., F, 12.8 pgg, 7 rpg, 2.2 apg; Katie Ludwig, 5-7, sr., G, 8.5 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.7 apg; Erin Hedman, 6-3, soph., F, 7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1 apg; Olivia Canady, 5-8, sr., G, 4.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2 apg; Alicia Putney, sr., G, 3.5 ppg, 1 rpg, 1.3 apg; Gabby Majinski, 5-9, jr., G, 3.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg.