Elyria Catholic girls basketball: Isabelle Niederst named first-team All-Ohioan

Isabelle Niederst had to carry a lot of responsibility on her shoulders.

Elyria Catholic’s point guard was used to running the show with the ball in her hands, but the Panthers needed her to up her game even more and become a complete player.

Not only did Niederst live up to the hype, she surpassed it. Joining former teammate Carter McCray from a year ago, Niederst is the second player in program history to be named a Division II first-team All-Ohioan.

“It’s such a great accomplishment for sure,” Niederst said. “Having my coaches, teammates and family supporting me really helped me (earn) such a great thing that I’m proud of. I’m just grateful that I had the opportunity to play at EC.”

Niederst went from scoring 13.6 points per game a year ago to 19 points in her senior season. That’s not mentioning the other ways she affected the game with 8.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 steals. She led Elyria Catholic to a 17-8 record and a district semifinal appearance, along with a GLC title in the league’s final year.

It took a lot of hard work to put herself in position to be in a starring role, but it was nothing she couldn’t handle. Not only was she was a leader by example with her strong play, but also by being there for her younger teammates.

“I’m really grateful to have had that role,” Niederst said. “It’s a lot of work for sure, but it’s really just an honor to be such a big leader on the team and have these younger girls look up to you. I’ve been in their position before being younger on the team. (It’s about) really telling them and supporting them in everything they do and letting them know that it’s OK to make mistakes.”

Niederst filled this leadership role seamlessly, but it didn’t happen overnight. She has the intangibles of what it takes to be successful, but being coachable is something not every good player has the ability to do. Elyria Catholic coach Eric Rothgery said Niederst is one of the most coachable players he has ever been around.

“She just wants to learn. She gets better every single day,” Rothgery said. “She pushes herself and deserves every honor that she gets.”

This is Niederst’s third season in a row being named as an All-Ohioan. She made the jump from special mention as a junior all the way to first team.

She’s now in elite company with McCray, who is now in the transfer portal after winning Horizon League Freshman of the Year at Division I Northern Kentucky. McCray made a big splash as a freshman and Rothgery thinks Niederst is on a similar path at D-II Tiffin.

“We were pretty sure that Carter was going to surprise some people right out of the shoot,” Rothgery said. “We definitely think Isabelle will do the same once she gets to Tiffin, that she’s going to be a major part of their team right from the start.”

It took some time becoming Elyria Catholic’s alpha after playing behind some talented players, but Niederst showed what she was capable of when she was given the opportunity. She became the consummate player and the consummate leader. Her hard work paid off for Elyria Catholic girls basketball, and it paid off for herself.

“To see all of your hard work pay off, it’s a really great feeling,” Niederst said. “Working hard in practice is one thing, but working outside of practices, getting more shots up and improving any way that I can. It’s really just a great feeling to know that all of that hard work and dedication that I had for the game in the past four years really paid off and impacted our team in such a great way.”