As she walked through the upstairs hallway facing the Ryle High School gymnasium, Maddie Scherr was looking at pictures of past teams and memories made.
Those memories include three straight 9th Region titles from 2018-20 and a state championship in 2019, the lone state title in program history.
After playing across the country for two seasons at the University of Oregon and then getting her feet under her last year in Lexington at the University of Kentucky, the 2020 Ryle High School graduate finally got to come back home and see the Raiders play on Jan. 31 as she was honored with a retired jersey and poster for winning the 2020 Miss Kentucky basketball award.
“Just how nostalgic it is being back here and the memories that come with it are just so, so great,” Scherr said. “I mean it’s such a great feeling. I’m just grateful to be a part of it and you know to be celebrated in the community and everybody’s so kind and loving still. So it’s just been an amazing opportunity.”
Scherr was recognized prior to the Raiders contest with Frederick Douglass by head coach Katie Haitz for her achievements as a Raider which includes the program’s all-time scoring, rebounding and assist marks.
“I was glad it worked out that we could finally celebrate her and make sure that she knows that we were excited for her,” Haitz said. “Miss Kentucky Basketball is a rare thing, there’s only like six in Northern Kentucky and she’s one of them and I’m really, really happy for proud of who she is what she’s done for our program. Then you see what she’s gone on to be and can’t wait to see how it continues to go.”
Haitz is correct, the award that’s been around since 1976 has seen six from NKY win the Miss Kentucky Basketball award, the most prestigious individual award anyone on the hardcourt could get. Newport’s Donna Murphy was the recipient of the inaugural honor in 1976. Since then, Highlands’ Jaime Walz-Richey (1996), Bishop Brossart’s Katie Schweggman (2001), Holmes’ Erica Hallman (2002), Boone County’s Sydney Moss (2012) and Scherr the last one to do so in 2020.
Scherr was a staple in the program in her time in Union. Not only with her personal accolades, but her leadership exuded throughout the program, school and community. Wednesday was a chance for the program to give back a little.
A little girl was seen wearing a Scherr UK jersey and players on the current team idolize her to this day.
“It’s pretty exciting that she came back. I’ve always looked up to her and Lauren Schwartz,” Ryle senior Quinn Eubank said. “They’ve always been pretty big idols of mine and what I tried to start playing like technique-wise and whatnot. So seeing her come back was pretty cool.”
Eubank is a Miss Basketball candidate herself, having a standout year as she’s averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game and one of the prime candidates for 9th Region Player of the Year. She’s one of two from Ryle headed to play Division I basketball next season, Eubank signed with Belmont and Sarah Baker signed with Youngstown State. It’s a continued pipeline of basketball players that continue to head to the next level under Haitz’s watch.
“These two saw her when they were in seventh grade,” Haitz said. “One of the things for me is they know that how important it was to see what they did to be successful and that helps our program. The more that you can see those kids move on you know how to set those goals and what those dreams look like and how to get there.”
Scherr isn’t the only one thriving in women’s college basketball that hails from Union either. Lauren Schwartz is at the University of Washington, Brie Crittendon at Eastern Kentucky University, both teammates with Scherr.
“I love those girls. Still keep in contact with them,” Scherr said. “Lauren is doing great, loves her coach and they have a great program out there. Same with Brie. We were more than teammates when we were here which is part of why we were able to win a state championship so it’s great to be able to see everyone’s success.”
Scherr’s busy day included classes, practice, leaving early for practice and making her way up to Union. With the season’s between college and prep intersecting, it doesn’t make for the easiest way to get home during high school hoops season.
“It’s the same season so it’s not easy to get back here,” Scherr said. “Had to leave practice early tonight and have a game tomorrow. That’s the beauty of an hour drive being in Lexington.”
Scherr is majoring in sports communication and has one more year of eligibility if she plans to take it with a COVID waiver. She is a roommate with a former Ryle teammate, Jaiden Douthit. Scherr said she’s most likely to take the extra year of eligibility and try and build on what she’s done in Lexington.
“Just going with the flow. So much change that can happen in the next three to five years for me,” Scherr said. “I’m trying to enjoy the process and take it slow and figure out where God can be leading me. I’ve learned so much in these past four years. Living across the country in a pandemic I learned a lot. Figured a lot about myself and wanting to be close to family. I’ve had great people along the way helping me with every bump in the road.”
In her first season in Lexington during the 2022-23 season, she filled the stat sheet for the Wildcats, averaging 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds 4.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. She led the Southeastern Conference in free throw % (91.8), and ranked fourth in the conference in assists and steals.
Through 19 games with the Wildcats this season, Scherr is averaging a career-high in college in points per game with 13.6. The team has struggled with consistency this season, currently 9-14 overall and 2-7 in conference play.
Scherr is thriving off the court as well, taking advantage of NIL opportunities. In December, Scherr became the first Kentucky women’s athlete to score a NIL car dealership deal, doing so with Paul Miller Mazda in Lexington. She’s also built a NIL portfolio with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Six Star Pro Nutrition, HOIST and Shady Rays, among others.