Old school post propels Goodyear girls basketball contender

By Richard Smith
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While she continues to work on her dribble and outside shot, being a post player with an old school skill set has its advantages for Estrella Foothills senior center Eva Amenhauser and her team.

In addition to being a double-double machine in the low post averaging 14.6 points and 13.5 rebounds a game this year, she often directs the Wolves’ half-court offense from the high post. Amenhauser also averages 4.4 assists, just behind junior point guard Chanel Yellowman at 4.7 assists.

As the fulcrum of a 27-3 team in contention for its first state girls basketball title, Amenhauser enters the playoffs in a couple weeks as one of the key players in the state.

“My rebounding aspect has grown immensely, especially as the times have changed. I developed a lot in reading when to come through and when not to. I think that’s a main reason why a lot of posts don’t get an entry pass, coming at the wrong time or not reading the guards and having that communication,” Amenhauser said.

Estrella Foothills enters tonight’s game against Westview with a 15-0 regular season record, the #3 ranking in 4A and #18 in the Open Division. But the two 4A teams ahead of the Wolves are among the top teams in the state regardless of conference — #1 overall Tucson Salpointe Catholic and #3 Gilbert Mesquite.

As long as those teams end up in the final eight of the Open Division as expected, Estrella Foothills is at or near the top of a wide open 4A bracket.

Though the Wolves lost five seniors to graduation to its first 4A state semifinalist in recent memory, the team appears to have a clearer path to a state title.

“I think we trust each other more, and our teamwork and communication has gotten better,” Amenhauser said. “We struggled a little bit last year with trusting each other. This year our trust has gotten better and it has helped our team immensely.”

This is coach Noel Hatchel’s third year leading the Goodyear program.

In 2022-23, Amenhauser immediately led the team in rebounds and assists as a sophomore.

“When I first got her, she was already fine tuned. She had great footwork,” Hatchel said. “It’s funny, because when I first got to coach them we were playing in a fall league in Mesa and I hadn’t even had a practice with them. I saw what she could do offensively. What she’s developed over these last three years is, she’s incredibly unselfish. Not only will she dominate the rebound, she will make the pass and make the right read.”

That also was the year she emerged from her brother’s shadow on the court.
Noah Amenhauser grew to 7-1 during his year at Estrella, and received his first college offers as a sophomore in 2020. The 2023 grad signed with Grand Canyon University but missed most of his final two years of high school with injuries.

Noah transferred to Coastal Carolina before this season and is the Chanticleers.

“I’m really close with my brother so it was hard seeing him get hurt all the time. It’s also really motivating, knowing my brother worked so hard his first year and got that Division I offer at such a young age. His hard work shows through all his trials and his faith in God really helped him push through injuries,” Amenhauser said. “My brother texts all the time and we call all the time.”

Eva passed the 1,000 point and 1,000 rebound milestones earlier this season, and said she should have been the second in her family to do that for the Wolves.

In the summer, the 6-1 center brought ball up floor in a camp in Washington state, as the Wolves guards stayed home.

“She’s a dominant force inside. We have to run everything through her. We go at she goes,” Hatchel said.

Three other seniors play supporting roles. But Amenhauser has taken leadership matters of a squad that starts two juniors, a sophomore and a freshman around him.

“I’ve learned to grow a lot in my faith especially since I’ll be going off to college and doing my own thing,” Amenhauser said. “Being a senior has also brought out my personality around other people and my teammates.”

She has also formed a connection with talented young guards like sophomore shooter Nemo Sidhu (16. 8 ppg, 2.6 spg), Yellowman and her younger sister, Cyan, a freshman.

“She’s got a magnetic personality, so they kind of just gravitate toward her anyway. She’s one of those fun loving kids that never really does anything wrong,” Hatchel said.

In January, Amenhauser said she was looking to take advantage of a recent NCAA ruling that will not count at least one year of junior college play toward NCAA college eligibility.

She said she plans to study accounting, so an extra year will prepare her for the big test required for that degree.

On Feb. 3 she put that plan into action, signing with Western Wyoming College.

“Because the new rule just passed, and the degree I want is five years. I got a Division I offer but I do believe I can develop more and maybe improve my ballhandling and playing outside more. I unfortunately did not get the height gene compared to my brother. A small school will develop me more,” Amenhauser said.

Richard Smith
Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps

rsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.