Story Photos
 Elma's Jade Haas goes up for a shot as Mark Morris' Jennifer Hamilton defends during this year's district tournament. Haas had 25 points to lead the Eagles. Kathy Quigg / The (Aberdeen) Daily World
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Elma's Hass will bring quickness, energy to Lady Devils
Monday, July 21, 2008 11:47 PM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleJade Haas blended well with her basketball teammates at Elma High School last season.
The talented teen also mixed in well with the tiny town’s backdrop of tall timber. Almost too well.
Although she averaged 11 points per game as a senior, she didn’t receive any offers to play college basketball until the Eagles advanced to the District 4 Class 2A Tournament.
“I wasn’t getting a lot of recognition because I was from a small town, and I never played on a summer team,” Haas said during a break at the recent Lady Devils Hoop Camp. “But when we went to the district tournament, a coach approached me about playing at Lower Columbia College.”
Haas, a cat-quick wing with springs in her legs, later agreed to bring her talents to the Lady Devils’ program beginning this fall.
At the district tournament, the 5-foot-9 Haas posted a huge double-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and seven steals as the Eagles eliminated Mark Morris 62-38, and exploded for 10 points and 21 rebounds in a 64-51 triumph over Woodland.
“Chad (Meadors, the LCC coach) contacted me before I went to the state tournament, and I was also approached by coaches from Highline and Tacoma colleges along with Concordia at the tournament,” she said. “I was told LCC had a really good program. I met Chad and liked him, and I feel comfortable here.”
Haas joins returning players Heidi Jackson, Holly Weston, Kasey Craft and Shelby Junkman on the Lady Devils’ roster.
“I have some speed and quickness, and I can jump high and grab rebounds,” she said. “I’ll play wherever I can in order to help the team.”
Haas earned all-Evergreen Conference second-team honors, and scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Eagles fell to Ellensburg 61-53 in the state semifinals. Elma eventually finished sixth in the tournament.
“Jade’s versatile, with her athletic abilities and quickness,” Meadors said. “She attacks the basket and rebounds well, and can create moves on the block. Her natural abilities have truly yet to be tapped, and when she gets around other talented players, she will show her abilities and shoot through the roof.”
Haas is unsure what she wants to study, but is leaning toward business administration.
“I want to get my pre-requisites out of the way and then decide a major when I transfer to a four-year school,” she said.
Haas, who is adopted, said she also recently met her birth parents and is considering attending college where the they live in Georgia.
“I might go to a four-year school there. I’ll wait and see what happens,” she said.
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