'It's just a ton of great basketball'

Tony Haerr called it basketball Heaven. With over 2,900 teams registered, 2,000 college coaches in attendance and 90 courts under one roof, Run 4 Roses takes place this week in Louisville, Kentucky. Buckeye State Blast will take four teams down and they're littered with local players and coaches. Action begins Monday for the Rising Stars teams and continues Thursday with 2026, 2027 and 2028 teams. "It is the best event in the whole country," said Haerr, an assistant girls basketball coach at Margaretta and co-coach of the 2027 team. Haerr coaches with Huron athletic director Matthew Ayers and the 2027 team is peppered with talent. Bellevue's Ellie Freitag and CJ Savage and Old Fort's Lucy King from Old Fort are a part of the roster. "It's always a great experience for us because of the environment. It's just a ton of great basketball no matter where you look," Haerr said. "It shows our girls how much talent is outside of our area and hopefully pushes them to the next level." The rest of the team is Margaretta's Ashlyn Kingsborough, Norwalk's Emmie Leber and Alyssa Gruhlke, Willard's Emelia Tallman and Wellington's Mackenzie Jerousesk. "Our ultimate goal is to improve the athletes involved in our program," Haerr said. The 2026 team is coached by 2019 Margaretta graduate Rockell Kuns and includes locals Izzy Stockmaster and Alexa Snay from Seneca East. "Run 4 The Roses is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Kuns said. "From the outside, the building might just look like a regular exposition center — but the moment you walk through those doors, you're stepping into a world of elite-level basketball. Athletes at every level, including some of the best in the country, come to compete in front of thousands of college coaches from all over the world. "The energy is unmatched." Also on the team is Cassidy Lane and Ellyse Schaefer from Margaretta, Trinity Lazzara and Delaney Illuzzi from Norwalk, Corrin Gettys from Willard and Brooke Tabbert from Oak Harbor. "The ultimate goal at Roses is to showcase our players' talent and growth," Kuns said. "We've talked about this all season — the end goal has always been to get better for this moment. Winning tournaments along the way is great, but every game and practice has been about preparing for Roses. It's not just about scoring the most points. "It's about showing coaches the little things like being a great teammate, hustling after a mistake, communicating and pushing each other. Those are the qualities that stand out." The 2028 squad is coached by Oak Harbor graduate and current Margaretta assistant coach Logan Harris. Included on the roster are locals Lilly Greenslade from Clyde, Brooke Kaufman and Reese Meachem from Bellevue and Carly Fortney and Adelyn Dick from Old Fort. Rounding out the team is Ellaynah Schaefer and Tessa Lane from Margaretta, Thea Wybensinger from Port Clinton and Josilyn Jackson from Norwalk. "I hope the girls use this opportunity to show coaches everything they've been working on all season — both during AAU and school ball," Kuns said. "This group is incredibly hard-working and determined. Roses gives them a chance to perform on a stage where they don't know who's watching, and that's the beauty of it. "Every court has college coaches standing by. It only takes one person to see something special in them." The 2030 roster will also be in attendance for games that start Monday. The Rising Stars team is co-coached by Columbian coach Morgan Harrigan and Edison coach Chelsey Meagrow. Their roster includes Columbian's Kami Beaston, Layla Green and Mya Shriver and Bellevue's Grace Freitag. Rounding out the team is Edison's Olivia Meagrow, Margaretta's Anna Christman, St. Mary's Taylor Will and Sophia Foos and Gibsonburg's Chloe Jividen. "It gives our girls the opportunity to be seen," Haerr said. "Myself and the coaches do a great job reaching out to colleges throughout the year, but this is where they can all be seen and hopefully receive an opportunity to play at the next level."