Mast focused on Hiland’s present while preparing for future at Baldwin Wallace

Hiland Lady Hawks sharpshooting senior guard Evie Mast signed her letter of intent to play basketball for Baldwin Wallace University next season.

However, that is next year.

For now the senior is focusing all her attention on the present, and at the present, everything is looking just fine for both her and the Lady Hawks.

Coming off a 70-25 throttling of previously undefeated Western Reserve Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Reese Center, a game in which she provided 13 points, five rebounds and four assists to go along with three 3-pointers, Hiland seems poised to make another serious run at a state berth.

For the past four seasons, Mast has been an integral part of plenty of great campaigns including playing a role in the Lady Hawks run to a state berth in her freshman year.

She wants nothing more than to put her own stamp on duplicating that feat this season.

“We’re getting there,” Mast said of Hiland’s start to the season that has seen them drop three contests, all to strong programs. She said those tough losses are simply building blocks along the way, and they know a difficult schedule is part of the plan for Hiland every year.

“Right now all I’m concerned about is helping this team win,” Mast said.

One thing she said this group has above all else is unity. She said that alone will drive them to work toward a singular goal together.

“This team is so close,” Mast said. “We work so well together. We all share the ball and love seeing each other get our moments to shine, so it’s exciting to be able to finish off my career here with that type of team dynamic.”

Mast said she was drawn to BW for many reasons, among which were team chemistry, a chance to step in and contribute, and a faith-centered program, the latter of which she said she put a great deal of weight in when making her final decision on where to attend college.

“I was looking for a program that was committed to a team-style play, and Baldwin Wallace checked all of my boxes,” Mast said.

She said she never had an end-game goal of playing collegiately, noting what Baldwin Wallace’s program and coaching staff presents is what was enticing to her to want to continue playing.

Mast began her career playing in the Hiland biddy ball program, and one thing that program does is imitate the varsity concept and work ethic right down to the drills they work on.

Throughout her AAU and Wooster League growth as a player, Mast always exhibited an uncanny ability to shoot the rock from deep, something that has continued right through her varsity experience.

She has managed to place herself among the all-time great shooters at Hiland, a list that is lengthy and talented.

She said she feels honored to be considered among those great talents and said it all comes down to one simple thing: work ethic.

“It is just hours spent in the gym, getting extra shots up and learning how to trust my shot when the pressure is on during a game,” Mast said. “It’s that extra work and doing things the right way that pays off.”

She said the one thing she has had to work harder on than anything else is to let those instincts take over when shots don’t fall early.

“You just have to trust yourself,” she said.

Mast went on to talk about how coming up in a system that has become one of the most successful in Ohio high school basketball history has prepared her for the rigors of college ball.

She said being part of a program where coaches are willing to push players to excel, grow and realize their potential has been a large part of her career arc.

“I think when you come through this program, you realize there is a standard concerning how hard you have to work to be good, to contribute and to succeed,” Mast said. “Knowing the work ethic has definitely set me up for college.”

While she will trade in the red, black and white that has been such a big part of her basketball life for the brown and gold of BW, she said what she learned in the program at Hiland will forever be part of who she is, whether on the floor or off it.