Zoe Miller’s big ‘5-0’ retired for Hiland girls basketball

The number 50 shall never grace another Hiland girls basketball uniform again, following the number retirement at Classic in the Country Saturday, Jan. 17.

That number was retired thanks to the relentless effort of Zoe Miller, who graduated from Hiland as one of its most decorated athletes in school history.

Miller’s high school career led her to 104 victories, an Ohio High School Athletic Association record, along with plenty of numbers to back up her winning effort that culminated in a state championship in her senior year in 2020-21.

Her numbers at HHS include the first, third and fourth most single-season rebounds, the fourth-highest total points in a season (496), a school-record 944 career rebounds and a school single-game record 20 rebounds. She also climbed to third on the career scoring chase, her 1,614 points trailing only Jena Stutzman (1,645) and Lindsay Stuckey (1,627).

Her never-ending work ethic helped her earn first-team All-Ohio honors her junior year and Division IV Player of the Year honors in 2021.

Her career then continued at Ashland University, where she continued to post incredible numbers on her way to helping the Eagles win a national title on her way to scoring 1,432 career points, ranking her 12th all-time.

The praise for Miller’s work ethic, attitude and immense skills came from her high school coach Dave Schlabach and Ashland University coach Kari Pickens, who led AU to a national title in 2022-23.

“Zoe was an incredible player and person,” Pickens said. “She worked so hard. I called her the silent assassin. She was always doing the dirty work and never getting a lot of credit for it. She was never, ‘Hey, eyes on me.’ She just did all the hard work and made her teammates better.”

Pickens said special talents like that don’t come along every year, noting that she could do it all on both ends of the floor. She called her tenacious and said Miller was a coach’s dream.

She added that Miller’s passion for the game and heart for others made her special.

Schlabach said he got the good fortune of coaching Miller beginning in her third-grade year of AAU basketball, and he could sense the drive and commitment even then.

“Some kids have talent and don’t use it, but I think Zoe reached her potential,” Schlabach said. “She worked so hard and was the most physical player I have ever coached. She actually enjoyed physicality. She is the best rebounder we’ve ever had here, and we’ve had some good ones.”

Schlabach said seeing her former teammates from Hiland and AU come to Hiland to help her celebrate this honor speaks volumes about what she meant to each group.

He went on to say that there were parts of Miller’s game that can’t be coached.

“When you don’t have to self-motivate a kid, coaching becomes much easier,” Schlabach said. “I never had to coach effort, ever in her nine years.”

Miller said it was an honor to play the game of basketball, work on her skills and play with so many talented teammates.

“You always dream about moments like this when you’re a little kid, but I feel like it was always more important to do whatever was best for my team,” Miller said of her career.

Rising through a career at Hiland, which is widely known as one of the most prestigious programs in the state of Ohio, Miller said what she gleaned from Schlabach and assistant coach David “Cousy” Borter throughout her years was immensely important.

“I was coached by the best people who pushed us to be the best we could be both on and off the court,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t be here today receiving this honor without them. They truly set an example of how to work hard.”

Miller said her heart for the game was always something that pushed her to pursue excellence and noted that she got to play with a special group of teammates in her career who helped her achieve everything she wanted from the game.

“I’ve made lifelong friends and sisters, and it’s been awesome to share those moments in life with them,” Miller said. “It’s been an honor to play with them all.”

She also said her parents Mike and Krista Miller provided a perfect upbringing, allowing her to follow her hoop dreams.

She said all the work in her career helped prepare her for life after basketball because she understands the value of working hard with others to set goals.

She said she will carry that same sense of dedication and commitment to her adult life, where she hopes to pursue a career in school counseling following graduate school. She is currently working as an aide in the West Holmes School District.