Norway’s Jada Freudinger (31) goes up and over North Dickinson’s Mya Grunlund (12) during a varsity basketball clash at Norway on Dec. 13. The host Knights won the contest 51-24. Freudinger is now set to take her hoops skills to Bay College to play for the Norse in Escanaba. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News file photo)

NORWAY — Jada Freudinger wasn’t quite sure if she was done playing basketball when the Norway girls varsity basketball team had its season come to a close with the Knights’ loss to Baraga in the MHSAA Division 4, Regional 25 finals on March 9.

The senior had talked to Bay College in Escanaba about playing for the Norse during the season but the chatter seemingly ended when there was a change at head coach.

But, toward the end of the school year, Freudinger heard from the new coach, Todd Ciochetto, and suddenly her days of playing basketball got an extension.

The former Knight, who played two-plus seasons on the varsity team, confirmed she’ll be heading over to Escanaba to play for the Norse and studying radiology in the fall. Though, she’s not quite sure what position she’ll play for the Norse once she gets there. That’s still to be determined.

“I really don’t know yet,” said the 17-year-old hoopster. “The coach said he wants me to shoot more than I did in high school.”

Oddly enough, Freudinger admits basketball wasn’t always her first love, as far as sports.

“I really didn’t play basketball until about the sixth grade,” she added. “I liked softball more. But, now, basketball is my favorite.”

Currently, Freudinger said she’s working out on her own to get ready for the rigors of college basketball, as well as attending open gyms both at Norway and at Bay College.

While it took longer than maybe planned, she can also look forward to continuing to play competitive basketball at the next level.

“After I didn’t hear back from Bay for a while, I thought my playing basketball was done,” she said. “I was really interested (in playing for Bay).

And, so she shall.

“(I’m) very proud of her,” said Norway girls basketball coach Brian Adams. “She works her tail off, loves the game is very coachable. Bay is getting a great player.”

Freudinger is the daughter of Jessica Smith and Scott Freudinger.