Prepzone Hardcourt Preview 2017
FREE • TAKE ONE VOLUME 1 • 2017
- Page 2: Odds are, your teen won’t see the
- Page 6: CENTENNIALBRONCOS 2016-17 was a tal
- Page 10: GIRLS STATE BASKETBALLBRACKET MAKE
- Page 14: KEARNEY SENIOR HIGHBOYS The 2016-17
- Page 18: LINCOLN NORTHEASTBOYS LINCOLN HIGHB
- Page 22: LINCOLN PIUS XBOYS Fresh off an imp
- Page 26: LINCOLN SOUTHWESTBOYS While the 201
- Page 30: WAVERLYBOYS McCOOKBOYS On the heels
- Page 34: HASTINGSBOYS NORRISBOYS The Hasting
- Page 38: LEXINGTONBOYS Fresh off an 8-16 sea
- Page 42: YORKBOYS On the heels of a 15-9 sea
- Page 46: AQUINAS CATHOLICBOYS The 2016-17 se
- Page 50: BROKEN BOWBOYS According to the gro
FREE • TAKE ONE<br />
VOLUME 1 • <strong>2017</strong>
Odds are, your teen won’t<br />
see the signs of their<br />
gambling addiction.<br />
They certainly won’t want<br />
to talk about it.<br />
IT’S UP TO YOU.<br />
You don’t have to do it alone. Help is just a phone call away.<br />
Choices Treatment Center<br />
Helpline - 402.476.2300<br />
24 hour—seven days a week,<br />
confidential and staffed by<br />
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CHOICES TREATMENT CENTER<br />
127 S. 37th St., Suite B, Lincoln, NE 68510<br />
80%<br />
of adolescents between<br />
12 and 17 say they have<br />
gambled in the last 12<br />
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For more information on problem gambling and available help, contact<br />
Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program<br />
24 Hour Helpline—1-800-522-4700<br />
www.problemgambling.nebraska.gov
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
CLASS A<br />
12 Grand Island Senior High School<br />
14 Kearney Senior High School<br />
16 Lincoln East High School<br />
19 Lincoln High School<br />
18 Lincoln Northeast High School<br />
20 Lincoln North Star High School<br />
22 Lincoln Pius X High School<br />
24 Lincoln Southeast High School<br />
26 Lincoln Southwest High School<br />
CLASS B<br />
28<br />
39<br />
32<br />
34<br />
36<br />
38<br />
31<br />
35<br />
41<br />
40<br />
30<br />
42<br />
Aurora High School<br />
Beatrice High School+<br />
Crete High School<br />
Hastings Senior High School<br />
Holdrege High School<br />
Lexington High School<br />
McCook High School*<br />
Norris High School<br />
Northwest High School+<br />
Seward High School<br />
Waverly High School<br />
York High School<br />
CLASS C1<br />
44 Adams Central High School<br />
46 Aquinas Catholic High School<br />
53 Boone Central-Newman Grove High Schools*<br />
50 Broken Bow High School<br />
52 Central City High School<br />
- Chase County High School•<br />
54 Cozad High School<br />
56 David City High School<br />
58 Fairbury High School<br />
60 Fillmore Central High School<br />
62 Gibbon High School<br />
64 Gothenburg High School<br />
45 Grand Island Central Catholic High School<br />
68 Kearney Catholic High School<br />
70 Lincoln Christian High School<br />
76 Lincoln Lutheran High School<br />
71 Malcolm High School<br />
72 Milford High School<br />
49 Minden High School*<br />
74 O’Neill High School<br />
57 Ord High School*<br />
55 Raymond Central High School<br />
48 St. Paul High School<br />
66 Wilber-Clatonia High School<br />
CLASS C2<br />
78<br />
80<br />
82<br />
84<br />
88<br />
90<br />
94<br />
92<br />
86<br />
77<br />
108<br />
96<br />
102<br />
98<br />
83<br />
104<br />
-<br />
106<br />
Ainsworth High School+<br />
Amherst High School<br />
Arcadia-Loup City High Schools<br />
Cambridge High School+<br />
Centennial High School<br />
Centura High School<br />
Cross County High School<br />
Diller-Odell Secondary School<br />
Doniphan-Trumpbull High School<br />
Freeman High School<br />
Hastings St. Cecilia High School<br />
Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer High School<br />
Nebraska Christian High School<br />
Neligh-Oakdale High School*<br />
Perkins County High School*<br />
Ravenna High School<br />
Sandy Creek High School•<br />
Shelby-Rising City High School<br />
97<br />
89<br />
85<br />
81<br />
110<br />
-<br />
79<br />
100<br />
112<br />
Southern High School<br />
Southern Valley High School<br />
Southwest High School<br />
Superior High School*<br />
Sutton High School<br />
Thayer Central High School•<br />
Twin River High School+<br />
West Holt High School<br />
Wood River High School<br />
CLASS D1<br />
114 Alma High School<br />
116 Ansley-Litchfield High Schools*<br />
118 Arapahoe High School<br />
120 Bertrand High School*<br />
122 Blue Hill High School+<br />
124 Boyd County High School<br />
126 Bruning-Davenport-Shickley High Schools<br />
- Burwell High School•<br />
128 Central Valley High School*<br />
151 Clearwater-Orchard High School*<br />
130 East Butler High School<br />
131 Elgin-Pope John High School<br />
150 Elm Creek High School<br />
125 Franklin High School+<br />
132 Friend High School*<br />
134 Fullerton High School<br />
136 Heartland Community High School<br />
129 High Plains Community High School<br />
123 Hitchcock County High School*<br />
145 Kenesaw High School*<br />
138 McCool Junction High School<br />
123 Medicine Valley High School*<br />
116 Meridian High School+<br />
- Nebraska Lutheran High School•<br />
140<br />
142<br />
121<br />
119<br />
115<br />
144<br />
146<br />
117<br />
148<br />
North Central High School<br />
Osceola High School<br />
Overton High School<br />
Palmer High School+<br />
Pawnee City High School*<br />
Pleasanton High School<br />
Shelton High School<br />
South Loup High School<br />
Tri County High School<br />
CLASS D2<br />
152 Anselmo-Merna High School+<br />
154 Axtell High School<br />
155 Chambers-Wheeler Central-Ewing High Schools+<br />
156 Dorchester High School<br />
- Eustis-Farnam High School•<br />
158 Exeter-Milligan High School<br />
160 Giltner High School<br />
162 Lawrence-Nelson High School<br />
- Lewiston High School•<br />
164 Loomis High School<br />
157 Parkview Christian High School*<br />
168 Silver Lake High School<br />
166 St. Mary’s High School<br />
153 Stuart High School*<br />
155 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller High School+<br />
- Twin Loup High School•<br />
- Waunita-Palisade High School•<br />
*GIRL’S COACH DID NOT SUBMIT TEAM INFORMATION<br />
+BOY’S COACH DID NOT SUBMIT TEAM INFORMATION<br />
• NEITHER COACH SUBMITTED INFORMATION<br />
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4 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> Pigskin <strong>Preview</strong><br />
www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 5
CENTENNIALBRONCOS<br />
2016-17 was a tale of two<br />
seasons for the Lincoln High<br />
girl’s basketball team, as<br />
the group put together some<br />
impressive showings before<br />
dropping seven of its last eight<br />
games.<br />
The Links finished 10-14 under<br />
head coach Marcus Perry,<br />
who will have five returning<br />
letterwinners on the court this<br />
season.<br />
Natayah Wilson will lead the<br />
charge as Lincoln High looks to<br />
do damage in Class A. Wilson<br />
averaged an impressive 15 points<br />
per game last season.<br />
Joining Wilson on the court will<br />
be Sirila Herrera, who knocked<br />
down a total of 34 3-point field<br />
goals last year.<br />
Nyagoa Gony, Briley Phillip, and<br />
Nyayongah Gony will be impact<br />
players for the Links, as well.<br />
“Athletic success is an ongoing<br />
process,” Perry said. “A few<br />
areas that stand out to me in<br />
terms of our team having a<br />
successful season would be<br />
taking care of the ball and<br />
execution.”<br />
The Links open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 at a tournament in<br />
Kearney.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Head Coach: Shawn Mulligan<br />
Career Record: 7-11<br />
Assistant Coaches:<br />
Class: C-1<br />
Team Name: Patriots<br />
Mascot<br />
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6 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 7
BOYS STATE BASKETBALLBRACKET<br />
MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE TOURNAMENT<br />
BOYS STATE BASKETBALLBRACKET<br />
MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE TOURNAMENT<br />
MARCH 8, 2018<br />
QUARTERFINALS<br />
MARCH 9, 2018<br />
SEMIFINALS<br />
MARCH 10, 2018<br />
CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
MARCH 8, 2018<br />
QUARTERFINALS<br />
MARCH 9, 2018<br />
SEMIFINALS<br />
MARCH 10, 2018<br />
CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
CLASS A CLASS C-2<br />
CLASS B CLASS D-1<br />
CLASS C-1 CLASS D-2<br />
GIVE YOUR PLAYERS THE<br />
RECOGNITION<br />
THEY DESERVE!<br />
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8 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 9
GIRLS STATE BASKETBALLBRACKET<br />
MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE TOURNAMENT<br />
GIRLS STATE BASKETBALLBRACKET<br />
MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE TOURNAMENT<br />
MARCH 1, 2018<br />
QUARTERFINALS<br />
MARCH 2, 2018<br />
SEMIFINALS<br />
MARCH 3, 2018<br />
CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
MARCH 1, 2018<br />
QUARTERFINALS<br />
MARCH 2, 2018<br />
SEMIFINALS<br />
MARCH 3, 2018<br />
CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
CLASS A CLASS C-2<br />
CLASS B CLASS D-1<br />
CLASS C-1 CLASS D-2<br />
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10 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 11
GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGHGIRLS<br />
Even though the Grand Island<br />
girl’s basketball squad is coming<br />
off a 7-17 season, there are reasons<br />
for optimism, as participation<br />
numbers continue to increase<br />
within the program.<br />
“Our program depth continues<br />
to rise as we will have more<br />
girls competing for varsity spots<br />
than we have had in the past five<br />
seasons,” Grand Island Head<br />
Coach Alex Michel said.<br />
The Islanders are hoping the rise<br />
in numbers leads to continued<br />
improvement in <strong>2017</strong>-18, as 10<br />
letterwinners and four returning<br />
starters are due back on the court.<br />
Leading the charge will be senior<br />
guard Sydney Wald, who averaged<br />
7.2 points and 2.5 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
Complimenting Wald on the court<br />
will be senior forward Alexa<br />
Blase, who posted 5 points and 3.4<br />
rebounds a contest as a junior.<br />
Sophomores Lauren Hauser and<br />
Rya Chavez will also be key<br />
players, as the duo brings starting<br />
experience to the hardwood.<br />
“I believe Sydney and Alexa<br />
are going to have solid senior<br />
seasons. I look forward to them<br />
being great leaders for us,” Michel<br />
said. “Lauren Hauser and Rya<br />
Chavez really came on strong at<br />
the end of last season. They have<br />
been working hard this offseason<br />
and are ready to have a great<br />
sophomore year. We have 10 to 15<br />
other girls who will be competing<br />
for varsity time this season. I am<br />
going to feel comfortable with a lot<br />
of different lineups.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Islanders<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Alex Michel<br />
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12 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 13
KEARNEY SENIOR HIGHBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 campaign was an<br />
impressive one for the Kearney<br />
boy’s basketball squad.<br />
The Bearcats went 22-5 before<br />
falling to Papillion-La Vista in<br />
the second round of the NSAA<br />
state tournament.<br />
The season was highlighted by<br />
a dominant 19-game winning<br />
streak that led the Bearcats to<br />
the end of the regular season and<br />
through districts.<br />
Under head coach Drake<br />
Beranek, who owns a 38-13<br />
record as a Bearcat, Kearney will<br />
be looking for more of the same<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
The team will be led by senior<br />
guard Kanon Koster, who is<br />
coming off a solid junior season.<br />
Also looking to contribute will<br />
be juniors Shiloh Robinson<br />
and Carson Schwarz, as well as<br />
senior forward Sam Straka.<br />
But for Beranek, the success of<br />
his team will hinder on whether<br />
the Bearcats are content with last<br />
year’s run, or are motivated to<br />
push even farther.<br />
“We were fortunate to play in<br />
some great environments and<br />
enjoy some amazing experiences<br />
last season,” Beranek said.<br />
“Having some success can either<br />
make you hungry for more<br />
or satisfied. We are excited to<br />
see if our program is ready to<br />
consistently compete at a high<br />
level.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bearcats<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 22-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 37<br />
Head Coach: Drake Beranek<br />
Career Record: 56-42<br />
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HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
KEARNEY SENIOR HIGHGIRLS<br />
The Kearney girl’s basketball<br />
squad will have a lot of<br />
momentum heading into<br />
the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign, after<br />
finishing 17-9 and making<br />
an NSAA state tournament<br />
appearance last season.<br />
Under tenured head coach<br />
Jason Boyd, who owns a 170-<br />
106 career record as a Bearcat,<br />
nine letterwinners return, as<br />
the group will look to make<br />
another run in Class A.<br />
Leading the charge for<br />
Kearney will be junior Alexis<br />
Mishou, who posted 9.5<br />
points and 4 rebounds during<br />
her sophomore campaign.<br />
Also playing a key role will<br />
be senior guard Avery Wood,<br />
who averaged 3.1 points,<br />
1.8 steals, and 2 rebounds a<br />
contest last year.<br />
Sophomore guard Adison<br />
Wood, and juniors Claire<br />
Vanderbeek and Elle Dahlgren<br />
will likely carve out significant<br />
playing time as well.<br />
“The Bearcats return nine<br />
letterwinners from the<br />
team that went to the state<br />
tournament last season and<br />
finished with a 17-9 record,”<br />
Boyd said. “We hope to build<br />
on that success as several of<br />
these returners will take on<br />
larger roles this season.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for Kearney on Nov. 30 at<br />
home against Papillion-La<br />
Vista South.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bearcats<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 17-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Jason Boyd<br />
Career Record: 286-184<br />
14 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 15
LINCOLN EASTBOYS<br />
The Lincoln East boy’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off an 18-7<br />
season that featured a seven game<br />
winning streak. The campaign<br />
came to a close with a 63-51 loss<br />
to Norfolk.<br />
Under head coach Jeff Campbell,<br />
who owns a 59-39 record at<br />
Lincoln East, the group will look<br />
to make some noise in Class A<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18, and according to<br />
Campbell, his squad will have to<br />
come together as one to make it<br />
happen.<br />
“We want to play selfless<br />
basketball and have each<br />
player’s focus be on making their<br />
teammates better and become an<br />
overachiever,” he said.<br />
The Spartans will have to<br />
navigate a difficult schedule that<br />
gets underway on Nov. 30 in the<br />
Early Bird Classic Basketball<br />
Tournament in Fremont.<br />
“We want to consistently improve<br />
our level of play throughout the<br />
season and have every player<br />
fulfill their role to their maximum<br />
ability,” Campbell added. “Playing<br />
great defense and rebounding will<br />
help our consistency throughout<br />
the season. Offensively, we need<br />
to exploit mismatches and play<br />
physical.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 18-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 18<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Campbell<br />
Career Record: 59-39<br />
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LINCOLN EASTGIRLS<br />
The Lincoln East girl’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off an impressive<br />
2016-17 season.<br />
senior forward Regan Sankey,<br />
who averaged 13.7 points a game<br />
last season.<br />
The season tips off on Nov. 30 on<br />
the road against Fremont.<br />
EARN YOUR BETTER<br />
The Spartans went 19-7 before<br />
being eliminated in the NSAA<br />
state tournament by Lincoln Pius<br />
X 44-36.<br />
Alli Roh, who posted 11.5 points<br />
a contest in 2016-17, will also be<br />
a key contributor for the Spartans<br />
come late November.<br />
In <strong>2017</strong>-18, head coach Dennis<br />
Prichard will be back at the helm<br />
of the Lincoln East program. And<br />
although the exact make up of<br />
the squad is undetermined, the<br />
Spartans will have a core group of<br />
five seniors and eight letterwinners<br />
returning to the hardwood.<br />
Prichard will rely heavily on<br />
Seniors Mira Patel, Ellie<br />
Bliemeister, and Rachel Weber<br />
will all look to carve out<br />
significant roles, as well.<br />
When asked what the keys to a<br />
successful season are, Prichard<br />
kept it simple, stating his team<br />
must stay healthy and continue to<br />
get better each day.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Dennis Prichard<br />
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16 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 17
LINCOLN NORTHEASTBOYS<br />
LINCOLN HIGHBOYS<br />
The Lincoln Northeast boy’s<br />
basketball team put together<br />
a decent 2016-17 campaign,<br />
navigating a difficult schedule to<br />
finish with a 14-11 record.<br />
As a new season approaches, the<br />
Rockets will look to take another<br />
step forward, and push through<br />
to the NSAA state tournament<br />
under head coach David Mercer.<br />
However, the roster will have a<br />
different look to it this season.<br />
Eight seniors from last year’s<br />
team were lost to graduation,<br />
meaning a number of younger<br />
athletes will have to step into<br />
large roles in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
“We have a very new and young<br />
team, improvement each week<br />
will be our goal,” Mercer said.<br />
The season will open up for<br />
Lincoln Northeast on Nov. 30 at<br />
a home tournament.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Rockets<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 41<br />
Head Coach: David Mercer<br />
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The 2016-17 season didn’t<br />
produce much in the way of<br />
wins for the Lincoln High boy’s<br />
basketball squad, as the team<br />
finished 6-18, losing 11 of its<br />
final 12 games.<br />
However, the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign<br />
brings a clean slate for the Links<br />
under head coach Dan Noble,<br />
who will look to get back on<br />
the winning track, and do some<br />
damage in Class A.<br />
Noble will have eight<br />
letterwinners returning this<br />
season, but only two of them are<br />
seniors, meaning the Links will<br />
lean heavily on a large junior<br />
class.<br />
Seniors Jihad Muhammad, who<br />
averaged 4 points a game last<br />
season, and Carlos Santistevan,<br />
who posted 3.6 points a contest,<br />
will be asked to show veteran<br />
leadership once the campaign<br />
tips off.<br />
The Links leading returning<br />
scorer is junior Morgan Perry,<br />
who contributed 11.7 points as a<br />
sophomore.<br />
Juniors Boomer Jock, Jaden<br />
Horton, and Cedric Case will<br />
also look to carve out significant<br />
roles.<br />
“We need to defend and<br />
limit teams to one shot per<br />
possession,” Noble said. “We<br />
need to get good quality shots on<br />
the offensive end.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Links<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-18<br />
Playoff Appearances: 57<br />
Head Coach: Dan Noble<br />
LINCOLN NORTHEASTGIRLS<br />
LINCOLN HIGHGIRLS<br />
Not that it is much of a surprise,<br />
but the Lincoln Northeast girl’s<br />
basketball squad was very good<br />
during the 2016-17 campaign.<br />
Winning is nothing new for<br />
Northeast, as head coach Steve<br />
Bartek owns an impressive 135-<br />
43 record at the helm of the<br />
program.<br />
The Rockets finished last season<br />
24-3, falling in the second round<br />
of the NSAA state tournament to<br />
close the season.<br />
Bartek will be hoping the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
season brings continued success,<br />
as 10 letterwinners are expected<br />
to return to the hardwood.<br />
“The Rockets will have only one<br />
senior on the roster, however;<br />
team depth and experience will be<br />
a strength,” Bartek said.<br />
Bartek added with the loss of<br />
Nigeria Jones, a three-year<br />
starter at point guard, sophomore<br />
McKenna Minter will have to step<br />
into a big role once the season<br />
gets underway.<br />
In addition, senior forward Javi<br />
Shadegg, as well as juniors<br />
Azaiya Trainor, Kambree Rhodes,<br />
and Jenna Wendelin will be<br />
impact players for the Rockets.<br />
“A weakness in recent years has<br />
been rebounding and we will need<br />
to improve in that department<br />
if we hope to achieve our team<br />
goals,” Bartek added. “This group<br />
made it to the state semi-finals last<br />
year and thus team expectations<br />
will be high.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Rockets<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 24-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Steve Bartek<br />
Career Record: 135-43<br />
2016-17 was a tale of two seasons<br />
for the Lincoln High girl’s<br />
basketball team, as the group<br />
put together some impressive<br />
showings before dropping seven<br />
of its last eight games.<br />
The Links finished 10-14 under<br />
head coach Marcus Perry, who will<br />
have five returning letterwinners<br />
on the court this season.<br />
Natayah Wilson will lead the<br />
charge as Lincoln High looks to<br />
do damage in Class A. Wilson<br />
averaged an impressive 15 points<br />
per game last season.<br />
Joining Wilson on the court will<br />
be Sirila Herrera, who knocked<br />
down a total of 34 three-point<br />
field goals last year.<br />
Nyagoa Gony, Briley Phillip, and<br />
Nyayongah Gony will be impact<br />
players for the Links, as well.<br />
“Athletic success is an ongoing<br />
process,” Perry said. “A few<br />
areas that stand out to me in<br />
terms of our team having a<br />
successful season would be<br />
taking care of the ball and<br />
execution.”<br />
The Links open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 at a tournament in<br />
Kearney.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Links<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Marcus Perry<br />
Career Record: 10-14<br />
18 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 19
LINCOLN NORTH STARBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 season was a<br />
difficult one for the Lincoln North<br />
Star boy’s basketball squad.<br />
The Navigators finished the<br />
campaign with a 3-17 record<br />
under head coach Tony<br />
Quattrocchi, but with eight<br />
letterwinners returning, there is<br />
reason for optimism in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
“It was a challenging season but<br />
we have learned a lot from it and<br />
are ready to completely change<br />
how successful we will be,”<br />
Quattrocchi said.<br />
With five seniors returning,<br />
Quattrocchi will have a lot of talent<br />
and experience to work with.<br />
Senior Brock Johnson will lead<br />
the squad from the post position,<br />
after averaging 8 points and 6<br />
rebounds a game as a junior.<br />
Fellow seniors Dillon Brandt,<br />
who posted 9 points a contest last<br />
year, and guards Derek Ruhl and<br />
Sam Juracek will also be impact<br />
players for the Navigators.<br />
And keep an eye on sophomore<br />
guard Donovan Williams, whom<br />
Quattrocchi said is “loaded with<br />
talent”.<br />
“We have a number of returning<br />
players with great experience,”<br />
Quattrocchi added. “The team<br />
has a lot of the puzzle pieces to<br />
be very competitive. The return<br />
of Donovan Williams off an<br />
injury will have a tremendous<br />
difference. Consistency with<br />
shooting and great team<br />
chemistry are the tickets to a<br />
really good team.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Navigators<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 3-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Tony Quattrocchi<br />
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LINCOLN PIUS XBOYS<br />
Fresh off an impressive<br />
2016-17 season, in which the<br />
Thunderbolts went 20-4 before<br />
losing in the NSAA state<br />
tournament, the Lincoln Pius X<br />
boy’s basketball squad is poised<br />
for big things this year.<br />
Under head coach Brian Spicka,<br />
five seniors are expected back<br />
on the roster, in addition to a<br />
talented junior guard.<br />
That junior is Charlie Easley,<br />
who will return to the court after<br />
posting 13.2 points a game as a<br />
sophomore.<br />
Helping Easley shoulder the load<br />
will be senior guard Joe Burt,<br />
who averaged 11.1 points a game<br />
last season.<br />
Fellow seniors Thomas<br />
Robertson, AJ Aplleget, Jackson<br />
Owens, and Tyler Taubenheim<br />
will also need to produce for the<br />
Thunderbolts to be competitive<br />
in Class A.<br />
Also, keep an eye on juniors<br />
Holton Harman and Joe<br />
Dworak, who could be breakout<br />
candidates in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
When asked what the keys to a<br />
successful season are, Spicka<br />
laid out his recipe for success.<br />
“Consistent rebounding and<br />
defense will be important for the<br />
Thunderbolts,” he said.<br />
The season gets underway on<br />
Nov. 30 at home against Millard<br />
West.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Thunderbolts<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 20-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 32<br />
Head Coach: Brian Spicka<br />
Career Record: 20-4<br />
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LINCOLN PIUS XGIRLS<br />
Not only is the Lincoln Pius X<br />
girl’s basketball team coming<br />
off a 16-8 season, but the<br />
Thunderbolts also return 10<br />
letterwinners under experienced<br />
head coach Bill Rice.<br />
That bodes well for the<br />
upcoming campaign, as the<br />
group will look to improve on a<br />
season that ended with a second<br />
round playoff loss to Millard<br />
South.<br />
Set to return to the court for<br />
the Thunderbolts this season is<br />
junior forward Kloee Sander,<br />
who averaged an impressive 10<br />
points a game last season.<br />
Joining Sander will be Lindsay<br />
Nottlemann, a senior guard<br />
who contributed 5.2 points per<br />
contest, and sophomore Lauren<br />
Taubenheim, who averaged 4.7<br />
points in 2016-17.<br />
Even though a number of<br />
players with experience will<br />
return, Rice said the loss of two<br />
key contributors will be difficult<br />
to overcome, and new leaders<br />
must emerge in order for his<br />
team to be competitive.<br />
“Replacing two starting guards<br />
and building confidence,”<br />
Rice said regarding the keys<br />
to success for his team. “We<br />
will need players to become<br />
leaders on the court and get the<br />
five on the floor organized. We<br />
need to play to our strengths, in<br />
particular a strong inside game.”<br />
The Thunderbolts will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 when they<br />
host Millard West.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Thunderbolts<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Bill Rice<br />
Career Record: 268-119<br />
22 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 23
LINCOLN SOUTHEASTBOYS<br />
If the Lincoln Southeast boy’s<br />
basketball squad hopes to take<br />
steps in the right direction<br />
coming off an 11-14 campaign<br />
in 2016-17, it will have to do so<br />
with a new cast of characters.<br />
The Knights return three<br />
letterwinners under head coach<br />
Jonah Bradley, with only one of<br />
them belonging to the senior class.<br />
That lone senior is Jack Strong,<br />
who will look to step into a<br />
leadership role after averaging<br />
2.2 points and 2.4 assists per<br />
game last year.<br />
Another player to watch is junior<br />
guard Michael Anderson, who<br />
averaged 8 points, 3.5 rebounds,<br />
and 1.2 assists during his<br />
sophomore campaign.<br />
Sophomore Isaac Gifford will<br />
also look to be an impact player<br />
for the Knights come late<br />
November.<br />
“Defensively, we must be able<br />
to defend the basketball one-onone<br />
and keep teams out of the<br />
paint,” Bradley said. “Defensive<br />
rebounding and eliminating<br />
second chance scoring<br />
opportunities are another big<br />
defensive key. Offensively, we<br />
must play three-sided basketball,<br />
and put pressure on teams with<br />
our transition game.”<br />
The season gets underway on<br />
Nov. 27 against Norris in a<br />
jamboree.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 21<br />
Head Coach: Jonah Bradley<br />
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LINCOLN SOUTHEASTGIRLS<br />
The Lincoln Southeast girl’s<br />
basketball squad had a solid<br />
season in 2016-17, finishing the<br />
year 16-9 under head coach Kara<br />
Graham.<br />
But for the Knights to have a<br />
similar campaign in <strong>2017</strong>-18, a<br />
youthful roster is going to have<br />
to step up, and learn to hold their<br />
own with Class A competition.<br />
Lincoln Southeast returns only<br />
two letterwinners off last year’s<br />
roster, and a lone senior in guard<br />
Maddie Renn.<br />
Renn, as well as junior point<br />
guard Cassie Nash, will have<br />
to lead the up-and-coming<br />
athletes for the Knights, as the<br />
underclassmen learn to gel at the<br />
varsity level.<br />
“The play of our inexperienced<br />
players will be key,” Graham<br />
said. “We have very little<br />
experience on varsity. We will<br />
need to develop chemistry.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 27<br />
Head Coach: Kara Graham<br />
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LINCOLN SOUTHWESTBOYS<br />
While the 2016-17 season didn’t<br />
produce the amount of success<br />
head coach Alex Bahe had hoped<br />
for, the Lincoln Southwest boy’s<br />
basketball squad is poised for a<br />
bounce back campaign.<br />
Bahe will enter his second year at<br />
the helm of the program, and will<br />
have eight returning letterwinners,<br />
as the Silver Hawks look to do<br />
some damage in Class A.<br />
Returning to the court will be<br />
senior guard JaQuaylon Mays,<br />
who earned second team all-city<br />
honors as a junior.<br />
Joining him will be junior guard<br />
Cam Frederick, who also turned<br />
heads during his sophomore<br />
campaign.<br />
“Both are combo guards that are<br />
capable of filling a stat sheet and<br />
operate best in open space in<br />
transition,” Bahe said.<br />
Complimenting Mays and<br />
Frederick will be senior guard<br />
Collin Kohl, who Bahe said, “will<br />
move into a starting role this<br />
season after (he) provided scoring<br />
off the bench a season ago.”<br />
“After one season in a new<br />
system, this group looks to take<br />
another step forward and become<br />
even more competitive,” Bahe<br />
added. “This group will play hard<br />
and function best in transition and<br />
when sharing the ball. Without<br />
a traditional post player on the<br />
roster, this group will need to<br />
commit to defensive improvement<br />
and focus on collective defensive<br />
rebounding every night out.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Silver Hawks<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Alex Bahe<br />
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LINCOLN SOUTHWESTGIRLS<br />
The offseason for the Lincoln<br />
Southwest girl’s basketball squad<br />
has been an enjoyable one, as the<br />
Silver Hawks spent the summer<br />
as Class A state champions.<br />
However, the impressive 2016-17<br />
season is in the past, and a brand<br />
new campaign is about to begin.<br />
Under head coach Jeff Rump,<br />
the Silver Hawks return eight<br />
letterwinners from the state<br />
championship squad, as Lincoln<br />
Southwest will look to repeat<br />
their dominance starting in late<br />
November.<br />
“A big key will be how we<br />
handle being the defending<br />
state champions,” Rump said.<br />
“Replacing our senior leadership<br />
from last season and how we<br />
handle a tougher schedule (will<br />
also be important).”<br />
Rump will rely heavily on junior<br />
post player Jaden Ferguson, who<br />
averaged an impressive 13.7<br />
points and 2.5 rebounds a game<br />
during her sophomore year.<br />
Junior Hannah Kelle, who posted<br />
10 points a contest last season,<br />
and Raegan Wells will also be key<br />
contributors for the Silver Hawks.<br />
“We return seven of our top nine<br />
from last year and add superstar<br />
transfer Jayten Coleman,”<br />
Rump added. “Developing team<br />
chemistry will be key.”<br />
Lincoln Southwest will open<br />
the season on Nov. 30 against<br />
Millard North.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Sliver Hawks<br />
Class: A<br />
2016-17 Record: 23-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Rump<br />
Career Record: 46-31<br />
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26 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 27
AURORABOYS<br />
Tom Leininger has created a<br />
winning culture during his tenure<br />
as head coach for the Aurora boy’s<br />
basketball squad, and the 2016-17<br />
campaign was no different.<br />
The Huskies finished the season 25-<br />
2, winning their conference before<br />
falling to Scottsbluff in the state<br />
semi-finals.<br />
As a new season approaches,<br />
Aurora will look for more of the<br />
same, but will focus on pushing all<br />
the way to the state championship<br />
this time around.<br />
“We will have a nice mix of players<br />
from sophomores to seniors,”<br />
Leininger said. “After having a<br />
great off season, we are looking to<br />
improve on last years’ season.”<br />
The Huskies, who return seven<br />
letterwinners and two starters, will<br />
be lead this season by senior guard<br />
Henry Penner, who in addition to<br />
receiving a number of accolades,<br />
averaged 14.1 points and 7.3<br />
rebounds a game last season.<br />
He will be joined on the court by<br />
senior guard Baylor Scheierman,<br />
who posted 8.9 points and 3<br />
rebounds a contest in 2016-17.<br />
Cade Reichardt, Jordan Stevenson,<br />
Ian Boerkircher, and Jayden<br />
Herzberg are also expected to see<br />
significant time on the court come<br />
the start the of the season.<br />
Aurora will open the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign on Nov. 30 when they<br />
host Adams Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 25-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 29<br />
Head Coach: Tom Leininger<br />
Career Record: 368-231<br />
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CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S<br />
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LEADER<br />
AURORAGIRLS<br />
Although the Aurora girl’s<br />
basketball squad posted a 15-9<br />
record in 2016-17, the group fell<br />
short of the state tournament for the<br />
second straight season.<br />
Under head coach Phil Thramer, the<br />
Huskies will look to breakthrough<br />
this year, and push past the district<br />
final.<br />
“We are coming off of back-to-back<br />
seasons of reaching the district<br />
championship, but came up short<br />
of reaching the state tournament<br />
in both of those contests,”<br />
Thramer said. “Last year we<br />
were able to compete with some<br />
of the state’s best in Class B on<br />
a consistent basis. We graduated<br />
three experienced starters who<br />
contributed a lot on the offensive<br />
end. This opens up opportunities<br />
for girls to step up and compete for<br />
starting spots and additional playing<br />
time.”<br />
Seniors Corrie Schneider and<br />
Brooke Williams will be the only<br />
returning starters for the Huskies<br />
this season. Schneider posted 8.1<br />
rebounds and 5.7 points a game in<br />
2016-17, and Williams averaged 7.1<br />
points and 1.9 rebounds a contest.<br />
“We have a solid foundation of<br />
returning players to build off of as<br />
we continue to develop our culture<br />
for girls basketball here at Aurora,”<br />
Thramer added. “Keys to our<br />
success this year will be developing<br />
an identity on the defensive side<br />
of the ball early in the season and<br />
maintaining that identity throughout<br />
the year. Offensively, we need to<br />
develop girls to fill different roles<br />
that they may have not experienced<br />
in past seasons.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Phil Thramer<br />
28 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 29
WAVERLYBOYS<br />
McCOOKBOYS<br />
On the heels of an 8-13 season, the<br />
Waverly boy’s basketball squad will<br />
look to bounce back in <strong>2017</strong>-18,<br />
but a new cast will be tasked with<br />
accomplishing the goal.<br />
“We return five letterwinners from<br />
last year’s senior loaded team as we<br />
graduated seven seniors,” Waverly<br />
Head Coach Ryan Reeder said. “But<br />
(we) return some key pieces that got<br />
valuable experience playing in some<br />
tough environments on the road.”<br />
The Vikings will look for<br />
production from a number of<br />
different sources, including senior<br />
forward Tanner Wubbels, who<br />
averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds<br />
a contest last season.<br />
In addition, Alex Murray and Ben<br />
Carter will play vital roles as guards<br />
for Waverly, and Reeder noted<br />
sophomore Noah Stoddard could<br />
see extended runs on the court.<br />
“Tanner Wubbels, a Concordia<br />
commit, who was our leading<br />
scorer and rebounder last year,<br />
returns for his senior season,”<br />
Reeder said. “Alex Murray, a junior,<br />
started the second half of the season<br />
and became a great defender. Ben<br />
Carter, Jacob Hruska, and Noah<br />
Stoddard all came off the bench and<br />
played relevant minutes.”<br />
But like any experienced coach,<br />
Reeder believes his team’s<br />
mentality will be the deciding factor<br />
during the upcoming campaign.<br />
“If we have the attitude (that)<br />
success is earned, not given and<br />
the confidence of believing in one<br />
another, we have the potential to be<br />
a tough team down the stretch,” he<br />
said.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Vikings<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 21<br />
Head Coach: Ryan Reeder<br />
Career Record: 42-28<br />
Even though the McCook boys<br />
basketball squad is coming off<br />
an 11-13 campaign, the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
version of the Bison could be<br />
positioned for big things.<br />
McCook returns seven<br />
letterwinners, all juniors and<br />
seniors, under head coach Jeremy<br />
Yilk, setting the team up for a run<br />
this season.<br />
“We have a strong nucleus of<br />
seniors and juniors returning that<br />
are motivated to do great things<br />
this year,” Yilk said. “We will<br />
be looking for our experienced<br />
players to expand their roles from<br />
last season.”<br />
The Bison will be led by senior<br />
guard Hunter Potthoff, who<br />
averaged an impressive 16 points<br />
a contest last year.<br />
In addition, seniors Zach<br />
Schlager, Clayton Stevens,<br />
and Hunter Hays all return for<br />
McCook.<br />
While the senior class is deep<br />
this season, there will be plenty<br />
of younger athletes pushing for<br />
playing time come December.<br />
“The competition for playing<br />
time will help us build our<br />
depth throughout the year,” Yilk<br />
added. “Our athleticism and<br />
aggressiveness on both ends of<br />
the floor will help make up for our<br />
overall lack of size. The continued<br />
development of our up-tempo<br />
style of play will also be key.”<br />
The Bison open the season on<br />
Dec. 2 when they host Valentine.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bison<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 27<br />
Head Coach: Jeremy Yilk<br />
Career Record: 58-66<br />
WAVERLYGIRLS<br />
Wecome to the<br />
Coming off a 2016-17 campaign in<br />
which the Waverly girl’s basketball<br />
squad went 13-8, the group will<br />
look to keep improving and make<br />
some noise in Class B this season.<br />
Under the leadership of second<br />
year head coach John Cockerill, the<br />
Vikings return seven letterwinners,<br />
including a pair of talented seniors.<br />
But even with some experience<br />
coming back, Cockerill said the<br />
success of the team could hinder on<br />
one side of the ball.<br />
“Our big key will be our team<br />
defense,” he said. “We are not a big<br />
team, but we have a lot of athletic<br />
girls on this team. The girls will<br />
have to give their all on defense for<br />
this team. So we need to be fast,<br />
communicate well, and rebound as<br />
a group.”<br />
The Vikings will rely heavily on<br />
senior guard/forward hybrid Clair<br />
Jones, as well as senior guard<br />
Melissa Warner.<br />
The two seniors will need assistance<br />
from some younger athletes,<br />
however, so look for juniors Sydni<br />
Schernikau, Abigail Clark, and Alex<br />
Danson to step into big roles for<br />
Waverly this season.<br />
“We also play a very tough<br />
schedule and our depth will be<br />
important. We have a number of<br />
girls that can and hopefully will<br />
step up and play at a high level,”<br />
Cockerill added. “After one more<br />
year of growth, weights, and fulltime<br />
sports, well I expect much<br />
more consistency from them. It<br />
should be a very challenging and<br />
exciting year.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Lady Vikes<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: John Cockerill<br />
Career Record: 172-85<br />
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30 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 31
CRETEBOYS<br />
ON THE GO<br />
As the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season<br />
approaches, the Crete boy’s<br />
basketball squad is preparing<br />
in hopes of having yet another<br />
impressive year, after going<br />
16-9 in 2016-17.<br />
The Cardinals were able to make<br />
it to the NSAA state tournament,<br />
but lost to Scottsbluff 53-42 to<br />
close out the campaign.<br />
However, come late November,<br />
a new face will be seen on the<br />
sidelines for Crete, as first-year<br />
head coach Garrett Borcher<br />
takes the reins.<br />
And with seven letterwinners<br />
returning, the Cardinals will<br />
look to make some noise in<br />
Class B.<br />
When asked what the keys are to<br />
a successful campaign, the new<br />
head coach kept his recipe for<br />
success simple. “Tremendous<br />
effort and a winning attitude<br />
every day,” Borcher said.<br />
The Cardinals will begin the<br />
season on Nov. 30 when they<br />
battle Lakeview at home.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 43<br />
Head Coach: Garrett Borcher<br />
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CRETEGIRLS<br />
The Crete girl’s basketball<br />
team showed signs of growth<br />
and development last season,<br />
finishing the year 14-11 under<br />
head coach Isaiah Dell.<br />
As the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign<br />
approaches, Dell will be looking<br />
to build off last year’s success,<br />
and push the Cardinals into the<br />
NSAA state tournament.<br />
The mission will have to be<br />
accomplished with a fairly young<br />
group, as only one senior, guard<br />
Camry Moore, returns for Crete.<br />
But despite the team’s youth,<br />
Dell believes the talent is<br />
there for the Cardinals to be<br />
competitive.<br />
“We have some good experience<br />
coming back with our top two<br />
scorers being back. We are a<br />
young group overall and will<br />
need some freshmen to step in<br />
and play,” he said.<br />
Also returning to the court will<br />
be junior Kayla Fitzgerald, and<br />
sophomores Morgan Maly, Ellie<br />
Allen, and Jayda Weyand.<br />
“We always play a solid schedule<br />
that prepares us well for the<br />
postseason. It also helps our<br />
young players grow as the season<br />
goes on as well,” Dell added.<br />
“Their growth and ability to play<br />
at a high level will be a major<br />
factor in our success at the end of<br />
the season.”<br />
The season gets underway on<br />
Nov. 30 against Lakeview.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Isaiah Dell<br />
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HASTINGSBOYS<br />
NORRISBOYS<br />
The Hastings boy’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off a 9-13 season<br />
in 2016-17 that ended with a<br />
district loss to Aurora 55-44.<br />
Looking ahead to the upcoming<br />
campaign, the Tigers will have<br />
plenty of experience to draw<br />
from, as 10 letterwinners and five<br />
seniors are expected to be back on<br />
the hardwood.<br />
The group will be led by 6-foot<br />
9-inch senior Christian Creech,<br />
who averaged 6.5 points, 3.5<br />
rebounds, and 2 assists a game<br />
last year.<br />
Head coach Lance Creech, who<br />
is entering his fifth season at<br />
the helm, will also rely heavily<br />
on seniors Duang Tang, Seth<br />
Simonson, Lukaas Simonson, and<br />
Blake Aspen.<br />
In addition, a number of younger<br />
athletes could make an impact,<br />
including sophomores Jake<br />
Schroeder and Mike Boeve.<br />
“We will look to replace our<br />
leading scorer, Vinny Schmidt,<br />
and leading rebounder, Zane<br />
Bender, from the 2016-17<br />
season,” Creech said. “Our<br />
success will be determined on<br />
how well we can defend in the<br />
paint and rebound the ball on both<br />
ends. We continued to develop<br />
depth with a very productive<br />
summer for Alex Swoboda,<br />
Keeshawn Hunt, and Jake<br />
Schroeder.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 58<br />
Head Coach: Lance Creech<br />
Career Record: 224-264<br />
2016-17 was an up-and-down<br />
season for the Norris boy’s<br />
basketball team, as the group<br />
finished the year 12-12 after<br />
starting 6-2.<br />
As a new campaign approaches,<br />
the Titans will look to find<br />
consistency in a difficult<br />
conference under second-year<br />
head coach Adam Brill.<br />
Brill will have six returning<br />
letterwinners and three seniors<br />
back on the roster, led by guard/<br />
forward hybrid Mike Wardy.<br />
Fellow seniors Hayden Huenink<br />
and Marcus Kennedy will also<br />
play large roles for the Titans, as<br />
will junior guard Jay Knudsen.<br />
Brill will look to juniors<br />
Harrison Boe and Kixten Kisko<br />
to contribute as well.<br />
“Playing together on the<br />
offensive and defensive<br />
ends of the floor (will be the<br />
keys to success),” Brill said.<br />
“Leadership from our veterans<br />
who have been through a year<br />
or two of varsity basketball.<br />
Accepting the challenge<br />
everyday.”<br />
Norris tips off the season on<br />
Dec. 1 against Plattsmouth.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Adam Brill<br />
Career Record: 12-12<br />
HASTINGSGIRLS<br />
NORRISGIRLS<br />
The Hastings girl’s basketball<br />
squad will have two advantages<br />
working for them as they enter<br />
the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
The first is familiarity with their<br />
head coach, as Greg Mays enters<br />
his second season at the helm of<br />
the Tigers.<br />
Second, is experience. Hastings<br />
has 11 letterwinners set to return<br />
to the court this season.<br />
Among those expected to make<br />
an impact are senior guards Julia<br />
Reimer and Tatiem Bender, as<br />
well as senior forward Emma<br />
Mays.<br />
The roster is rounded out by<br />
seven juniors, including Megan<br />
Steiner, Sydni Sullivan, Kyla<br />
Rickert, and Kamri Adler, all<br />
of whom are expected to see<br />
extended run this year.<br />
“We need to play fast<br />
offensively to produce more<br />
points while keeping our<br />
defensive pressure solid,”<br />
Mays said. “We will try to use<br />
our depth to push pace and<br />
free us up to pressure more<br />
defensively.”<br />
The Tigers will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 when they travel to<br />
Seward.<br />
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Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Greg Mays<br />
The 2016-17 campaign was an<br />
impressive one for the Norris girl’s<br />
basketball squad, as the Titans fell<br />
by four points in the NSAA state<br />
championship to South Sioux City.<br />
The group finished the year with<br />
a 19-7 record, and under head<br />
coach Mark Hagerman, they will<br />
be more motivated than ever to<br />
claim the state title in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
The Titans return nine<br />
letterwinners from last year’s<br />
squad, including a trio of seniors:<br />
Rylie Bryant, Brittany Florer, and<br />
Val Gabel.<br />
Bryant was a key contributor last<br />
season, averaging 7 points and<br />
2.5 rebounds a game.<br />
Norris will also lean heavily on<br />
junior guard Maddy Ramsey,<br />
who averaged 5.5 points a game<br />
last year, and sophomore guard<br />
Taryn Tracy.<br />
“We will be relying on our<br />
senior leadership from Rylie,<br />
Val, and Brittany,” Hagerman<br />
said. “We will want to utilize<br />
our athleticism to play a fullcourt<br />
game on offense as well as<br />
defense. The team’s goal is to get<br />
back to the state championship<br />
game and compete for a Class B<br />
state championship.”<br />
The Titans will open the season<br />
on Nov. 27 at the Lincoln<br />
Southeast Jamboree.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Mark Hagerman<br />
Career Record: 229-126<br />
34 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 35
HOLDREGEBOYS<br />
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The 2016-17 season was full of<br />
highs and lows for the Holdrege<br />
boys basketball squad, as the<br />
group finished the year 12-11<br />
and lost the last three contests of<br />
their season.<br />
However, an almost entirely<br />
new roster will take the court for<br />
head coach Jon Karn in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18, making it difficult to predict<br />
what the new season holds for<br />
the Dusters.<br />
Only three letterwinners return<br />
for Holdrege this year, all of<br />
whom are seniors.<br />
That group is led by Trent Hoeft,<br />
who averaged 5.8 points and 2.5<br />
assists per game last year.<br />
Trevor Matousek, who posted<br />
4.1 points a contest as a junior,<br />
and Charles Weed will also be<br />
called upon to lead.<br />
“We will need to improve<br />
defensively and be able to<br />
mix it up on the defensive end<br />
due to our limited size,” Karn<br />
said. “Offensively, we will<br />
need to have great chemistry<br />
and balanced scoring to be<br />
competitive on a consistent<br />
basis. Our varsity experience<br />
is limited, so how we mature<br />
as a team will be a key to our<br />
season.”<br />
The season tips off for Holdrege<br />
on Dec. 1 against Adams<br />
Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Dusters<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 38<br />
Head Coach: Jon Karn<br />
Career Record: 115-74<br />
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HOLDREGEGIRLS<br />
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There are a number of reasons to<br />
be optimistic about the Holdrege<br />
girl’s basketball squad heading<br />
into the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
The Dusters return 10<br />
letterwinners from a team that<br />
went 10-12 in 2016-17, and even<br />
though a new coach will be on<br />
the sidelines, experience is still<br />
abundant.<br />
Kip Stephens, who has coached<br />
nearly 500 games in his career,<br />
will take over the coaching<br />
responsibilities for Holdrege.<br />
In addition, Stephens will have<br />
a senior-heavy roster to rely on,<br />
led by guard Caitlin Piening,<br />
who averaged 3.9 points and 2.4<br />
rebounds a game last year.<br />
Senior center Cassidy Connell,<br />
who posted 7.6 points and<br />
6.3 rebounds a contest her<br />
junior year, and senior guard<br />
Paola Alvarado will also play<br />
significant roles for the Dusters.<br />
“With this depth, we are looking<br />
to play a very fast-paced style<br />
of basketball as we look to<br />
put pressure on our opponents<br />
with our offense and defense,”<br />
Stephens said. “With this season,<br />
we are looking for a strong senior<br />
class, including three returning<br />
starters, to be our leaders.”<br />
The season gets underway for the<br />
Dusters on Dec. 1 against Adams<br />
Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Dusters<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Kip Stephens<br />
Career Record: 239-258<br />
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36 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 37
LEXINGTONBOYS<br />
Fresh off an 8-16 season, the<br />
Lexington boy’s basketball<br />
program is looking for a fresh<br />
start, and will get one with a new<br />
face on the sidelines.<br />
Zach Jones will take over head<br />
coaching responsibilities for<br />
the Minutemen in the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
season, replacing former coach<br />
Jonah Bradley.<br />
In his first year at the helm of the<br />
program, Jones will try to find a way<br />
to succeed in Class B with a fairly<br />
experienced group, as four seniors<br />
are slated to return to the court.<br />
Leading the charge for Lexington<br />
this season will be junior guard<br />
Kobe Block. Block will be joined<br />
in the backcourt by senior guard<br />
Andrew Saiz.<br />
Fellow seniors Easton Young,<br />
Alan Zamarripa, and Juan<br />
Espinoza will also look to make<br />
an impact, as will sophomore<br />
Dylan Richman.<br />
Juniors Jake Leger and Logen<br />
Callahan, and sophomore Nick<br />
Saiz will help round out the<br />
roster for the Minutemen.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Minutemen<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 25<br />
Head Coach: Zach Jones<br />
LEXINGTONGIRLS<br />
BEATRICEGIRLS<br />
Although the 2016-17 season<br />
didn’t produce much in the way<br />
of wins for the Lexington girl’s<br />
basketball squad, that doesn’t<br />
mean it wasn’t successful.<br />
The Minutemaids finished last<br />
year with a 3-21 record under<br />
head coach Hailey Madelko.<br />
But in the middle of a rebuild,<br />
the second year head coach is<br />
optimistic about the direction of<br />
the program.<br />
“We are in the process of<br />
building a better program and<br />
that takes time and dedication<br />
from each and every one of us,”<br />
Madelko said.<br />
Lexington will have five<br />
letterwinners returning this<br />
season, led by junior point guard<br />
Courtney Hanson.<br />
Joining Hanson on the court will<br />
be senior shooting guard Brylee<br />
Lauby, as well as sophomore<br />
center Maddi Sutton.<br />
“The keys to a successful season<br />
are to come into each day ready<br />
to get better,” Madelko said.<br />
“We have to be able to push each<br />
other from the freshman class<br />
to the senior class. We have lots<br />
of opportunities for girls to step<br />
up and have a major role on this<br />
team and be a leader.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for the Minutemaids on Nov. 30<br />
against Gothenburg.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Minutemaids<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 3-21<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Hailey Mandelko<br />
The Beatrice girl’s basketball team<br />
has a lot to be optimistic about<br />
entering the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
Not only are the Lady Orange<br />
coming off a 14-9 season in 2016-<br />
17, but a top-tier athlete is Class<br />
B is slated to return for her senior<br />
season.<br />
Under head coach Dennis<br />
Coudeyras, Beatrice returns a<br />
total of four letterwinners, but<br />
none more important than senior<br />
guard Michaela Jones, who earned<br />
all state honors in the 20-16-17<br />
season.<br />
Complimenting Jones on the<br />
court will be senior center<br />
Haley Seton, who has starting<br />
experience, as well as sophomore<br />
Addie Barnard.<br />
Keep an eye on sophomore<br />
forward Carley Leners, who<br />
could be poised for a breakout<br />
season.<br />
“Because of sagging defenses,<br />
teams play us to hold down<br />
returning all-stater Michaela<br />
Jones, so our perimeter shooters<br />
must shoot a good percentage<br />
of three-pointers,” Coudeyras<br />
said. “We should be a really<br />
strong rebounding team but need<br />
to improve our toughness on<br />
defense.”<br />
The Lady Orange open the<br />
season on Dec. 1 against<br />
Columbus.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Lady Orange<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Dennis Coudeyras<br />
Career Record: 27-18<br />
38 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 39
SEWARDBOYS<br />
Last season, the Seward boy’s<br />
basketball squad showed signs<br />
of making noise in Class B, but<br />
ultimately ended the campaign<br />
with a 12-11 record.<br />
The season ended with a tight<br />
loss to Norris in the district<br />
tournament.<br />
11 team,” Cidlik said. “We need<br />
to utilize our athleticism and<br />
length to our advantage.”<br />
Among those returning for<br />
Seward is junior guard Brett<br />
Meyer, who averaged an<br />
impressive 14.1 points per game<br />
last year.<br />
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And while only two seniors<br />
return for the Bluejays and head<br />
coach Mark Cidlik, expectations<br />
are high with a solid group of<br />
contributors ready to hit the<br />
hardwood come late November.<br />
“We have a good core of young<br />
talent back from last season’s 12-<br />
Also set to return is junior Nate<br />
Lliteras, who averaged 10 points<br />
per game, and junior Joseph<br />
Krause, who posted 8.7 points a<br />
contest.<br />
The Bluejays will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 at home<br />
against Hastings.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bluejays<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 36<br />
Head Coach: Mark Cidlik<br />
Career Record: 147-102<br />
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SEWARDGIRLS<br />
NORTHWESTGIRLS<br />
Coming off an impressive<br />
season which featured 19 wins<br />
and an NSAA state tournament<br />
appearance, the Seward girl’s<br />
basketball squad will look to stay<br />
on the winning path in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
The Jays are once again under<br />
the leadership of tenured head<br />
coach Tom Tvrdy, who owns a<br />
stellar 271-83 career record at<br />
Seward.<br />
And with seven letterwinners<br />
returning along with four seniors,<br />
another strong campaign is<br />
possible.<br />
“If we stay healthy, we have the<br />
experience to have a great year,”<br />
Tvrdy said. “We finished 19-7<br />
last year and made it to the state<br />
semis. Six returnees have started<br />
multiple games.”<br />
Seward will look for leadership<br />
from senior point guard Kate<br />
Mullally, who averaged 6 points<br />
and 3 assists last season.<br />
Fellow seniors Kelsie Zadina,<br />
Kendra Placke, and Rylee Opfer<br />
will step into big roles, as will<br />
juniors Camryn Opfer, Kayla<br />
Luebbe, and Anna Covalt.<br />
The season will get underway on<br />
Nov. 30 against Hastings.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Lady Jays<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Tom Tvrdy<br />
Career Record: 424-165<br />
The Grand Island Northwest<br />
girl’s basketball squad is coming<br />
off a solid 15-7 season under<br />
head coach Rico Burkett.<br />
The 2016-17 season saw vast<br />
improvement over the previous<br />
year, where the Vikings finished<br />
11-13.<br />
As a new campaign approaches,<br />
Northwest will look to keep<br />
taking steps in the right direction.<br />
After losing eight seniors,<br />
however, a young squad will<br />
have to step up in hurry.<br />
Only four letterwinners, and no<br />
seniors, are expected to return to<br />
the court for the Vikings. Burkett<br />
will rely heavily on sophomore<br />
point guard Whitney Brown, who<br />
posted 7 points a game and 35<br />
steals as a freshman.<br />
Also looking to contribute will be<br />
junior forward Whitney Jensen<br />
and sophomore Emily Stein.<br />
Juniors Megan Cooper, Megan<br />
Anderson, and Brook Buhrman<br />
will also see plenty of playing<br />
time.<br />
When asked what the keys to a<br />
successful season are, Burkett<br />
pointed to growth, saying his<br />
team will need to develop<br />
chemistry, develop confidence,<br />
and develop a high basketball IQ<br />
in order to compete.<br />
The season gets underway on<br />
Nov. 25 when the Vikings face<br />
Kearney in the Hall of Fame<br />
Game.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Vikings<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Rico Burkett<br />
Career Record: 26-20<br />
40 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 41
YORKBOYS<br />
On the heels of a 15-9 season, the<br />
York boy’s basketball squad will<br />
look to stay on the winning path<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18, and make some noise<br />
in Class B.<br />
The Dukes will once again be<br />
under the leadership of head<br />
coach Scott Lamberty, who owns<br />
an 87-38 record at the head of the<br />
program.<br />
Depth will likely not be an issue<br />
for York this season, as nine<br />
letterwinners and four seniors<br />
will return to the hardcourt for<br />
Lamberty.<br />
Leading the charge will be junior<br />
point guard Brady Danielson,<br />
who averaged 13.5 points, 3.4<br />
rebounds, and 3.7 assists per<br />
game as a sophomore.<br />
He will be complimented by<br />
junior big man Garrett Snodgrass,<br />
who posted 8.8 points and 4.8<br />
rebounds a contest last year.<br />
Seniors Tyler Cast, Simon Otte,<br />
and Nick Weskamp will all make<br />
significant impacts, as well.<br />
“We need to improve on our<br />
three-point shooting and our<br />
zone offensive execution to be<br />
successful,” Lamberty said. “We<br />
need to continue to get better<br />
in our half-court defense and<br />
rebound the ball better as well.<br />
I feel we have go-to offensive<br />
players and good spot up shooters,<br />
but attacking better off the<br />
dribble will be a focus for us.<br />
If players continue to get better<br />
fundamentally, we can be a pretty<br />
good team.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Dukes<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 40<br />
Head Coach: Scott Lamberty<br />
Career Record: 87-38<br />
YORKGIRLS<br />
It was a heartbreaking ending<br />
to an impressive season for the<br />
York girl’s basketball squad in<br />
2016-17, as a 23-4 campaign<br />
came to a close with a threepoint<br />
loss to South Sioux City<br />
in the second round of the state<br />
tournament.<br />
The Dukes will be looking to<br />
push even further this season<br />
under tenured head coach Matt<br />
Kern, as seven letterwinners are<br />
expected to return.<br />
Senior guard Lauren Riley will<br />
lead the way after averaging<br />
14.4 points and 3.1 rebounds a<br />
game last year.<br />
Senior Tenly Hansen, coming<br />
off a season in which she<br />
averaged 8.7 points and 2.6<br />
rebounds a contest, will join<br />
Riley in the backcourt.<br />
Senior Carsyn Zumpfe, senior<br />
Karlee Seevers, and junior<br />
Hailee Pohl will also see<br />
significant run this year.<br />
“We are a veteran team with<br />
seven senior contributors,” Kern<br />
said. “These girls understand<br />
their roles on this team and truly<br />
play for each other. We will<br />
need to replace the leadership<br />
of the three seniors we lost<br />
to graduation. We have a few<br />
younger players that will need<br />
to step up and find their roles on<br />
our team. The girls on this team<br />
expect to compete at a high level<br />
in everything they do.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Dukes<br />
Class: B<br />
2016-17 Record: 23-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Matt Kern<br />
Career Record: 38-65<br />
42 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 43
ADAMS CENTRALBOYS<br />
GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL CATHOLICBOYS<br />
The Adams Central boy’s<br />
basketball squad is coming off an<br />
impressive 16-9 campaign and a<br />
Class C-1 state runner-up finish.<br />
But to say it will be a new look<br />
Patriots team in <strong>2017</strong>-18 would be<br />
an understatement.<br />
Adams Central lost 10 seniors to<br />
graduation, including the school’s<br />
all-time leading scorer David<br />
Bohlen.<br />
What this means for the Patriots<br />
and tenured head coach Zac<br />
Foster, is a group of younger<br />
athletes will have to step into big<br />
roles this season.<br />
“We have a nice collection of<br />
talent that is anxious for their<br />
opportunity to make a name for<br />
themselves,” Foster said. “We<br />
will once again play as up-tempo<br />
as possible and be multiple in our<br />
defensive approach.”<br />
Leading the charge for the Patriots<br />
will be senior Jack Keller, who<br />
averaged 6.6 points and 3.4<br />
rebounds a game last season.<br />
Also carrying some of the load will<br />
be junior Thomas Hunt, who posted<br />
6.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.5<br />
assists per contest in 2016-17.<br />
“With the amount of new faces<br />
expected to play for us, we<br />
will have much to learn early<br />
on,” Foster added. “But we<br />
hope to field a team that is very<br />
competitive and continue to<br />
represent AC in a positive way.”<br />
Adams Central opens the season<br />
on Nov. 30 against Aurora.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Patriots<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Zac Foster<br />
Career Record: 177-124<br />
The Grand Island Central<br />
Catholic boy’s basketball team<br />
didn’t find a large amount of<br />
success during the 2016-17<br />
season, finishing the year 13-<br />
11.<br />
But under head coach Tino<br />
Martinez, who owns an<br />
impressive 66-39 record at<br />
the helm of the program, the<br />
Crusaders will look to bounce<br />
back in a big way in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Martinez will put a fairly<br />
inexperienced group out on the<br />
court to start the year, as only<br />
five returning letterwinners and<br />
two seniors are expected back<br />
on the hardwood.<br />
Leading that group will be<br />
junior guard Jack Goering, who<br />
is coming off a solid sophomore<br />
campaign.<br />
Fellow junior Jacob Herbek,<br />
as well as seniors Jonah Bales<br />
and Mayra Almayra, will also<br />
be key contributors for the<br />
Crusaders this year.<br />
“We will need to start and stay<br />
healthy throughout the season<br />
in order to be successful,”<br />
Martinez said. “If we are able<br />
to do that, we have a chance to<br />
be competitive.”<br />
The season gets underway<br />
on Nov. 30 for Grand Island<br />
Central Catholic.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Crusaders<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Tino Martinez<br />
Career Record: 66-39<br />
ADAMS CENTRALGIRLS<br />
GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL CATHOLICGIRLS<br />
Even though the Adams Central<br />
girl’s basketball squad finished<br />
the 2016-17 season with a 9-15<br />
record, there are many reasons to<br />
be excited about the Patriots this<br />
year.<br />
Head coach Evan Smith, who<br />
owns a career 21-25 record<br />
leading the program, will return to<br />
the sidelines for Adams Central in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Adams Central returns one senior,<br />
guard Emilea Rogers, in addition<br />
to a nine-member junior class.<br />
That class features guards Hannah<br />
Krabel, Madi Marker, and Beth<br />
Gill, as well as forwards Emma<br />
Ellerbee and Morgan Samuelson.<br />
Fellow juniors Morgan Carver<br />
and Sydney Shestak will also look<br />
to make an impact for the Patriots<br />
once the season gets rolling.<br />
Smith said that having a number<br />
of athletes with competitive<br />
experience will provide his<br />
squad with an advantage as the<br />
campaign progresses.<br />
“We have four or five girls that<br />
have seen some significant<br />
minutes at the varsity level, and<br />
we will need that experience to<br />
help lead us this year,” Smith said.<br />
“We will have to be much better<br />
scorers from the perimeter and<br />
find a way to limit our turnovers. I<br />
think we have a solid defense that<br />
will keep us in games, and help<br />
us when it comes to tourney time<br />
down the stretch.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Patriots<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Evan Smith<br />
Career Record: 21-25<br />
Coming off an 11-10 campaign,<br />
the Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
girl’s basketball team will be<br />
looking to turn some heads this<br />
season under third year head<br />
coach Stacia Rice.<br />
Eight letterwinners and three<br />
starters return in <strong>2017</strong>-18 for<br />
GICC, but none more important<br />
than forward Megan Woods and<br />
senior guard Courtney Wilson.<br />
Woods earned all-conference<br />
honors, in addition to all-state<br />
honorable mention recognition<br />
last season, while Wilson<br />
also earned an all-conference<br />
selection.<br />
The Crusaders will also need<br />
contributions from junior<br />
guard Jenna Lowry, as well<br />
as senior Lexi Kohmetcher to<br />
be successful in a challenging<br />
conference.<br />
“We had a great summer of<br />
basketball that I hope to continue<br />
into our season. We are really<br />
going to rely on our leaders with<br />
Megan Woods and Courtney<br />
Wilson,” Rice said. “With Megan<br />
inside and her strength as well as<br />
her developing her outside game<br />
and Courtney Wilson’s speed and<br />
ability to get to the hoop. We are<br />
going to rely on their leadership<br />
for our team. When they play<br />
well we do well. However with<br />
that being said, our seniors have<br />
really stepped up this summer.<br />
Lexi Kohmetcher has played the<br />
best basketball that I have seen<br />
her play this summer. She is just<br />
a smart player, she knows the<br />
game.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Crusaders<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Stacia Rice<br />
Career Record: 21-21<br />
44 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 45
AQUINAS CATHOLICBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 season didn’t go as<br />
planned for the Aquinas Catholic<br />
boy’s basketball squad, as the<br />
group finished 7-15.<br />
But under experienced head coach<br />
Kyle Eller, who owns a 32-38<br />
record as a Monarch, <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
could be a different story.<br />
Nine letterwinners and a large<br />
group of seniors are slated to<br />
return to the court, led by forward<br />
Tyler Vavrina, who averaged<br />
an impressive 16 points and 5<br />
rebounds a contest last year.<br />
Vavrina also earned first-team all<br />
conference and all state honorable<br />
mention awards for his play.<br />
He will be complimented by<br />
fellow seniors Matt Nadrchal,<br />
Kyle Ruth, Daniel Reiter, Gavin<br />
Rech, and Trevor Siroky.<br />
Juniors Zachary Zvodny, Nolan<br />
Hartman, and Daniel Stara will<br />
also see significant run come the<br />
start of the season.<br />
The <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign will get<br />
underway for Aquinas Catholic<br />
on Dec. 1 on the road against<br />
Raymond Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
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Team Name: Monarchs<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Kyler Eller<br />
Career Record: 32-38<br />
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AQUINAS CATHOLICGIRLS<br />
The Aquinas Catholic girl’s<br />
basketball team will have one<br />
very important asset entering the<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18 season – experience.<br />
The Monarchs are coming off a<br />
10-13 season under head coach<br />
Vanessa Munter. But the group<br />
is trending in the right direction,<br />
and with six letterwinners and<br />
four starters returning, Aquinas<br />
Catholic could be poised for a<br />
breakout campaign.<br />
“We are a team who is beginning<br />
to gain more and more<br />
experience,” Munter said. “We<br />
potentially have four returning<br />
starters and three of those starters<br />
it’s their third year of being a<br />
starter.”<br />
Leading the Monarchs this<br />
season will be senior guard<br />
Veronica Kobza, as well as<br />
juniors Breanna Stouffer,<br />
Vanessa Bohuslavsky, and<br />
Valerie Bohuslavsky.<br />
Micaiah Vrbka and Kloe Ruth<br />
will be players to watch for<br />
Aquinas Catholic, as well.<br />
“Our year will come down to<br />
how well we can put together a<br />
post-guard game,” Munter added.<br />
“We have the talent and ability so<br />
we just need to stay focused and<br />
work together for our year to be<br />
successful.”<br />
The season will get underway on<br />
Dec. 1 against Raymond Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Monarchs<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Vanessa Munter<br />
Career Record: 34-56<br />
46 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 47
ST. PAULBOYS<br />
The St. Paul boy’s basketball squad<br />
finished the 2016-17 campaign with<br />
a 10-11 record, but expectations are<br />
much higher entering this season.<br />
Junior center Carson Morgan<br />
will be a force inside for St. Paul.<br />
Morgan averaged 9.3 points and 5.2<br />
rebounds a game last year.<br />
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The Wildcats return nine<br />
letterwinners under head coach<br />
Derek Reinsch, and will look to<br />
make some noise in Class C-1.<br />
“We are going to be a deep,<br />
experienced team this season. For<br />
us to take the next step forward we<br />
need to see us be more efficient on<br />
offense and a better rebounding<br />
team,” Reinsch said.<br />
The Wildcats will rely heavily<br />
on senior point guard Tanner<br />
Wroblewski, who posted 11.8 points<br />
and 2.8 steals a contest as a junior.<br />
Reinsch will also look to seniors<br />
Parker Klinginsmith, Thomas<br />
Mrkvicka, and Mike Allen, as well<br />
as junior Wyatt Placke, to play<br />
significant roles this season.<br />
“We have the ability to be a really<br />
good defensive team by playing<br />
our roles and it will come down to<br />
finishing each possession with a<br />
rebound or steal,” Reinsch said.<br />
The season will get underway for<br />
the Wildcats on Nov. 30 on the road<br />
against Gibbon.<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wildcats<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Derek Reinsch<br />
Career Record: 22-63<br />
608 Howard Ave<br />
St Paul, NE 68873<br />
MINDEN • KENESAW • ROSELAND • HASTINGS<br />
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Minden • 308.832.2140<br />
ST. PAULGIRLS<br />
MINDENBOYS<br />
The St. Paul girl’s basketball squad<br />
exploded out of the gates in 2016-<br />
17, winning eight straight games en<br />
route to a 16-10 overall record.<br />
And although the season<br />
came to a close with a loss to<br />
Kearney Catholic in the district<br />
championship, valuable experience<br />
was gained under head coach Derek<br />
Runcie, who enters his second full<br />
season at the helm of the program.<br />
The Wildcats welcome back only<br />
five returning letterwinners this<br />
season, meaning some younger<br />
athletes will have to adapt quickly if<br />
St. Paul wants to make some noise<br />
in Class C-1.<br />
“The key to a successful season for<br />
us this year will be leadership and<br />
team chemistry. We lost over 65<br />
percent of our scoring production<br />
from last year and return only two<br />
players with extensive varsity<br />
experience,” Runcie said.<br />
Senior guard Bailey Lukasiewicz<br />
will be relied heavily upon this<br />
season, after averaging 7.6 points,<br />
3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per<br />
game last year.<br />
Runcie will also look for big things<br />
out of sophomore Brooke Poppert,<br />
who averaged 6.9 points and 7.2<br />
rebounds a game as a freshman.<br />
“With so many new pieces to the<br />
team this year, it is somewhat of a<br />
mystery to how your team is going<br />
to respond in tough situations,”<br />
Runcie added. “The other exciting<br />
part is most of these girls, who will<br />
have new roles and responsibilities,<br />
played on the scout team against our<br />
varsity last year. We have a lot of<br />
new pieces to fit into our puzzle, but<br />
I am excited for the potential this<br />
team has. We just have to fulfill it.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wildcats<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Derek Runcie<br />
Career Record: 16-10<br />
Even though the Minden boys<br />
basketball team is coming off a<br />
difficult 2016-17 season in which<br />
the Whippets finished 5-17, a<br />
bounce back campaign is very<br />
possible under second year head<br />
coach Jordan Reinertson.<br />
Minded struggled down the<br />
stretch last season, losing its<br />
final ten games, but with some<br />
experience back on the roster,<br />
things could be different in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18.<br />
The Whippets return three seniors<br />
in Grant Edgecombe, Colton<br />
Taylor, and Bradyn Petersen.<br />
Juniors Elijah Lovin, Josh<br />
Denney, and Aidan Wheelock will<br />
also be impact players for Minden<br />
this season.<br />
“I believe our players are<br />
excited and ready to start this<br />
season,” Reinertson said. “We<br />
still have considerable room<br />
for growth in many areas of<br />
the game but our boys showed<br />
more commitment throughout<br />
the summer in improving their<br />
skills and basketball IQ. We<br />
need to continue to focus on the<br />
improvement process each week.”<br />
Minden opens the year on Nov. 30<br />
at home against Southern Valley.<br />
48 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 49<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Whippets<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 5-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 31<br />
Head Coach: Jordan Reinertson
BROKEN BOWBOYS<br />
According to the group’s head<br />
coach, the success of the Broken<br />
Bow boy’s basketball squad will<br />
hinder on two aspects of the<br />
game – defense and passing.<br />
The Indians went an impressive<br />
17-7 in 2016-17 under head<br />
coach Nate Olson, and with six<br />
letterwinners and five seniors<br />
slated to return to the hardwood,<br />
expectations are high.<br />
However, Olson said his squad<br />
must do the little things right in<br />
order to make a run this season.<br />
“Our keys to success will be our<br />
defense and our ability to share<br />
the ball,” Olson said.<br />
Leading the charge for the<br />
Indians will be senior point guard<br />
Padyn Borders, who posted<br />
10 points, 5 assists, and 3.2<br />
rebounds a game as a junior.<br />
Complimenting Borders in the<br />
back court will be junior Grayson<br />
Garey, who averaged 5 points<br />
a contest during his sophomore<br />
campaign.<br />
Seniors Kevin Linn, Tanner Linn,<br />
and Mason McMeen, as well as<br />
junior Josh Harvey will all play<br />
big roles for Broken Bow, as<br />
well.<br />
“We have a selfless team where<br />
all of our members enjoy team<br />
success over individual success,”<br />
Olson added. “Determining and<br />
figuring out roles throughout the<br />
season will also be essential to<br />
our success.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Indians<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 17-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 21<br />
Head Coach: Nate Olson<br />
Career Record: 17-7<br />
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FEBRUARY 9-25, 2018<br />
BROKEN BOWGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season was a<br />
difficult one for the Broken Bow<br />
girl’s basketball squad, as the<br />
Indians finished the campaign<br />
5-16, losing their final seven<br />
games.<br />
But a new year brings a new<br />
opportunity for success, as first<br />
year head coach Kelly Cooksley<br />
takes the reins of the program.<br />
Unfortunately for Cooksley,<br />
the Indians will be fairly<br />
inexperienced this year, as only<br />
four letterwinners and a pair of<br />
seniors return.<br />
“We will be extremely young,”<br />
Cooksley said. “We will have to<br />
put in the work to get better and<br />
be competitive. If we go through<br />
the motions we will get go<br />
through the motions results.”<br />
A combo of senior guards will<br />
carry the load for Broken Bow,<br />
as Jory Lowe, who averaged 7.3<br />
points per contest last season, is<br />
slated to return.<br />
In addition, Kate Fox, who posted<br />
5 points a game as a junior, will<br />
be back on the hardwood.<br />
Players to keep an eye on include<br />
sophomores Madison Neely,<br />
Majesta Valasek, and Sydney<br />
Carrizales, as well as junior<br />
Alyssa Cyboron.<br />
“This team has some talent, it<br />
is just changing the mentality<br />
and working to be successful at<br />
basketball,” Cooksley said. “If we<br />
have that approach, I think we can<br />
be successful this season.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Lady Indians<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 5-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Kelly Cooksley<br />
Career Record: 95-49<br />
50 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 51
CENTRAL CITYBOYS<br />
Fresh off a 9-14 campaign, a<br />
lot of uncertainty will surround<br />
the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season for the<br />
Central City boy’s basketball<br />
team.<br />
Not only will the Bison be<br />
competing in a brand new<br />
conference, they will also be<br />
under the leadership of first year<br />
head coach BJ Blase.<br />
Central City will join the Lou-<br />
Platte Conference in Class C-1<br />
this year, and will rely on a core<br />
of senior talent to help establish<br />
themselves as a team to beat.<br />
Senior post player Trent Wilson<br />
will be a leader for Central City<br />
come the start of the season, as<br />
will fellow seniors Ethan Debor<br />
and Dale Jones.<br />
Seniors Zach Rinkol and Mike<br />
Murray, as well as sophomores<br />
Josiah Olhman and Mike<br />
Rutherford, will also play<br />
important minutes for the Bison<br />
come early December.<br />
“We have good senior<br />
leadership, and we had a great<br />
summer as a team,” Blase said.<br />
“We played a lot of high-level<br />
Class B and Class C-1 teams.<br />
We will look to be competitive<br />
in our new conference.”<br />
The season will get underway on<br />
Dec. 1 when the Bison travel to<br />
take on Gibbon.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bison<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: BJ Blase<br />
Career Record: 110-70<br />
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CENTRAL CITYGIRLS<br />
BOONE CENTRAL-NEWMAN GROVEBOYS<br />
Coming off a 15-9 season, the<br />
Central City girl’s basketball<br />
team will have a new look to it<br />
this year.<br />
The Bison return only four<br />
letterwinners under head coach<br />
Daniel Negus, although three<br />
seniors are expected back on the<br />
roster.<br />
However, it will likely be a<br />
sophomore that carries the load<br />
for Central City, as Gabrielle<br />
Moser averaged 10 points, 4<br />
rebounds, and 2 steals a game as<br />
a freshman.<br />
Senior Erica Stuart, who<br />
averaged 2.3 points a contest<br />
last year, and senior Taylor<br />
Wagner will also see significant<br />
run once the season gets<br />
underway.<br />
Negus will also look to senior<br />
McKenzie Makowski and junior<br />
Gabriella Homolka to play large<br />
roles for the Bison.<br />
“In order to be successful this<br />
season, we will need to continue<br />
to improve defensively, both<br />
in the full and half-court,”<br />
Negus said. “We will need to be<br />
more efficient on offense and<br />
replace the scoring we lost to<br />
graduation.”<br />
Central City will tip off the<br />
season on Dec. 1 against<br />
Gibbon.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bison<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-9<br />
Head Coach: Daniel Negus<br />
Career Record: 111-135<br />
The Boone Central/Newman Grove<br />
boy’s basketball team will be<br />
hungry for success in <strong>2017</strong>-18 after<br />
falling in the district final last year.<br />
The Cardinals finished the season<br />
15-9 under head coach Justin<br />
Harris, and with experience back<br />
on the roster, there are plenty of<br />
reasons for optimism.<br />
Senior post player Jessie Sullivan<br />
will be back on the hardwood for<br />
Boone Central/Newman Grove,<br />
after posting 13.8 points and 2.5<br />
assists a contest as a junior.<br />
“Jessie does a great job of sealing<br />
and touch around the rim,” Harris<br />
said. “He is a smart kid and a hard<br />
worker which makes him an even<br />
better player. Jessie is one of the<br />
best posts in C-1 and probably<br />
the top one in the Mid-State<br />
Conference.”<br />
Joining Sullivan on the court will<br />
be senior guard Dylan Gentrup,<br />
who averaged 13 points a game<br />
last year.<br />
“Dylan is a player that can take<br />
over a game with his ability to get<br />
to the rim and is strong to finish<br />
with contact,” Harris added. “He<br />
also can shoot the three as well.<br />
Dylan had a great summer and put<br />
himself on the coach’s radar as one<br />
of the top players in our class.”<br />
“Stay healthy,” Harris said when<br />
asked what the keys to a successful<br />
season are. “Players need to find<br />
their roles to best contribute to our<br />
team. Playing with confidence,<br />
heart, and close to potential every<br />
opportunity we get.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Justin Harris<br />
52 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 53
COZADBOYS<br />
RAYMOND CENTRALBOYS<br />
Even though the Cozad boy’s<br />
basketball team is coming off<br />
a 13-12 season, a plethora of<br />
experience is due back on the<br />
roster, making the Haymakers a<br />
team to watch in Class C-1.<br />
Entering the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign,<br />
head coach Drew Danielson has<br />
eight letterwinners returning,<br />
including a pair of talented<br />
seniors. In addition, eight<br />
different players have starting<br />
experience.<br />
Leading the charge will be senior<br />
guard Trestian Siemering, who<br />
posted 12.9 points a game and<br />
made 49 three-pointers as a<br />
junior.<br />
Another sharp-shooter will be<br />
back on the court, as well, as<br />
junior Nate Neil returns after<br />
knocking down 45 three-pointers<br />
last year.<br />
Junior Killion Geiser and senior<br />
Kyle German will also be impact<br />
players for the Haymakers.<br />
“We have eight players returning<br />
that started a game for us last<br />
season so we return a lot of<br />
experience,” Danielson said.<br />
“Our key will be taking that<br />
next step as a program from<br />
being competitive in games to<br />
expecting to win every time we<br />
step foot on the floor. We did<br />
some good things last season,<br />
but I think everyone in our<br />
program would tell you that a<br />
13-12 record is not acceptable for<br />
Cozad boys basketball. Our boys<br />
are hungry to take the program to<br />
new heights.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Haymakers<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Drew Danielson<br />
Career Record: 13-12<br />
The 2016-17 season was a<br />
difficult one for the Raymond<br />
Central boy’s basketball squad,<br />
as the group finished 2-20 under<br />
head coach Pat Harrington.<br />
But a new season brings a new<br />
opportunity for growth, and that<br />
is exactly what the Mustangs will<br />
be looking do with a young roster<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Only four letterwinners and<br />
a pair of seniors are expected<br />
back on the hardwood for<br />
Harrington.<br />
Leading the charge for the<br />
Mustangs will be junior shooting<br />
guard Dylan Thornburg, who<br />
will be joined in the backcourt by<br />
fellow junior point guard Aiden<br />
Urbom.<br />
Seniors Nate Boyd and Josh<br />
Palensky will look to produce<br />
from the forward positions, while<br />
sophomore guard Jaxon Eddie<br />
will try to make a name for<br />
himself in Class C-1.<br />
“We will need to learn from our<br />
mistakes as a young roster and<br />
continue to grow as the season<br />
progresses,” Harrington said.<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for Raymond Central on Dec. 1<br />
against Aquinas Catholic.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 2-20<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Pat Harrington<br />
COZADGIRLS<br />
RAYMOND CENTRALGIRLS<br />
Under head coach Brent Frauen,<br />
the Cozad girl’s basketball squad<br />
showed steady improvement<br />
last year, finishing the 2016-17<br />
season with a 12-13 record.<br />
Now in his third year at the helm,<br />
Frauen will be looking to take the<br />
Haymakers to new heights, and<br />
will have a solid core of returners to<br />
help accomplish that goal.<br />
Although Cozad lost two key<br />
players from last season’s team in<br />
Sarah Yocom and Alyssa Schneider,<br />
having a number of returning<br />
starters could help balance it out.<br />
Senior post player Kennedy<br />
Berreckman, who was named<br />
third team all conference last<br />
season, will return to the court<br />
for the Haymakers, as will senior<br />
guard Hanna Wright.<br />
Senior Ellie Stallbaumer and<br />
junior Brenna Dugan round<br />
out the returners with starting<br />
experience for Frauen.<br />
Senior guard Sadie Rush, who<br />
missed all of last season with<br />
an injury, as well as Sydney<br />
Lindstedt and Gail Cornelius<br />
will also be players to watch for<br />
Cozad this season.<br />
“We have an opportunity to<br />
continue to build on what we<br />
began last year, however we will<br />
have to fulfill a gigantic hole left<br />
by the graduation of Yocom and<br />
Schneider,” Frauen said. “Good<br />
news for us is that we have Sadie<br />
Rush returning this year after<br />
she was out all of last year for an<br />
injury.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Haymakers<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Brent Frauen<br />
Following an up and down 2016-<br />
17 campaign, the Raymond<br />
Central girl’s basketball squad<br />
will look to take a step forward<br />
this season, and improve on an<br />
11-12 record in the process.<br />
Under the direction of head<br />
coach Shawn Ekwall, who owns<br />
a 26-22 record at Raymond<br />
Central, the Mustangs will look<br />
to build off the positives of last<br />
season, which featured multiple<br />
winning streaks, but five losses to<br />
close the regular season.<br />
However, Raymond Central<br />
brings back experience in<br />
the backcourt as they look to<br />
compete in Class C-1.<br />
Senior Ashley Heyen and junior<br />
Morgan Potter will return<br />
as guards for the Mustangs.<br />
Heyen averaged 10.2 pointsper-game<br />
last year, while Potter<br />
accumulated 7.1 points-pergame.<br />
Senior forward Amber Heyen,<br />
who stands 5-feet 10-inches tall,<br />
will also be a key contributor in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
According to Ekwall, getting<br />
consistent play from the guard<br />
position, keeping turnovers to<br />
a minimum, and cutting down<br />
on unnecessary fouls will be<br />
the recipe to success for the<br />
Mustangs in the upcoming<br />
campaign.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Shawn Ekwall<br />
54 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 55
DAVID CITYBOYS<br />
Finishing the year 6-16,<br />
the 2016-17 season was a<br />
challenging one for the David<br />
City boy’s basketball team.<br />
However, a below average<br />
campaign didn’t shake the<br />
confidence head coach Cole<br />
Carraher has in the Scouts.<br />
“I look for us to be much improved<br />
from last season,” Carraher said.<br />
David City will welcome their<br />
leading scorer and rebounder<br />
back to the court in the form of<br />
junior Will Danielson.<br />
Danielson averaged 8 points<br />
and 6.5 rebounds a contest as<br />
sophomore.<br />
Also returning to the hardwood<br />
are seniors Colin Vandenberg and<br />
Riley Kirby, and look for juniors<br />
Luis Salazar and Nick Ruth to<br />
turn some heads for the Scouts<br />
this season.<br />
“Our biggest key to a successful<br />
season is staying healthy and<br />
developing enough players to<br />
create a deeper bench,” Carraher<br />
added. “We don’t have a great<br />
deal of size, so being able to run<br />
the floor and putting pressure on<br />
teams that way will give us the<br />
best chance at being competitive.<br />
I feel this team is really ready to<br />
embrace that mentality and that<br />
style of play.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Scouts<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 18<br />
Head Coach: Cole Carraher<br />
Career Record: 13-50<br />
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ORDBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 campaign didn’t<br />
go as planned for the David City<br />
girl’s basketball squad and head<br />
coach Nathan Wall, as the group<br />
finished 2-19.<br />
But with eight returning<br />
letterwinners back on the court for<br />
the Scouts this season, a seniorheavy<br />
group will look to get back<br />
on the winning path come late<br />
November.<br />
“After a strong season together,<br />
our keys to the season are going<br />
to be to shoot the basketball<br />
better than we did last year, and<br />
improve our depth as well as our<br />
conditioning,” Wall said.<br />
The Scouts will be led by a pair<br />
of guards who bring a plethora of<br />
experience.<br />
Junior point guard Macy Svoboda<br />
is coming off a season in which<br />
she averaged 4.7 points, 2.2<br />
rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.<br />
In addition, senior guard Olivia<br />
Couch, who notched 4.5 rebounds<br />
and 2.7 steals a contest, will be<br />
back to help carry the load.<br />
Freshman Payton Andel and Lauren<br />
Vandenberg are also expected to see<br />
significant run this season.<br />
“We made huge strides during the<br />
summer in the area of shooting,<br />
and our depth will improve with<br />
two freshmen, who proved they<br />
are ready to play,” Wall said.<br />
David City will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 when it hosts<br />
Centennial.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Scouts<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 2-19<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Nathan Wall<br />
Career Record: 97-116<br />
The 2016-17 season was a roller<br />
coaster ride for the Ord boy’s<br />
basketball squad, as the group<br />
finished 9-12, losing six out of its<br />
final seven games.<br />
But looking ahead to the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign, the Chanticleers return<br />
six letterwinners and five seniors<br />
under the leadership of tenured<br />
head coach Nick Gates.<br />
Ord will be led by senior guard<br />
Nate Wells, who averaged 8.7<br />
points and 3.1 assists last year.<br />
Joining Wells on the hardwood<br />
will be fellow seniors Reggie<br />
McKenney, Garrett Bundy,<br />
Austin Knapp, and Harrison<br />
Benton.<br />
Junior Hayden Grint will also<br />
look to carve out a significant<br />
role starting in early December.<br />
Gates said “Learning how to<br />
finish games and being consistent<br />
for four quarters” are the keys<br />
to success for his team. “Then<br />
game in and game out we have<br />
to keep improving,” Gates said.<br />
“We have some experience<br />
coming back and that should be<br />
beneficial for us. We did lose<br />
some offensive production and<br />
rebounding, but we have guys<br />
that have the ability to step up<br />
into some bigger roles.”<br />
Ord will open the season on Dec.<br />
1 against Ainsworth.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Chanticleers<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 27<br />
Head Coach: Nick Gates<br />
Career Record: 59-58<br />
56 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 57
FAIRBURYBOYS<br />
Although the Fairbury boy’s<br />
basketball squad finished the 2016-<br />
17 season with a 9-14 record, the<br />
leader of the Jeffs saw plenty of<br />
improvement.<br />
And if Fairbury continues to<br />
trend in the right direction,<br />
it could be set up for a nice<br />
campaign in <strong>2017</strong>-18 under head<br />
coach Travis Steinhoff.<br />
Steinhoff enters his second year<br />
at the helm of the program, and<br />
is hoping familiarity paired with<br />
experience will be a recipe for<br />
success.<br />
progress we made at the end of<br />
last year,” Steinhoff said. “We<br />
were much improved from game<br />
one to the last, last season. We<br />
need to continue to grow and<br />
work and we should be improved<br />
this year.”<br />
Fairbury will be carried this<br />
season by a pair of senior guards,<br />
as both Cayman Deboer and<br />
Adam Wasserman return to the<br />
hardwood.<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for the Jeffs on Dec. 1 against<br />
Lincoln Christian.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Jeffs<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Travis Steinhoff<br />
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FAIRBURYGIRLS<br />
Even though the Fairbury girl’s<br />
basketball team is coming off a<br />
challenging 6-17 season, hopes<br />
are high the Jeffs can have a<br />
bounce back campaign in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18.<br />
Under tenured head coach Amy<br />
Engle-Evans, Fairbury will return<br />
eight letterwinners, in addition to<br />
some up-and-coming talent.<br />
Sophomore post player Sara Huss<br />
will be back on the hardcourt for<br />
Fairbury, after averaging 7 points<br />
and 11 rebounds a game during<br />
her freshman year.<br />
“We should have a very good<br />
inside presence,” Engle-Evans<br />
said. “It will be key that we can<br />
knock down some outside shots in<br />
order to loosen up the inside for<br />
our posts as I think we will see a<br />
lot of zone versus our posts.”<br />
Also returning for the Jeffs is<br />
junior Jessa Eden, who posted 8<br />
points and 5 rebounds a contest<br />
last year.<br />
Seniors Macy Ohlde and Emily<br />
Burkley, as well as sophomore<br />
Cora DeBoer, will also be major<br />
contributors once the season gets<br />
underway.<br />
“We need to improve our defense<br />
intensity and with a lot of girls<br />
gaining valuable experience last<br />
year we should understand our<br />
principles more which will allow<br />
us to gamble a little more,” Engle-<br />
Evans added.<br />
The season will get underway on<br />
Dec. 1 against Lincoln Christian.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Jeffs<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Amy Engle-Evans<br />
58 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 59
FILLMORE CENTRALBOYS<br />
Fresh off an impressive 16-9<br />
campaign, the Fillmore Central<br />
boy’s basketball team will look<br />
to keep building momentum.<br />
The Panthers return only five<br />
letterwinners and two starters<br />
under second-year head coach<br />
Jordan High.<br />
Senior guard Kole Karcher, who<br />
High called the team’s “most solid<br />
player,” will be back on the court<br />
after averaging 10.5 points and 3.1<br />
assists last season.<br />
“Kole has been a major<br />
contributor at FC since his<br />
sophomore season. He has shown<br />
great leadership abilities on and<br />
off the court, and has always been<br />
an amazing example to other<br />
players,” High added. “He can be<br />
a threat both as a scorer, opening<br />
the defense up to get other guys<br />
opportunities. He also has really<br />
good vision on the court, enabling<br />
him to be a great distributor.”<br />
Also returning will be senior<br />
forward Chandler Schelkopf, who<br />
posted 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds<br />
a contest his junior season.<br />
“We lost a lot of our scoring from<br />
last year in Garrett Whitley and<br />
Adam Hoarty, but we should be<br />
able to find guys who can take<br />
over those roles,” High said. “We<br />
won’t have the height advantage<br />
in most of our games this season,<br />
but we should make up for that in<br />
toughness. We’re hoping to build<br />
off of the successes we have<br />
had here at FC the last couple of<br />
seasons and continue to focus on<br />
the process.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Panthers<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-9<br />
Head Coach: Jordan High<br />
Career Record: 16-9<br />
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FILLMORE CENTRALGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 campaign had plenty<br />
of ups and downs for the Fillmore<br />
Central girl’s basketball squad, as<br />
the group ended up 10-12.<br />
However, valuable experience was<br />
gained under head coach Shad<br />
Eberhardt, and the Panthers will be<br />
prepped to make a run in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Fillmore Central returns seven<br />
letterwinners and a core of<br />
four starters, including senior<br />
guard Jamey Broman. Broman<br />
averaged 5.3 points, 2.7<br />
rebounds, and 1.6 steals a game<br />
as a junior.<br />
Fellow seniors Alexis Schmidt,<br />
Grace Jacobson, and Lydia Birky<br />
will also look to play key roles<br />
for the Panthers.<br />
However, the effectiveness of the<br />
Panthers could rely on a pair of<br />
sophomores.<br />
Guard Macy Scott returns to the<br />
hardwood, after averaging 9.6<br />
points and 2.6 steals a game as<br />
a freshman. She will be joined<br />
by sophomore Halle Theis,<br />
who posted 7.6 points and 5.3<br />
rebounds a contest last year.<br />
“We’ll lean on these returners<br />
and their familiarity with each<br />
other to hopefully be able to<br />
pick up where we left off last<br />
year without a ton of mix ups<br />
and hopefully that will lead to<br />
us being successful,” Eberhardt<br />
said. “We’ll continue to rely on<br />
playing good pressure defense<br />
and looking to transition quickly<br />
and often and using our team<br />
athleticism to our advantage.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Panthers<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Shad Eberhardt<br />
60 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 61
GIBBONBOYS<br />
Despite coming off an 8-15<br />
campaign, the Gibbon boy’s<br />
basketball squad is set up for a<br />
bounce back season in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
The Buffaloes return a plethora<br />
of experience under head coach<br />
David Benge, as 10 letterwinners<br />
and four starters will be back on<br />
the hardwood.<br />
Leading Gibbon will be senior<br />
guard Collin Niemack, who<br />
averaged 9 points per game as a<br />
junior.<br />
Also looking to turn some heads<br />
will be senior guard Collin<br />
Dorzynski, who posted 4 points a<br />
contest last year, as well as junior<br />
Izaiah Gomez.<br />
Senior Chase Middleswart<br />
and sophomores Chi Onate<br />
and Nathan Holcomb will also<br />
see significant minutes for the<br />
Buffaloes this season.<br />
In addition, newcomers Alex<br />
Lopez, Logan Middleswart,<br />
and Ben Wiley could be impact<br />
players, as well.<br />
“We are going to return some<br />
experience but have major holes<br />
to fill in all aspects of the team,”<br />
Benge said. “It will be fun seeing<br />
who steps up into these roles<br />
this year. Young players will<br />
have much more of a chance to<br />
contribute.”<br />
The season will tip off for<br />
Gibbon on Nov. 30 against St.<br />
Paul.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Buffaloes<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: David Benge<br />
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Coming off a difficult season in<br />
which the Buffaloes went 6-16,<br />
there is plenty to be optimistic<br />
about for the Gibbon girl’s<br />
basketball squad in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Under head coach Jim<br />
Martenson, Gibbon will return its<br />
entire roster, as 12 letterwinners<br />
and seven seniors are expected<br />
back on the court.<br />
Leading that group will be<br />
senior guard Ellie Snell, who<br />
was named second team allconference<br />
during the 2016-17<br />
season.<br />
She will be complimented on the<br />
court by senior forward Parker<br />
Kenton, as well as senior guard<br />
Miranda Smith, who earned allconference<br />
honorable mention<br />
honors last season.<br />
Senior Sydni Kroll and<br />
sophomore Baylee Rockefeller<br />
also bring starting experience to<br />
the Gibbon roster.<br />
“We are looking for the<br />
opportunity to have an improved<br />
season with a nucleus returning<br />
from last year,” Martenson said.<br />
“We play in a tough conference<br />
(LouPlatte) and also have a very<br />
solid non-conference schedule<br />
that will force us to work and<br />
play the game to the best of our<br />
ability each and every day. We<br />
will strive to be better at the<br />
end of the season by working to<br />
improve every day.”<br />
The season will get underway for<br />
the Buffaloes on Nov. 30 against<br />
St. Paul.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Buffaloes<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Jim Martenson<br />
Career Record: 6-16<br />
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GOTHENBURGBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 season featured<br />
plenty of success for the<br />
Gothenburg boy’s basketball<br />
squad, as the Swedes went 25-3<br />
before falling to Wahoo in the state<br />
playoffs.<br />
Tenured head coach Roger Koehler<br />
will look for a repeat performance<br />
this season, but will have to do so<br />
with a new-look Gothenburg team.<br />
Only one starter returns in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18, Bennet Folkers.<br />
Folkers, a senior, posted 7.5 points,<br />
4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists a<br />
game last season.<br />
He will be joined by fellow seniors<br />
AJ Whiting, Grant Sell, and Logan<br />
Carlson, who will all be looking<br />
to make a name for themselves in<br />
Class C-1.<br />
“We hope to feed off the<br />
excitement of back-to-back state<br />
tournament appearances. We lost<br />
four starters from a year ago, but<br />
return a lot of game experience<br />
with one returning starter and our<br />
sixth, seventh, and eighth men<br />
from last year,” Koehler said. “We<br />
should have a good group of core<br />
players to work around and a lot of<br />
hungry underclassmen working for<br />
playing time.”<br />
A negative for the Swedes is an<br />
injury to Sell, who tore his ACL<br />
this summer and will likely be off<br />
the court until mid-January.<br />
Gothenburg will open the season<br />
on Nov. 27 against North Platte.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Swedes<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 25-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 23<br />
Head Coach: Roger Koehler<br />
Career Record: 106-67<br />
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GOTHENBURGGIRLS<br />
The Gothenburg girl’s basketball<br />
squad will look to improve off an<br />
8-16 season, as head coach Nick<br />
Miller enters his second year<br />
leading the program.<br />
Last season, the Swedes<br />
struggled to put it all together,<br />
and even though a core group<br />
of contributors graduated,<br />
Gothenburg will look to take<br />
strides in the right direction in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Seven letterwinners and three<br />
seniors will be back on the roster,<br />
and none more important than<br />
power forward Gracie Stienike,<br />
who averaged 13 points and 6.1<br />
rebounds last year.<br />
Senior center Arleigh Costello,<br />
who posted 3.7 points and 4<br />
rebounds a game her junior<br />
campaign, and senior guard<br />
Natalie Kennicutt will also be<br />
key contributors for Miller this<br />
season.<br />
“We graduated a lot of minutes,<br />
but had a great summer and<br />
saw a lot of girls push to fill<br />
those roles and add depth and<br />
athleticism,” Miller said. “We<br />
want to be a team that can hang<br />
its hat on the defensive end,<br />
make other teams uncomfortable,<br />
and allow our offense to work off<br />
of that. We will rely on seniors<br />
and returners to set the tone, get<br />
into that defensive mindset, and<br />
compete to get better each day.”<br />
The season gets underway on<br />
Nov. 27 against North Platte in a<br />
jamboree.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Swedes<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Nick Miller<br />
Career Record: 8-16<br />
64 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 65
WILBER-CLATONIABOYS<br />
The Wilber-Clatonia boy’s<br />
basketball team will be looking<br />
to bounce back after a 6-16<br />
campaign in 2016-17.<br />
However, that goal will have<br />
to be accomplished with some<br />
young talent, as the Wolverines<br />
return only five letterwinners and<br />
two seniors under head coach<br />
Lucas Albrecht.<br />
“We have to gain some<br />
confidence in the early portion of<br />
our schedule before Christmas,”<br />
Albrecht said. “Our inexperience<br />
will be tested as some of our<br />
younger kids will be forced into<br />
greater roles.”<br />
Two starters do return for the<br />
Wolverines, as Hunter Cerveny,<br />
who averaged 5.6 points a game<br />
last season, and Josh Kalkwarf,<br />
who posted 3.2 points a contest,<br />
will both be back in uniform.<br />
“Both will need to take a jump<br />
in production and leadership,”<br />
Albrecht said.<br />
Coltin Rezabek, Preston Lee, and<br />
Colten Johnson will also look to<br />
carve out significant roles once<br />
the season gets underway.<br />
“We do have some size inside but<br />
not much varsity experience,”<br />
Albrecht added. “We hope to get<br />
some confidence in December<br />
and go from there.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for Wilber-Clatonia on Nov. 30<br />
against Tri County.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolverines<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Lucas Albrecht<br />
Career Record: 43-45<br />
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WILBER-CLATONIAGIRLS<br />
The Wilber-Clatonia girl’s<br />
basketball squad will have a lot<br />
to prove in Class C-1 this season,<br />
as the Wolverines return only one<br />
letterwinner to the court.<br />
The Wolverines are coming off<br />
an 8-14 campaign which ended<br />
with an overtime loss to Fairbury<br />
in sub-districts.<br />
Jenny Wagner will be back again<br />
to lead the Wolverines from the<br />
sidelines, but the experienced<br />
head coach will have to find a<br />
way to win with a very youthful<br />
squad.<br />
Wilber-Clatonia returns only one<br />
senior, guard Kory Moldenhauer,<br />
who will look to be a leader for<br />
the Wolverines this season.<br />
Junior Rylee Hayek will also play<br />
a big role, as will sophomores<br />
Tia Kreshel, Megan Tinsley, and<br />
Aislim Martinez.<br />
“We are a very young team with<br />
little varsity experience after<br />
losing six seniors last season,”<br />
Wagner said. “Our young players<br />
will have to step up and grow as<br />
the season progresses in order to<br />
continue to see success. We have<br />
a great future ahead of us.”<br />
Wilber-Clatonia will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 against Tri<br />
County.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolverines<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Jenny Wagner<br />
Career Record: 34-54<br />
66 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 67
KEARNEY CATHOLICBOYS<br />
The Kearney Catholic boy’s<br />
basketball squad is not only<br />
coming off an impressive 21-6<br />
season last year, but is also<br />
looking forward to its first full<br />
season under head coach Bob<br />
Langan.<br />
Langan took over for the Stars<br />
after two games in 2016-17.<br />
However, matching last year’s<br />
success will be a challenge for<br />
Langan, who will look to reload<br />
his roster after a number of<br />
seniors graduated.<br />
“We graduated eight seniors who<br />
all contributed at some point<br />
last year,” Langan said. “Matt<br />
Masker is the only player that<br />
returns who played a significant<br />
amount of minutes.”<br />
Masker, a senior guard, will lead<br />
the charge for the Stars after<br />
averaging 4.1 points and 2.8<br />
rebounds a game last year.<br />
Six other letterwinners will<br />
return, as well, including seniors<br />
Marcus Benesch, Josh Long, and<br />
Cole Staab.<br />
“To be successful, we will have<br />
to find a mixture of guys who are<br />
willing to unselfishly play for<br />
each other and focus on getting<br />
better throughout the year,”<br />
Langan said. “We will have more<br />
size than past years, so we will<br />
have to find a way to utilize our<br />
size.”<br />
Kearney Catholic will open the<br />
season on Dec. 1 at home against<br />
North Platte.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Stars<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 21-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Bob Langan<br />
Career Record: 21-6<br />
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KEARNEY CATHOLICGIRLS<br />
Although the ending wasn’t<br />
what the Kearney Catholic<br />
girl’s basketball team had<br />
hoped for, the 2016-17 season<br />
was still one to remember for<br />
the Stars.<br />
Under long tenured head coach<br />
Rick Petri, Kearney Catholic<br />
finished 29-1, going undefeated<br />
during the regular season before<br />
falling in the NSAA state<br />
tournament.<br />
Petri, who is entering his 21 st<br />
year at Kearney Catholic, will be<br />
looking for a similar showing,<br />
but will have to find success<br />
without any starters returning.<br />
However, the Stars do return<br />
a core group of letterwinners,<br />
including junior guard Olivia<br />
Micek, who averaged 3.5 points<br />
a game last year and will be<br />
relied on heavily this season.<br />
Also expected back on<br />
the hardwood are seniors<br />
Madison Shoemaker, Ashlynn<br />
Schmaderer, and Annie Trettel.<br />
Sophomores Ainsley Aden and<br />
Liza Trettel will also look to<br />
turn some heads come early<br />
December.<br />
“With no returning starters and<br />
only three others that played<br />
significant minutes, our team<br />
will have to learn on the run,”<br />
Petri said. “We hope that several<br />
of our young players make<br />
significant strides as the season<br />
progresses, and can be a factor<br />
by the end of the season.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Stars<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 29-1<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Rick Petri<br />
Career Record: 100-20<br />
68 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 69
LINCOLN CHRISTIANBOYS<br />
MALCOLMBOYS<br />
The Lincoln Christian boy’s<br />
basketball squad is coming off an<br />
up-and-down 2016-17 campaign,<br />
in which the Crusaders finished<br />
11-11.<br />
But a new season brings a new<br />
opportunity for Lincoln Christian<br />
to make some noise in Class C-1,<br />
as head coach Gary Nunally is<br />
back at the helm of the program.<br />
Nunally has plenty of experience<br />
slated to return to the hardwood,<br />
as nine letterwinners and five<br />
seniors will be back on the court.<br />
Much of the Crusaders’ success<br />
will depend on the play of a<br />
sophomore, however, as guard<br />
Justin Bubak is coming off an<br />
impressive season.<br />
Bubak was named all-conference<br />
a year ago after averaging 14.1<br />
points a contest as a freshman.<br />
Another impact player will be<br />
junior Caleb Canfield, who was<br />
also named to the all-conference<br />
team after averaging 11.8 points<br />
a contest last season.<br />
Seniors Treyson Bigler, Max<br />
McEwen, Josh McEwen, and<br />
Garrett Conrad will also see<br />
significant playing time for<br />
Lincoln Christian.<br />
“We had a really good summer<br />
with many of our guys putting in<br />
a lot of work,” Nunally said. “It<br />
will be important for all of us to<br />
live out our faith everyday, giving<br />
great effort, putting others before<br />
ourselves, and responding in a<br />
positive way to the adversity that<br />
every basketball season brings.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Crusaders<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Gary Nunnally<br />
Career Record: 104-106<br />
If the Malcolm boy’s basketball<br />
squad has plans of making<br />
some noise in Class C-1 this<br />
year, some unfamiliar athletes<br />
will have to make a name for<br />
themselves.<br />
Under the direction of head<br />
coach Chris Lewandowski,<br />
the Clippers will be fairly<br />
inexperienced in <strong>2017</strong>-18, after<br />
finishing 11-13 last year.<br />
The group lost five athletes to<br />
graduation, but do return five<br />
letterwinners, including a trio of<br />
seniors.<br />
However, much of Malcolm’s<br />
success will hinder on a junior,<br />
as forward Dylan Johnson,<br />
who averaged 6.5 points and 6<br />
rebounds last season, is set to<br />
take on a bigger role.<br />
Senior guards Beau Sackett<br />
and Ty Shaw, as well as junior<br />
forward Nate Kuhn, will also be<br />
impact players for the Clippers<br />
come early December.<br />
“We will have many new faces<br />
on the court this year after<br />
graduating five seniors. We<br />
need to have guys step up and<br />
be playmakers. We may be<br />
inexperienced but these guys are<br />
hard workers and fun to coach,”<br />
Lewandowski said. “This year’s<br />
team is a very competitive<br />
group, from the freshmen to the<br />
seniors, and there will be great<br />
competition for the spots on the<br />
floor. (I’m) excited to see how<br />
this team comes together.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Clippers<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Chris Lewandowski<br />
Career Record: 36-58<br />
LINCOLN CHRISTIANGIRLS<br />
MALCOLMGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season was as<br />
good as it gets for the Lincoln<br />
Christian girl’s basketball team.<br />
The Crusaders dominated the<br />
regular season, finishing 28-2,<br />
and continued their success in<br />
the NSAA state tournament,<br />
snagging a first-place finish.<br />
However, success is nothing<br />
new to tenured head coach Nick<br />
Orduna, who owns a 244-156<br />
career record at the head of the<br />
program.<br />
In <strong>2017</strong>-18, the defending state<br />
champions will look for a repeat<br />
performance, but will have to do<br />
so with only four letterwinners<br />
and three starters returning.<br />
Orduna will look to senior guard<br />
Chloe Dworak and senior post<br />
player Emily Hollenbeck as<br />
leaders come the start of the<br />
campaign.<br />
In addition, he will rely heavily<br />
on sophomore post player<br />
Olivia Hollenbeck, who started<br />
as a freshman last year, as well<br />
as junior small forward Tessa<br />
Chicoine.<br />
When asked what the keys to<br />
yet another successful season<br />
are, Orduna kept it simple: Stay<br />
hungry and stay healthy.<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for Lincoln Christian on Dec. 1<br />
against Fairbury.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Crusaders<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 28-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Nick Orduna<br />
Career Record: 244-156<br />
The Malcolm girl’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off an<br />
impressive 2016-17 campaign,<br />
in which the Clippers finished<br />
22-4 and made an NSAA state<br />
tournament appearance.<br />
Under head coach Trudy<br />
Samuelson, much of the same is<br />
expected in <strong>2017</strong>-18, as seven<br />
letterwinners and a core of<br />
seniors will be back on the court<br />
for Malcolm.<br />
Leading the charge for the<br />
Clippers will be senior center<br />
Jaela Zimmerman, who averaged<br />
an impressive 9.4 points, 7.7<br />
rebounds, 4 assists, and 4.4 steals<br />
a contest last season.<br />
She will be joined on the court by<br />
fellow senior Chloe Schumacher,<br />
who averaged 10.2 points and 3.5<br />
rebounds a game as a junior.<br />
Junior guard Brooklyn Minzel,<br />
who averaged 7.1 points a game<br />
last year, as well as juniors<br />
McKenzie Teten and Kelsey<br />
Brady will also be impact players<br />
for Malcolm.<br />
“Strong, confident, and<br />
commanding guard play (will be<br />
our keys to success),” Samuelson<br />
said. “(We need to) develop a<br />
bench and dominate in the post.”<br />
The season opens up on Dec. 1<br />
against Weeping Water.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Clippers<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 22-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Trudy Samuelson<br />
70 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 71
MILFORDBOYS<br />
For the Milford boy’s basketball<br />
team, a number of positives were<br />
seen during the 2016-17 season,<br />
where the Eagles finished 18-6<br />
under tenured head coach Tony<br />
Muller.<br />
Milford pushed for a state<br />
tournament appearance, but fell<br />
to eventual state champions<br />
Bishop Neumann in the district<br />
finals 67-61.<br />
While plenty of success was seen<br />
last year, there is a downside.<br />
11 seniors graduated off that<br />
team, leaving Muller with an<br />
inexperienced squad for the<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
Only two letterwinners and a<br />
pair of seniors will return for the<br />
Eagles.<br />
“Gaining varsity experience<br />
will be important for the<br />
underclassmen,” Muller said.<br />
Taking on a leadership role this<br />
season will be senior guard Jacob<br />
Bitterman, who posted 8.8 points,<br />
4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists a<br />
game during his junior year.<br />
Joining Bitterman in the back court<br />
will be junior guards Nate Mensik<br />
and Bragan Meyer, while senior<br />
forward Jesse Beel will look to do<br />
some damage in the paint.<br />
“We have smart basketball<br />
players that play hard,” Muller<br />
added. “Guard play will be our<br />
strength early, with Jacob and<br />
Nate as our leaders.”<br />
The season tips off on Nov. 30<br />
against Fillmore Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 18-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Tony Muller<br />
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MILFORDGIRLS<br />
Although the Milford girl’s<br />
basketball team is coming off<br />
a 10-11 season, the program is<br />
likely to bounce back under head<br />
coach Phil Stauffer.<br />
Stauffer, who owns a career<br />
81-68 record at the helm of<br />
the program, returns nine<br />
letterwinners this season, putting<br />
the Eagles in a position to do<br />
some damage during the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign.<br />
Another reason for optimism<br />
for Milford is the return of Jayla<br />
Policky, who averaged 8 points<br />
and 7.7 rebounds a contest last<br />
year before injuring her knee in<br />
the eighth game of the season.<br />
Policky will be joined on the<br />
court by Sydney Bontrager,<br />
who averaged 7.5 points and 7.5<br />
rebounds a contest last season.<br />
Tyra Asehoff, Ryleigh Ackerman,<br />
Erika Rolene, and Nevaeh<br />
Stauffer will all be players to<br />
keep an eye on for the Eagles, as<br />
well.<br />
“Improvement on defense, along<br />
with cutting down on turnovers<br />
(will be the keys to success),”<br />
Stuaffer said. “With the top<br />
eight scorers all returning from<br />
last year we hope to be more<br />
consistent on offense and avoid<br />
scoring droughts.”<br />
The season gets underway for<br />
Milford on Nov. 30 against<br />
Fillmore Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Phil Stauffer<br />
Career Record: 81-68<br />
72 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 73
O’NeillBOYS<br />
ON THE GO<br />
The good news for the O’Neill<br />
boy’s basketball squad is they are<br />
coming off an impressive 2016-<br />
17 campaign, in which the Eagles<br />
went 23-3 before falling in the<br />
NSAA state tournament to Bishop<br />
Neumann.<br />
The Eagles will be under the<br />
direction of head coach Seth<br />
Kallhoff, who is entering his<br />
seventh season at the helm with a<br />
103-50 record.<br />
“Our goals are always the same,”<br />
Kallhoff said. “We want to get<br />
better every practice, compete each<br />
and every game, and win all of our<br />
tournaments.”<br />
Leading the charge for O’Neill this<br />
season will be a trio of seniors,<br />
including point guard Justin<br />
Appleby, who posted 12 points and<br />
4 rebounds a game as a junior.<br />
In addition, Kallhoff said he expects<br />
fellow seniors Shayne Campbell and<br />
Trevor Dempster, as well as juniors<br />
Dennis Herrera and Francisco Perez<br />
to see significant court time as well.<br />
“This year we will rely on our<br />
senior leadership. Justin, Alex, and<br />
Wyatt have all been big pieces to<br />
our recent success and they will be<br />
looked upon to keep that level of<br />
play going,” Kallhoff added. “We<br />
will be looking for some newcomers<br />
to step up and fill some very<br />
important roles but we like the effort<br />
they have put into their game in the<br />
offseason. Shayne Campbell will<br />
look to become a jack of all trades<br />
because of his willingness to dive<br />
for loose balls and get after all the<br />
dirty work. That type of effort gets<br />
everyone’s energy up in a positive<br />
way and we will play better with<br />
him on our team.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 23-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 18<br />
Head Coach: Seth Kallhoff<br />
Career Record: 103-50<br />
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O’NeillGIRLS<br />
The O’Neill girl’s basketball team<br />
finished 14-11 last season, gaining<br />
a lot of momentum throughout the<br />
2016-17 campaign. The success<br />
is a trend head coach Brock<br />
Eichelberger is hoping to see<br />
continue.<br />
The Eagles bring back plenty of<br />
experience in <strong>2017</strong>-18, as nine<br />
letterwinners and seven seniors will<br />
return to the hardwood.<br />
“This year we will have a lot of<br />
veteran players coming back with<br />
varsity experience from last season,”<br />
Eichelberger said. “We also think<br />
that the maturity of this team with<br />
seven seniors will be a big key in<br />
competing every night, especially<br />
our big games.”<br />
Leading the charge for the Eagles<br />
will be senior point guard Samantha<br />
Eichelberger, along with senior<br />
guard Julia Bauer and junior Claire<br />
Morrow.<br />
Seniors Gabbie Scott, Aurora<br />
Gutshall, and Morgan Fowler<br />
will also play significant roles for<br />
O’Neill come the start of the season.<br />
“We really like this year’s team<br />
because of what they bring to the<br />
floor both mentally and physically.<br />
In our conference you have to bring<br />
that every single night in order<br />
to compete against the best in the<br />
state,” Eichelberger added. “We are<br />
really excited about this year’s team,<br />
not only because of our veteran<br />
players that are coming back, but as<br />
for our freshman and sophomores as<br />
well who will be ready to perform at<br />
a high level right from the start.”<br />
The season will get underway on<br />
Nov. 30 against Valentine.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Brock Eichelberger<br />
Great Personal Service<br />
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Westgate Shopping Center<br />
Columbus, NE 68601<br />
(402) 564-6077<br />
Toll Free: (844) 435-5323<br />
Fax: (402) 835-5325<br />
P.O. Box 210<br />
140 Main<br />
Petersburg, NE 68652<br />
(402) 386-5297<br />
Toll Free: (800) 682-0073<br />
Fax: (402) 386-5296<br />
www.gpsbanks.com<br />
P.O. Box 836<br />
1100 E. Douglas Street<br />
O’Neill, NE 68763<br />
(402) 336-1474<br />
Toll Free: (877) 336-1474<br />
Fax: (402) 336-1372<br />
1-800-KROTTER | 305 West Douglas Street, O’Neill, NE 68763
LINCOLN LUTHERANBOYS<br />
FREEMANBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 season featured<br />
a series of highs and lows for<br />
the Lincoln Lutheran boy’s<br />
basketball squad, as the group<br />
struggled to consistently add<br />
marks to the win column.<br />
The Warriors ended the campaign<br />
12-11, but the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign<br />
brings plenty of optimism for head<br />
coach Jason Glines, who will have<br />
a core group of seniors returning.<br />
Although only five letterwinners<br />
are expected back on the roster,<br />
six seniors will likely see action<br />
come the start of the season.<br />
Leading the charge will be senior<br />
forward Logan Kreizel, who<br />
posted 9 points, 4.3 rebounds,<br />
and shot 39 percent from threepoint<br />
land as a junior.<br />
Senior guard Jacob Glines, who<br />
averaged 6 points a game last<br />
year, and senior Chase DeBusk<br />
will also see significant run for<br />
the Warriors.<br />
“We have a good nucleus of<br />
returning players and a group<br />
of seniors who have worked<br />
really hard,” Glines said. “We<br />
should have pretty good depth<br />
and athleticism. Keys to success<br />
will be to play at a fast pace with<br />
good defensive pressure. Most<br />
importantly, love to play with<br />
and for our teammates. If we<br />
do that, we have a chance to be<br />
really good.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for Lincoln Lutheran on Nov.<br />
30 against Grand Island Central<br />
Catholic.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Jason Glines<br />
Career Record: 65-59<br />
On the heels of a 15-10 campaign<br />
in 2016-17, expectations are high<br />
for the Freeman boy’s basketball<br />
team.<br />
As the Falcons enter the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign led by head coach Jim<br />
McLaughlin, plenty of experience<br />
is expected back on the roster.<br />
Nine letterwinners and five<br />
seniors will return for Freeman,<br />
led by Blake Kastanek, who<br />
averaged 11 points during his<br />
junior season.<br />
Tyler Adams will also play a<br />
crucial role for the Falcons, as<br />
the junior is coming off a season<br />
in which he averaged 11.6 points<br />
and 4.4 rebounds a contest.<br />
Seniors Lane Cacek, Jacob<br />
Gramann, and Korey Beu will<br />
all see significant run on the<br />
hardwood, as well.<br />
When asked what the keys<br />
to a successful season are,<br />
McLaughlin laid out his<br />
blueprints for success. He said<br />
building chemistry, developing<br />
a work-hard mindset, and<br />
developing pride in defense and<br />
rebounding will determine how<br />
far his team can go.<br />
“We didn’t graduate any<br />
seniors last year and inherited<br />
a transfer in Logan Anderson,”<br />
McLaughlin said. “Experience<br />
won’t be an issue. This team<br />
will need to experience learning<br />
what it takes to win big games.<br />
The tools are there to do so. I am<br />
excited for the season.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Falcons<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Jim McLaughlin<br />
LINCOLN LUTHERANGIRLS<br />
FREEMANGIRLS<br />
The Lincoln Lutheran girl’s<br />
basketball squad struggled to find<br />
consistency last season, finishing<br />
the 2016-17 campaign with an<br />
11-12 record under head coach<br />
Rich Olson.<br />
But a new season brings<br />
optimism for the Warriors, as 10<br />
letterwinners and four seniors are<br />
expected back on the court for<br />
Lincoln Lutheran in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
The experienced group will be<br />
led by senior forward Paige<br />
Ravenscroft, who posted 14.7<br />
points a contest her junior year.<br />
Senior forward Mackenzie<br />
Koepke will also be a key player,<br />
after averaging 14.2 points a<br />
game last season.<br />
And keep an eye on fellow<br />
senior Kayla Ernstmeyer, as well<br />
as guard Gabby Mason, who<br />
contributed 9.5 points a game in<br />
2016-17.<br />
Juniors Josie Puelz, Gretchen<br />
Moll, and Ella Moll will also be<br />
players to watch come the start of<br />
the season.<br />
When asked what aspects of<br />
the game will lead to success<br />
this season, Olson noted that<br />
offensive consistency and<br />
defensive intensity will be<br />
mandatory for the Warriors to<br />
compete in Class C-1.<br />
The season tips off for Lincoln<br />
Lutheran on Nov. 30 against<br />
Grand Island Central Catholic.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Rich Olson<br />
Even though the Freeman girl’s<br />
basketball squad is coming off<br />
an 11-14 season, the Falcons are<br />
positioned to make an impact in<br />
Class C-2.<br />
Freeman will not only be<br />
familiar with second year head<br />
coach Kristin Kroeker, but eight<br />
letterwinners are expected to<br />
return to the hardwood.<br />
Leading the charge for the<br />
Falcons will be senior forward<br />
Abby Mason, who after missing<br />
most of her junior campaign<br />
due to injury, will be looking<br />
to make a name for herself in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Mason averaged 5.8 points and<br />
5.8 rebounds a contest before<br />
her injury.<br />
Also expected to contribute is<br />
senior guard Addison Dorn,<br />
who posted 5.7 points a game<br />
last year, and senior point guard<br />
Brylie Hadwig.<br />
“Our team needs to be willing to<br />
get better everyday at practice,”<br />
Kroeker said. “We need to<br />
learn from our wins and losses.<br />
We will need all members to<br />
contribute to our team in order<br />
to be successful.”<br />
The Falcons will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 at home<br />
against Palmyra.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Falcons<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Kristin Kroeker<br />
Career Record: 11-14<br />
76 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 77
AINSWORTHGIRLS<br />
TWIN RIVERGIRLS<br />
The Ainsworth girl’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off a difficult<br />
season, finishing 3-17 during the<br />
2016-17 campaign.<br />
But a new season will bring a<br />
fresh start for the Bulldogs, and<br />
first year head coach Stephen<br />
Crile will look to put the program<br />
on the winning track.<br />
“Coming in and taking over the<br />
girl’s program the coaches and<br />
I have stressed that we need to<br />
log hours in the gym and in the<br />
weight room,” Crile said. “The<br />
girls have done a fantastic job<br />
putting in work this summer,<br />
and we look to see that help us<br />
transition into conditioning and<br />
practice once the season starts.”<br />
The Bulldogs have some<br />
experience returning, as six<br />
letterwinners will be back on the<br />
court come early December.<br />
“We have also been stressing<br />
togetherness, family, leadership,<br />
and accountability. All successful<br />
teams have this in some way,<br />
shape, or form,” Crile added.<br />
“This summer during our camps<br />
we talked about shooting and<br />
how our percentage of made<br />
shots was not very good last year.<br />
We only had five games where<br />
we scored 40 or more points. We<br />
want to change that this season.”<br />
The season will get underway on<br />
Dec. 1 against Ord.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 3-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Stephen Crile<br />
The Twin River girl’s basketball<br />
team was impressive in 2016-17,<br />
going 18-7 before falling in the<br />
C2-4 District Final to Howells-<br />
Dodge.<br />
But success for the Titans is<br />
nothing new under tenured head<br />
coach Jeff Morris, who boasts<br />
a 160-56 record at the helm of<br />
Twin River.<br />
Experience will be lacking, as<br />
only four letterwinners are slated<br />
to return. However, the junior<br />
varsity team went undefeated last<br />
season for Twin River, prompting<br />
Morris to believe the younger<br />
players “will adjust quickly to<br />
the speed of the varsity game.”<br />
The Titans will rely heavily<br />
on shooting guard Calista<br />
Shanle, who returns for her<br />
senior season, as well as juniors<br />
Gabriella Wieck and Halle Konz.<br />
Twin River will start the season<br />
without post player Nina Parry,<br />
as the senior tore her ACL and<br />
isn’t expected back until January.<br />
“We have a strong nucleus to<br />
build around with Cali, Nina,<br />
Gabi, and Halle,” Morris<br />
said. “They have played a lot<br />
of basketball for us, they are<br />
talented, and they understand<br />
our system of play. We can score<br />
inside, and from the perimeter.<br />
These kids are quick and are a<br />
threat on the drive.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 18-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Morris<br />
Career Record: 160-56<br />
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FEBRUARY 9-25, 2018<br />
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AMHERSTBOYS<br />
SUPERIORBOYS<br />
Fresh off an NSAA state tournament<br />
appearance and a 23-4 campaign, the<br />
Amherst boy’s basketball team will be<br />
an exciting team to watch this season.<br />
Under the leadership of head coach<br />
Bill Giffin, who owns a 91-19 career<br />
record with the program, the Broncos<br />
return three senior starters and a<br />
plethora of letterwinners.<br />
However, all eyes will once again be<br />
on talented senior forward Holden<br />
Eckhout, who posted an impressive<br />
16.2 points and 9.7 rebounds a contest<br />
during his junior year.<br />
“Holden Eckhout has been a key<br />
player for us his entire career and we<br />
know he will attract a lot of attention<br />
from opponents,” Giffin said.<br />
Also returning will be senior starters<br />
Dakota Abbott and Grant Bergstrom,<br />
both of which will play critical roles<br />
alongside Eckhout.<br />
“Dakota Abbott gives us size and<br />
shot altering ability that changed<br />
the landscape of games last year,”<br />
Giffin added. “Grant Bergstrom gives<br />
us some great leadership and looks<br />
to build off his first year of being a<br />
starter.”<br />
Trevor Lockhorn, Riley Thomsen,<br />
and Collen Jaixen will also be impact<br />
players for the Broncos this season, as<br />
the talented group looks to navigate its<br />
way through Class C-2.<br />
“Our schedule will be challenging,<br />
as it appears to be more difficult than<br />
past years with additional Class C<br />
opponents,” Giffin said. “We look to<br />
have a strong post presence and will<br />
need to have additional perimeter<br />
players step up to be competitive.<br />
Overall, I believe we will be<br />
competitive within our conference<br />
and district and have great potential to<br />
play into March.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 23-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Bill Griffin<br />
Career Record: 137-43<br />
Coming off a 7-14 season, the<br />
Superior boy’s basketball team<br />
will look to get back on the<br />
winning track and make some<br />
noise in Class C-2.<br />
However, the Wildcats will have to<br />
find their bearings quickly under<br />
head coach Luke Chadwell, as<br />
only four returning letterwinners<br />
and one senior are expected back<br />
on the court.<br />
“We will be a fairly inexperienced<br />
team this season,” Chadwell said.<br />
“Effort, execution, and gaining<br />
experience are keys to this<br />
season.”<br />
Leading the charge for the<br />
Wildcats will be junior McKinney<br />
Edwards, who averaged 4 points,<br />
3.6 rebounds, and 1 assist a game<br />
last year.<br />
Also looking to contribute will be<br />
sophomore guard Hunter Healey,<br />
who averaged 3.2 points per game<br />
in 2016-17, and junior guard<br />
Trenton Theis.<br />
Adam Baker, Jaden Hanson, and<br />
Adin Leibel will all be looking to<br />
carve out significant roles for the<br />
Wildcats as well.<br />
Superior will open the season at<br />
home on Dec. 2 against Republic<br />
County.<br />
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Team Name: Wildcats<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Luke Chadwell<br />
Career Record: 29-79<br />
AMHERSTGIRLS<br />
Coming off a 9-14 campaign that<br />
saw plenty of ups and downs, the<br />
Amherst girl’s basketball team will<br />
look to make some waves in Class<br />
C-2 during the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
Under the leadership of second<br />
year head coach Nathan Dietz, the<br />
Broncos will return six letterwinners<br />
to the court come late November.<br />
That group will be led by senior<br />
guard Emily Arnold, who posted 8.7<br />
points and 2.1 assists per contest last<br />
year.<br />
Joining Arnold in the backcourt<br />
will be junior Emily Palmer, who<br />
averaged 6.7 points and 2.6 assists<br />
per game her sophomore season.<br />
Junior Taryn Hadwiger, who will<br />
hold down the center position, will<br />
also look to make a significant<br />
impact after averaging 7.7 points<br />
and 4.5 rebounds in 2016-17.<br />
“We need to limit our turnovers<br />
and have more confidence on the<br />
offensive end of the court,” Dietz<br />
said.<br />
The Broncos will open the season<br />
on Nov. 1 when they battle Ravenna.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Nathan Dietz<br />
Career Record: 9-14<br />
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FEBRUARY 4, 2018
ARCADIA-LOUP CITYBOYS<br />
The good news for the Arcadia-<br />
Loup City boys basketball<br />
squad is they are coming off an<br />
impressive 16-8 campaign.<br />
The better news, however, is<br />
experience will be abundant in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18, as 11 letterwinners<br />
are expected to return to the<br />
hardwood this season.<br />
The Rebels are led by head coach<br />
Aaron Habe, and will look to<br />
build off a successful season that<br />
ended with a tight sub-district<br />
loss to Amherst.<br />
Forward Nolan Baker will look<br />
to lead the senior-heavy roster,<br />
after posting 14 points and six<br />
rebounds a game last season.<br />
Senior guard Tige Calleroz, who<br />
averaged 8 rebounds and 5 steals<br />
last year, and senior Macrae<br />
Maschka will also be impact<br />
players for the Rebels.<br />
“Rebounding and consistent<br />
shooting will be two of the<br />
biggest factors,” Habe said. “We<br />
believe as a team if we take care<br />
of those two things then we can<br />
definitely attain our goals for this<br />
upcoming season.”<br />
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Team Name: Rebels<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Aaron Habe<br />
Career Record: 37-35<br />
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Saturday 8:30 am-1:30 pm - Sunday Closed<br />
Loup City Rx Shoppe<br />
308-745-2109<br />
133 South 7th St. - Loup City, NE<br />
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm<br />
Closed Saturday & Sunday<br />
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KEVIN SJUTS • SPORTS DIRECTOR<br />
FRIDAYS AT 10 PM<br />
ARCADIA-LOUP CITYGIRLS<br />
PERKINS COUNTYBOYS<br />
The Arcadia-Loup City girl’s<br />
basketball squad is coming off a<br />
decent 2016-17 season, finishing<br />
the campaign 11-10.<br />
Trevor Wright will take over as<br />
head coach for the Rebels during<br />
the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season.<br />
While only five letterwinners are<br />
expected to return for Arcadia-<br />
Loup City, three starters will be<br />
back on the roster, providing much<br />
needed experience for the Rebels.<br />
One of those returning starters<br />
will be senior point guard<br />
Kennedy Lewandowski, who<br />
Wright calls “one of the biggest<br />
strengths of the team”.<br />
Joining Lewandowski on the<br />
court will be senior forward<br />
Kaylea Rasmussen, who posted<br />
8.1 points per game as a junior.<br />
Senior Kinley Krzycki will<br />
also be a player to watch at the<br />
guard position, as will forward<br />
Mackenzie Dahlberg.<br />
“I think we have a lot to offer<br />
with our size and our perimeter<br />
players. Our post players have<br />
great size and ability to play<br />
with other good posts,” Wright<br />
said. “Our perimeter players are<br />
learning how to play faster and<br />
under control. I think we have<br />
a lot to work on as individual<br />
players, mostly just the repetition<br />
of basic fundamentals. We have<br />
some good experience coming<br />
back but there are some young<br />
girls that will have to step up<br />
and play key varsity minutes this<br />
year.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Rebels<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-10<br />
Head Coach: Trevor Wright<br />
The biggest advantage the<br />
Perkins County boy’s basketball<br />
squad possesses heading into the<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18 season is experience,<br />
both on the court and on the<br />
sidelines.<br />
The Plainsmen return nine<br />
letterwinners to the hardwood<br />
following a 14-11 campaign, and<br />
long-tenured head coach Shawn<br />
Cole will once again be at the<br />
helm.<br />
Cole has coached over 200<br />
games for Perkins County.<br />
The group will be led by four<br />
seniors, including guard Josh<br />
Johnston, who posted 12 points<br />
and 4 rebounds a game last year.<br />
Big man Charles Johnson will<br />
also return after averaging 11<br />
points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals a<br />
contest in 2016-17.<br />
Fellow seniors Michael Beck<br />
and Tyson Patrick, in addition to<br />
junior guard Spencer Ross, will<br />
also carve out a significant role<br />
for the Plainsmen.<br />
When asked what the keys to<br />
success for the upcoming season<br />
are, Cole was straightforward.<br />
“Getting through football without<br />
major injury, competing in<br />
practice to prepare for games,<br />
(and the) kids’ drive to win<br />
games,” he said.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Plainsmen<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Shawn Cole<br />
Career Record: 97-111<br />
82 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 83
CAMBRIDGEGIRLS<br />
SOUTHWESTBOYS<br />
The Cambridge girl’s basketball<br />
team was impressive during the<br />
2016-17 season, cruising to a<br />
20-4 record before falling in the<br />
first round of the NSAA state<br />
tournament.<br />
Under the direction of head coach<br />
Jarod Albers, who owns a 39-10<br />
record at the helm of the program,<br />
the Trojans are hoping for another<br />
successful run as the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign approaches.<br />
Albers will have seven<br />
letterwinners and three seniors<br />
back on the court this season.<br />
Although, it will likely be a pair<br />
of sophomores leading the charge<br />
for Cambridge.<br />
Guard Korynn Clason will return<br />
for her sophomore season after<br />
averaging 15 points a contest as a<br />
freshman, in addition to earning<br />
second team all-conference honors.<br />
Fellow sophomore guard Shaye<br />
Porter will also be an impact<br />
player for the Trojans, as will<br />
senior Kati Moore.<br />
Katelynn Benson and Baylee<br />
Miller, both of whom are seniors,<br />
will also see significant run come<br />
the start of the season.<br />
“We have a lot of people returning<br />
that have played, but some are<br />
going to be asked to pick up<br />
some pretty important roles this<br />
season,” Albers said. “I think we<br />
have the capability to be good, we<br />
just need to settle into a plan and<br />
people need to buy into what they<br />
are being asked to do.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Trojans<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 20-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Jarod Albers<br />
Career Record: 39-10<br />
On the heels of a 14-11<br />
campaign which featured<br />
a NSAA state tournament<br />
appearance and a five-game<br />
winning streak, the Southwest<br />
boy’s basketball squad will look<br />
to keep building momentum in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Under first-year head coach<br />
Christian Arterburn, the<br />
Roughriders return only four<br />
letterwinners and two seniors.<br />
“We have some big shoes to<br />
fill after graduating three big<br />
starters,” Arterburn said.<br />
There will be talent on the<br />
roster, however, as senior<br />
Logan Greenlee, who posted<br />
6.2 points and 1.3 steals a game<br />
last year will return at the guard<br />
position.<br />
Joining him will be fellow<br />
senior guard Derek Greenlee,<br />
who averaged 8.2 points a<br />
contest last year.<br />
Juniors Blake Williams and<br />
Dylan Hofman will also be<br />
impact players for Southwest<br />
come the start of the season.<br />
“We need to establish a game<br />
inside the paint,” Arterburn<br />
said of the keys to success<br />
this season. “We should be<br />
pretty quick and athletic. (But)<br />
defense will be the key to<br />
success this season.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Roughriders<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Christian Arterburn<br />
SOUTHWESTGIRLS<br />
The bad news for the Southwest<br />
girl’s basketball team is the 2016-<br />
17 season didn’t go as planned,<br />
as the Roughriders finished the<br />
campaign with a 6-15 record.<br />
The good news, however, is<br />
that invaluable experienced was<br />
gained, as seven letterwinners are<br />
expected to return for head coach<br />
Tersen Arnold.<br />
“After only losing one senior to<br />
graduation, we have almost our<br />
entire team returning,” Arnold<br />
said. “We will need to rely on<br />
that experience this season as we<br />
face a difficult schedule featuring<br />
a number of quality teams.”<br />
The Roughriders will be led by<br />
junior guard Nicole Dewey, who<br />
posted an impressive 10 points,<br />
10.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per<br />
game last year.<br />
Senior forwards Bailee Springer,<br />
who averaged 4.4 points a<br />
game last season, and Ashley<br />
Kragelund will also be key<br />
contributors.<br />
Senior Destiney Ebert, and<br />
juniors Cara Oltmer and Caitlyn<br />
Smith will also look to carve out<br />
significant roles for Southwest.<br />
“Offensively, shot selection and<br />
limiting turnovers will be key,”<br />
Arnold said. “Defensively, we<br />
need to keep our opponents first<br />
shot shooting percentage low<br />
while finishing possessions with<br />
rebounds.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Roughriders<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-15<br />
Head Coach: Tersen Arnold<br />
Career Record: 19-66<br />
84 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 85
DONIPHAN-TRUMBULLBOYS<br />
Coming off a season in which<br />
the Doniphan-Trumbull boy’s<br />
basketball squad posted the<br />
second best record in school<br />
history, expectations are high<br />
heading into the new campaign.<br />
Led by third-year head coach<br />
Kelan Buhr, the Cardinals will<br />
return nine letterwinners from<br />
last year’s team, including three<br />
starters. Senior Logan Schuldt<br />
will look to carry the bulk of the<br />
load after averaging 12.2 points,<br />
5.7 assists, and 2.4 steals a game<br />
as a junior.<br />
Senior Bret Jonson, a three-year<br />
starter who posted 10.7 points<br />
a game last year, and junior<br />
Triston Stephens will also be key<br />
contributors for the Cardinals this<br />
season.<br />
“We return a great deal of<br />
experience and depth at the guard<br />
position. We will feature some<br />
new faces in the post and once<br />
again look to play an exciting, uptempo<br />
style of basketball,” Buhr<br />
said. “However, our defensive<br />
mentality and ability to rebound<br />
the basketball will dictate how<br />
truly good this team can be.”<br />
The Cardinals open the season on<br />
Dec. 1 on the road against Blue<br />
Hill.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 17-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Kelan Buhr<br />
Career Record: 28-22<br />
TERRY M. CONNICK • CANDY DEMBOWSKI • MICHELLE KOCH<br />
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Office: 402.845.6568 • Fax: 402.845.4401<br />
FEBRUARY 9-25, 2018<br />
DONIPHAN-TRUMBULLGIRLS<br />
The Doniphan-Trumbull girl’s<br />
basketball squad is coming off<br />
an 8-14 season, and although<br />
the record doesn’t stand out,<br />
valuable experience was gained<br />
both on the sidelines and on the<br />
court.<br />
The Cardinals now enter year<br />
two under head coach Jeff<br />
Keasling, who spent the 2016-<br />
17 season getting his bearings at<br />
the head of the program.<br />
With six returning letterwinners<br />
due back this year, Doniphan-<br />
Trumbull will look to keep<br />
progressing and make some<br />
noise in Class C-2.<br />
A player to watch for the<br />
Cardinals is sophomore guard<br />
Katie Roach, who posted<br />
9 points and 4 assists as a<br />
freshman.<br />
Senior Zoe Ballard, as well<br />
as junior Bailey Williams will<br />
need to play significant roles for<br />
Keasling this season.<br />
Logan Poppe, Kalee Wiltfong,<br />
and Tristan Larsen will also see<br />
a lot of minutes in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
“We are a smaller team both in<br />
size and numbers. It is important<br />
for us to be extremely sound<br />
and disciplined defensively,”<br />
Keasling said. “Last season<br />
eight of our 14 losses were by<br />
single digits, with three of them<br />
coming at the buzzer. We have<br />
to figure out how to close those<br />
50/50 games out.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for the Cardinals on Dec. 1<br />
against Blue Hill.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-14<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Keasling<br />
Career Record: 8-14<br />
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FEBRUARY 4, 2018<br />
86 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 87
CENTENNIALBOYS<br />
SOUTHERN VALLEYBOYS<br />
For most teams, repeating the<br />
success of a 22-4 campaign can<br />
be difficult. However, that is<br />
exactly what head coach Cam<br />
Scholl and the Centennial boy’s<br />
basketball squad will attempt to<br />
do during the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season.<br />
The Broncos impressed last<br />
year, dominating the regular<br />
season in Class C-2 before<br />
falling to Ponca in the NSAA<br />
state playoffs.<br />
But with seven letterwinners<br />
returning, Centennial has a<br />
unique opportunity to put<br />
together another impressive<br />
campaign.<br />
“We will need to develop<br />
some depth at the start of the<br />
season,” Scholl said. “Our goal<br />
is to win our next game and be<br />
playing our best at the end of the<br />
season.”<br />
The Broncos will be led by<br />
junior guard Jack Hirschfeld,<br />
who is coming off an all-state<br />
selection after averaging 18<br />
points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists<br />
last season.<br />
Senior forward Heath<br />
Haberman, junior guard Wyatt<br />
Ehlers, and sophomore forward<br />
Joel Bargen will also return to<br />
the court for the Broncos as<br />
impact players.<br />
Centennial will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 when they battle<br />
David City.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 22-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Cam Scholl<br />
Career Record: 51-41<br />
The Southern Valley boy’s<br />
basketball squad is coming off<br />
a solid 2016-17 season, which<br />
featured the Eagles finishing<br />
14-11 under head coach Tylor<br />
Fincher, who owns a 75-42<br />
career coaching record.<br />
However, with a new campaign<br />
ready to begin, Southern Valley<br />
is preparing to do some damage<br />
in Class C-2, and push into the<br />
NSAA state tournament.<br />
To reach that goal, the Eagles<br />
will have to rely heavily on<br />
senior guard Chaston Burgeson.<br />
Complimenting Burgeson on the<br />
court will be senior post player<br />
Kade Bose, who was able to turn<br />
some heads as a junior last year.<br />
Billie Paine, Ryder Lewis, Gabe<br />
Haase, and Jaden Quinn will<br />
also look to contribute once the<br />
season gets underway for the<br />
Eagles.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Tylor Fincher<br />
Career Record: 75-42<br />
CENTENNIALGIRLS<br />
SOUTHERN VALLEYGIRLS<br />
For the Centennial girl’s basketball<br />
squad, growing pains are expected<br />
during the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season.<br />
The Broncos are coming off a<br />
7-17 campaign, which featured a<br />
mid-season coaching change as<br />
head coach Jake Polk took over<br />
with 13 games remaining.<br />
Now, Polk will enter his first<br />
full year at the helm, but will<br />
do so with a very inexperienced<br />
roster that contains six returning<br />
letterwinners and only one senior.<br />
“I believe that in order for us<br />
to have a successful season, we<br />
need to expedite the development<br />
of our youthful team,” Polk said.<br />
“With only one senior on the<br />
roster, we will need to have some<br />
young players kick in a lot of<br />
minutes this year.”<br />
One of those players will be<br />
sophomore Kaitlyn Fehlhafer,<br />
who averaged 4.7 points, 5.4<br />
rebounds, and recorded 37 blocks<br />
as a freshman.<br />
Junior guard Brooklyn Gierhan,<br />
who averaged 9.4 points and 5.1<br />
rebounds last year, as well as<br />
sophomore Hunter Hartshorn, will<br />
also see significant playing time.<br />
“I’m excited about the group<br />
we have coming back and I’m<br />
grateful that I’m being given<br />
the opportunity to lead the girls<br />
basketball program,” Polk said.<br />
“At the end of the year, we want<br />
to be playing our best basketball<br />
so that we can give our best shot<br />
to whomever we play in subdistricts<br />
and take it one game at a<br />
time from there.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Jake Polk<br />
Career Record: 4-9<br />
The 2016-17 season brought a<br />
lot of success for the Southern<br />
Valley girl’s basketball team,<br />
as the group went 14-10 before<br />
a 52-40 loss in the district<br />
tournament.<br />
And although head coach Jeff<br />
Ellis has five letterwinners<br />
returning on the heels of a<br />
successful campaign, he said that<br />
leadership will define the Eagles<br />
this season.<br />
“With this group, we need to<br />
develop leadership both on and<br />
off the court,” Ellis said. “That<br />
leadership needs to help build<br />
positive relationships between<br />
our upper and lower classmen.”<br />
Ellis will likely look to a trio of<br />
seniors to lead, as forwards Cassi<br />
Bose, Becca Lennemann, and<br />
Halle Linner will all return to the<br />
court.<br />
Bose is the leading returning<br />
scorer after averaging 13 points a<br />
game last year.<br />
“Offensively, we need girls to<br />
step up in new roles and be able<br />
to contribute on a consistent<br />
level,” Ellis added. “Defensively,<br />
we need to be able to apply<br />
pressure both in the front court<br />
and the half court, depending on<br />
the situation.”<br />
Southern Valley will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 when they<br />
travel to Minden.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Ellis<br />
Career Record: 75-109<br />
88 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 89
CENTURABOYS<br />
The Centura boy’s basketball<br />
squad finished the 2016-17<br />
campaign with a 13-11 record,<br />
marking a special occurrence<br />
for the Centurions — it was the<br />
first time in 14 years the program<br />
finished with a winning record in<br />
back-to-back seasons.<br />
Now, with a new season<br />
approaching, head coach Dave<br />
Oman will look to keep building<br />
momentum and do some damage<br />
in Class C-2.<br />
Eight letterwinners return for<br />
Centura, including three seniors.<br />
Forward Dawson Caspersen will<br />
lead the charge, after posting<br />
11.3 points and 7 rebounds a<br />
game last year, while earning an<br />
all-conference selection.<br />
Oman will also look for big<br />
things out of junior guard<br />
Ben Oman, who posted 10.3<br />
points and 4.9 rebounds as a<br />
sophomore.<br />
Junior Joe Carey, and seniors<br />
Willy Packer and Payton Dowse<br />
will also play major roles as the<br />
season progresses.<br />
“We have four starters that are<br />
returning, and if we can stay<br />
healthy and out of foul trouble,<br />
we could have a really nice<br />
year,” Oman said. “For us to<br />
be really successful we need to<br />
improve defensively, become<br />
better rebounders, play hard, and<br />
of course, play together.”<br />
Centura will open the season on<br />
Dec.1 against Sandy Creek.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Centurions<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Dave Oman<br />
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HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
CENTURAGIRLS<br />
Although the Centura girl’s<br />
basketball team finished 7-17<br />
last year, the Centurions have<br />
a good chance of having a<br />
bounce-back season in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Under head coach Jeff Thober,<br />
Centura will return four starters<br />
to the hardwood, including<br />
senior post player Emily<br />
Krolikowski.<br />
Krolikowski averaged an<br />
impressive 15.3 points and 7.3<br />
rebounds a game last year.<br />
Also contributing on the court<br />
alongside Krolikowski will be a<br />
trio of guards – Sam Simdorn,<br />
Kaliegh Johnson, and Brooklyn<br />
Hostetler.<br />
Freshman Morgan Semm is also<br />
expected to make an impact<br />
in her first year on the varsity<br />
roster.<br />
“We will be a much improved<br />
team from last season,” Thober<br />
said. “Our team has a nice mix<br />
of upperclassmen as well as<br />
young players that will all help<br />
contribute to our success.”<br />
Centura will tip off the season<br />
on Dec. 1 against Sandy Creek.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
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Team Name: Centurions<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Thober<br />
90 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 91
DILLER-ODELLBOYS<br />
ON THE GO<br />
The 2016-17 season didn’t go<br />
as planned for the Diller-Odell<br />
boy’s basketball team, as the<br />
group finished 10-15 under<br />
head coach Eric McMurray.<br />
But a new campaign brings a<br />
clean slate, and the Griffins<br />
will look to make some noise in<br />
Class C-2 come late November.<br />
However, Diller-Odell will<br />
have to achieve its goals with a<br />
relatively inexperienced roster,<br />
with only five letterwinners<br />
expected back on the court.<br />
Peyton Mohr will look to play a<br />
significant role for the Griffins<br />
this season, as will Shane<br />
Sutton. Both Sutton and Mohr<br />
will be seniors this year.<br />
In addition, juniors William<br />
McLaughlin, Bryston Warren,<br />
and Ryan Arnold will see plenty<br />
of action once the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign gets underway.<br />
“We need to develop consistent<br />
scoring,” McMurray said. “I<br />
feel we have four or five guys<br />
that can score in double figures<br />
on any given night. We cannot<br />
depend on one or two people to<br />
do our scoring.”<br />
Diller-Odell will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 against<br />
Pawnee City.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Griffins<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-15<br />
Head Coach: Eric McMurray<br />
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DILLER-ODELLGIRLS<br />
The Diller-Odell girl’s basketball<br />
team will have some added<br />
motivation in <strong>2017</strong>-18, as the<br />
Class C-2 runners-up came<br />
within nine points of winning a<br />
state championship last season.<br />
However, the upcoming campaign<br />
will feature a new-look Griffins<br />
team, as five senior starters<br />
graduated. Although the group will<br />
be youthful, head coach John Mohr<br />
has still set expectations high.<br />
“I do not consider this to be a total<br />
rebuilding year,” Mohr said. “Three<br />
letterwinners return, along with<br />
a good nucleus of young players,<br />
which will mostly make-up the<br />
sophomore and freshman classes.”<br />
Mohr added he expects big things<br />
out of junior Kirsten Bures, as<br />
well as senior Hayley Denner.<br />
Mackenzie Vitosh, Camaryn<br />
Gydesen, Emily Swanson, and<br />
Haley Jones will also look to<br />
carve out significant roles come<br />
the start of the season.<br />
“I feel that we may be strongest<br />
inside the paint to begin the<br />
season, with veterans such as<br />
Denner and Vitosh the potential<br />
starters,” Mohr said. “I believe<br />
that if we can find some<br />
consistent guard play that we<br />
may be formidable by the second<br />
half of the upcoming season.”<br />
“As usual, our schedule has<br />
many tough challenges,” Mohr<br />
added. “Like last year we hope<br />
to be playing sound, fundamental<br />
basketball by the time mid-<br />
February rolls around.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Griffins<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 22-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: John Mohr<br />
Career Record: 166-152<br />
92 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 93
CROSS COUNTYBOYS<br />
An impressive 19-7 campaign<br />
ended in heartbreak for the Cross<br />
County boy’s basketball squad<br />
last season, as the group fell by<br />
two points in the first round of<br />
the playoffs.<br />
The Cougars, led by head coach<br />
Dan Conway, will look to push<br />
even further this year, but will<br />
have to do it with a new-look<br />
roster.<br />
“With seven seniors graduating<br />
last year, we will have a lot of<br />
inexperienced players,” Conway<br />
said. “We worked extremely hard<br />
in the off season and showed a<br />
lot of progress throughout the<br />
summer.”<br />
With only three letterwinners<br />
expected on the roster, one<br />
familiar face will be returning<br />
point guard Colton Beebe, who<br />
posted an impressive 12 points,<br />
4.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds a<br />
game last year.<br />
He will be joined by fellow<br />
seniors Kalin Gabriel and Lane<br />
Kelley, rounding out the senior<br />
class for the Cougars.<br />
“We need guys to continue to<br />
step into new roles as leaders,<br />
scorers, and defenders,”<br />
Conway added. “Our size is also<br />
somewhat limited, so we will<br />
have to play bigger than we are.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
on Nov. 30 when Cross County<br />
hosts McCool Junction.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cougars<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-7<br />
Head Coach: Dan Conway<br />
Career Record: 78-67<br />
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CROSS COUNTYGIRLS<br />
The Cross County girl’s<br />
basketball squad will have a<br />
new look to it during the <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18 campaign, as only four<br />
letterwinners return for the<br />
Cougars this season.<br />
Under head coach Mitch Boshart,<br />
the group will look to gain<br />
familiarity with one another<br />
quickly, and make some noise in<br />
Class C-2.<br />
“To be successful this season we<br />
will have to fill roles and adjust<br />
to a new group on the court<br />
playing with each other,” Boshart<br />
said. “We lost a majority of our<br />
points, rebounds, and minutes<br />
played due to graduation, so we<br />
will find out early who wants to<br />
step up and fill spots.”<br />
The Cougars will likely rely<br />
heavily on senior guard Lexi<br />
Eller, who averaged 6 points and<br />
3.7 rebounds a game last year.<br />
In addition, Mackinzie Cole,<br />
Sam Theis, and Emily Noyd will<br />
play significant roles for Cross<br />
County.<br />
“Even though we aren’t returning<br />
very much in the form of<br />
minutes, we have some girls that<br />
have been in the system for the<br />
last two years, and we also had<br />
some freshmen and sophomores<br />
step up this summer and showed<br />
us that they can play,” Boshart<br />
added. “Our schedule, both in<br />
and out of conference, is loaded<br />
with great competition, so we<br />
will have to be prepared for<br />
tough ballgames night in and<br />
night out.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cougars<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Mitch Boshart<br />
Career Record: 15-27<br />
FEBRUARY 9-25, 2018<br />
94 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 95
HUMBOLDT-TABLE ROCK-STEINAUERBOYS<br />
SOUTHERNBOYS<br />
Coming off a 9-14 campaign,<br />
the key word for the Humboldt-<br />
Table Rock-Steinauer boy’s<br />
basketball squad this season will<br />
be leadership.<br />
It all starts with head coach Taylor<br />
Dunekacke, who will be entering<br />
his first year at the helm of the<br />
program.<br />
In addition, with only four<br />
letterwinners returning, leadership<br />
roles will have to be filled by<br />
athletes on the Titans squad if<br />
the group plans on making some<br />
noise come early December.<br />
“We will need someone to step<br />
up and take a leadership role,”<br />
Dunekacke said. “We will have a<br />
lot of guys playing varsity for the<br />
first time.”<br />
HTRS will rely heavily on junior<br />
guard Hunter Hain Jr, who posted<br />
7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds a<br />
game last season.<br />
In addition, senior forward Hunter<br />
Sherman, who averaged 6.2 points<br />
and 6.4 rebounds as a junior, and<br />
Connor Bredemeier Jr. will look<br />
to play keys roles.<br />
“If these guys can adjust quickly,<br />
we can be successful,” Dunekacke<br />
added. “We will need to improve<br />
our defense and limit our<br />
turnovers.”<br />
The season tips off for the Titans<br />
on Dec. 1 against Diller-Odell.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Taylor Dunekacke<br />
The Southern boy’s basketball<br />
team showed growth during the<br />
2016-17 campaign, finishing<br />
the year with a 13-12 record<br />
after starting 3-6.<br />
Under head coach Zack<br />
Emerson, the Raiders will look<br />
to continue building momentum<br />
within the program in <strong>2017</strong>-18,<br />
but will have to do so with a<br />
fairly young squad.<br />
Only two seniors, guard Dalton<br />
Traunericht and forward Trevin<br />
Saathoff, will return to the<br />
hardcourt this season.<br />
This means Southern will have<br />
to rely on a pair of juniors,<br />
Drake Adams and Nick Lyons,<br />
to shoulder some of the load.<br />
In addition, sophomores Nic<br />
Zito and Braden Klover will<br />
have to step into bigger roles<br />
once the season gets underway.<br />
When asked what the keys to a<br />
successful season are, Emerson<br />
laid out his recipe for success.<br />
“Building off of last year’s<br />
success, younger players taking<br />
the next step, and leadership,”<br />
Emerson said.<br />
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Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-12<br />
Head Coach: Zack Emerson<br />
Career Record: 27-42<br />
HUMBOLDT-TABLE ROCK-STEINAUERGIRLS<br />
SOUTHERNGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season didn’t<br />
produce much in the way of<br />
wins for the Humboldt-Table<br />
Rock-Steinauer girl’s basketball<br />
squad, as the Titans finished the<br />
campaign 4-18.<br />
However, last year did provide<br />
a young team some valuable<br />
experience, which is a benefit for<br />
first-year head coach Trent Platt.<br />
If HTRS hopes to make some<br />
noise in Class C-2 this season,<br />
a group of seniors will have to<br />
contribute.<br />
Platt will be looking toward<br />
Amber Blank, Rebecca Watson,<br />
Camille Svoboda, and Bre<br />
Reyes to provide some veteran<br />
leadership for the Titans this<br />
season.<br />
Juniors Bella Vasco and Matilyn<br />
Stalder, as well as sophomore<br />
Carissa Allen, will play key roles<br />
as well.<br />
“The key to our success is<br />
going to be how good the girls<br />
want to be,” Platt said. “We<br />
had a great summer, playing<br />
almost 30 games. We have our<br />
top scorers back that can shoot<br />
from everywhere. Defense and<br />
rebounding is always important<br />
for success, and we have the girls<br />
to do that.”<br />
The Titans open the season on<br />
Dec. 1 against Diller-Odell.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 4-18<br />
Head Coach: Trent Platt<br />
Career Record: 4-18<br />
Fresh off an 11-13 season, the<br />
Southern girl’s basketball team<br />
will look to continue taking steps<br />
in the right direction in Class C-2<br />
this year.<br />
The Raiders will be led by head<br />
coach Jeff Murphy, and will<br />
have eight letterwinners and one<br />
senior returning to the court in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Leading that group will be junior<br />
forward Maria Murphy, who<br />
averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds<br />
a contest as a sophomore.<br />
Junior guard Jayme Ullman will<br />
also be a player to watch after<br />
posting 4 points and 3 rebounds a<br />
game, while racking up a total of<br />
31 steals last season.<br />
Fellow junior Shelbe Rainey, and<br />
sophomores Claire Hookstra,<br />
Allee Jo Wieden, and Kambree<br />
Singleton will also look to play<br />
significant roles for the Raiders<br />
this year.<br />
“We will need to score in<br />
transition and push the tempo<br />
as we are not great scorers from<br />
the outside,” Murphy said.<br />
“Utilizing post play will be a<br />
key factor. Pressure defense to<br />
keep the score down will also be<br />
something we must do. We have<br />
depth and we hope to use that to<br />
our advantage.”<br />
The season will get underway on<br />
Dec. 1 against Palmyra.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-13<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Murphy<br />
96 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 97
NELIGH-OAKDALEBOYS<br />
The good news for the Neligh-<br />
Oakdale boys basketball squad<br />
is it is coming off an outstanding<br />
2016-17 season, in which the<br />
Warriors finished 26-4 and<br />
runner up at the NSAA state<br />
tournament.<br />
The bad news, however, is<br />
only three letterwinners return<br />
for head coach Frank Gade,<br />
meaning Neligh-Oakdale will<br />
have to regroup for the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign.<br />
The Warriors will look to two<br />
youngsters to carry the load, as<br />
power forward Austin Rice and<br />
point guard Cole Belitz will be<br />
relied on heavily by Gade.<br />
“(The keys to a successful<br />
season) are carrying success<br />
forward and stepping into new<br />
roles,” Gade said. “Building<br />
throughout the year will be<br />
crucial.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 26-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Frank Gade<br />
Career Record: 81-89<br />
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WEST HOLTBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 season was an<br />
impressive one for the West<br />
Holt boy’s basketball squad, as<br />
the group went 16-10 before<br />
falling in the second round of<br />
subdistricts.<br />
The Huskies are back this<br />
season under the leadership<br />
of tenured head coach Todd<br />
Hale, and will have plenty of<br />
depth to draw from with 10<br />
letterwinners returning to the<br />
court.<br />
The veteran group will be led<br />
by senior point guard Bryce<br />
Kerkman, who posted 16.8 points<br />
per game last season.<br />
Shooting guard Mason Hale, who<br />
averaged 13.3 points a game, and<br />
small forward Shayden Neptune<br />
will also be major contributors.<br />
Kooper Jelinek, Dylan Wieneke,<br />
and Blake Hilkemeier will also<br />
look to carve out significant<br />
roles.<br />
“We hope to be healthy at the<br />
start of the season and have a<br />
good start,” Hale said. “The<br />
majority of our C-1 and C-2<br />
games are early in the year. I<br />
think balance will be a key with<br />
this year’s team.”<br />
West Holt will open the season<br />
on Dec. 1 on the road against<br />
Creighton.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Todd Hale<br />
Career Record: 151-193<br />
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WEST HOLTGIRLS<br />
The West Holt girl’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off an impressive<br />
2016-17 season, finishing with<br />
a 16-8 record and losing in the<br />
district final to Crofton.<br />
Entering a new campaign,<br />
expectations are high under head<br />
coach Mike Pardun, as plenty of<br />
experience is set to return to the<br />
court.<br />
Nine letterwinners will be back<br />
on the roster for the Huskies,<br />
including senior guard Bailey<br />
Kraus and senior forward Jenae<br />
Osborne.<br />
Junior forward Carlie Wetzel will<br />
also play a significant role for<br />
West Holt come early December.<br />
“We return a lot of experience<br />
and chemistry,” Pardun said. “We<br />
will need to develop consistency<br />
on the offensive end. We play<br />
in a very tough Niobrara Valley<br />
Conference where we will need<br />
to compete at a high level every<br />
night.”<br />
The season gets underway for the<br />
Huskies on Dec. 1 on the road<br />
against Creighton.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Mike Pardun<br />
100 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 101
NEBRASKA CHRISTIANBOYS<br />
The Nebraska Christian boy’s<br />
basketball squad has one major<br />
advantage working in its favor as<br />
the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season approaches –<br />
familiarity.<br />
Last season, the Eagles managed to<br />
go 11-12 with only one senior on<br />
the roster and a new head coach.<br />
Now, the group returns eight<br />
letterwinners, and head coach<br />
Paul McHargue has a year of<br />
experience under his belt at the<br />
helm of the program.<br />
The success of Nebraska<br />
Christian and the team’s ability<br />
to make some noise in Class C-2<br />
will largely depend on the play of<br />
a pair of seniors.<br />
Guard Ben Griess, as well as<br />
Brennan Nokelby, will be key<br />
players for the Eagles and Coach<br />
McHargue.<br />
“Last year we were a young team<br />
with only one senior and me as<br />
a first year coach, so now this<br />
year we have a very solid group<br />
of seniors with experience so I<br />
am looking forward to this year<br />
as I think we can do well in our<br />
conference,” McHargue said.<br />
“Also this is an incredible group<br />
of young men to coach and I get<br />
the joy of working with them.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 0<br />
Head Coach: Paul McHargue<br />
Career Record: 11-12<br />
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NEBRASKA CHRISTIANGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season was a<br />
successful one for the Nebraska<br />
Christian girl’s basketball team, as<br />
the Eagles finished 15-7 under first<br />
year head coach Erin Mankin.<br />
Now, in her second year at the helm<br />
of the program, Mankin expects big<br />
things out of her squad this year,<br />
with a core group of experienced<br />
players returning to the court.<br />
Leading the charge will be senior<br />
guard Claire Ostrand, who has<br />
started for the Eagles for the<br />
past three years, and averaged<br />
13.4 points a contest last season.<br />
She also received first team allconference<br />
honors.<br />
Another athlete to watch this<br />
season is senior guard Corryn<br />
Falk, who has two years of starting<br />
experience and averaged 8.6 points<br />
and 6 rebounds a game as a junior.<br />
Juniors Adrienne Falk and Carsyn<br />
Ostrand will also be impact players<br />
for the Eagles once the season tips<br />
off.<br />
“I am excited for this season. We<br />
have the opportunity to coach<br />
a bunch of great girls. They are<br />
very competitive and athletic<br />
and will be coming off a very<br />
successful volleyball season,”<br />
Mankin said. “They are a group<br />
of girls that work hard and<br />
enjoy playing with each other.<br />
We will look to get better every<br />
game this year. We will look to<br />
play hard and smart every game<br />
and practice. Most importantly<br />
we will look to grow in Jesus<br />
Christ as coaches and players<br />
and honor Him in our efforts and<br />
performances.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-7<br />
Head Coach: Erin Mankin<br />
FEBRUARY 4, 2018<br />
102 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 103
RAVENNABOYS<br />
While a 7-15 season may not<br />
seem overly impressive, the<br />
Ravenna boy’s basketball squad<br />
made huge strides during the<br />
2016-17 season after winning<br />
only one game the year before.<br />
With seven letterwinners and<br />
two seniors back on the roster<br />
for head coach James Habe, the<br />
Bluejays will look to continue<br />
their momentum in <strong>2017</strong>-18 and<br />
make their presence felt in Class<br />
C-2.<br />
The group will be led by<br />
impressive senior center Josh<br />
Bauer, who posted 15.9 points<br />
and 12.1 rebounds a contest last<br />
season.<br />
Joining Bauer on the hardwood<br />
will be sophomore guard Jake<br />
Jarzynka, who averaged 9.1<br />
points a contest, and junior<br />
guard Caleb Mundorf.<br />
Senior Kade Lockhorn, Kooper<br />
Schirmer, Jaden Lewandowski,<br />
and Markel Miigerl will all<br />
look to play big roles for the<br />
Bluejays.<br />
“We will need to become more<br />
consistent shooters,” Habe said.<br />
“We will also need to play at a<br />
fast tempo and allow our defense<br />
to help create offense for us.”<br />
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Team Name: Bluejays<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 26<br />
Head Coach: James Habe<br />
Career Record: 42-89<br />
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RAVENNAGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season was an<br />
impressive one for the Ravenna<br />
girl’s basketball squad, as the<br />
Bluejays finished the year<br />
with a 23-5 record and a third<br />
place finish at the NSAA state<br />
tournament. A solid year is again<br />
expected under head coach Noah<br />
Maulsby.<br />
Leading that group will be junior<br />
point guard Jordyn Fiddelke, who<br />
posted 16.1 points and 3.4 steals<br />
a game last year on her way to a<br />
second team all-state selection.<br />
Senior Brooklyn Fiddelke will<br />
also be a key piece to the Bluejay<br />
roster, after averaging 9.6 points<br />
a contest as a junior.<br />
Junior Mckenna Schmidt<br />
and senior Megan Miigerl,<br />
who earned second team allconference<br />
honors last year, will<br />
also play significant roles for<br />
Maulsby.<br />
But even with a strong core<br />
returning, Maulsby said it is<br />
likely the younger, up-andcoming<br />
athletes will determine<br />
how far Ravenna can go.<br />
“Bringing back four starters<br />
should make us competitive, but<br />
it will be key for some of our<br />
underclassmen and newcomers to<br />
provide depth,” he said. “It will<br />
be important for us to bring some<br />
of our young post players along<br />
because we are undersized, but I<br />
see a lot of potential. We have a<br />
good core group of players that<br />
have worked hard. The season<br />
should be a fun one as long as<br />
we can stay healthy and learn to<br />
settle into our roles.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bluejays<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 23-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Noah Maulsby<br />
Career Record: 85-42<br />
104 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 105
SHELBY-RISING CITYBOYS<br />
If the Shelby-Rising City boy’s<br />
basketball squad has hopes to<br />
improve on a 7-16 season, their<br />
head coach knows exactly what<br />
areas his team will need to excel.<br />
“We aren’t a very big team,<br />
so we will have to rely on our<br />
speed and quickness,” Shelby-<br />
Rising City Head Coach Grant<br />
Gabel said. “We will try multiple<br />
things defensively to create easy<br />
transition buckets.”<br />
The Huskies will also need a<br />
number of young athletes to fill<br />
big roles, as only five returning<br />
letterwinners and one senior are<br />
expected back on the roster.<br />
Leading the charge will be<br />
junior guard Austin Coffin, who<br />
posted 10.6 points a contest his<br />
sophomore season.<br />
Complimenting Coffin on the<br />
court will be senior Brendon<br />
Johnston, who averaged 5.7<br />
points a game last year, as well<br />
as junior Max Hoatson.<br />
And keep an eye on sophomore<br />
Jett Pinneo, who could be poised<br />
for a breakout season after a solid<br />
freshman campaign.<br />
“We could have a very successful<br />
year if we get off to a good<br />
start and keep getting better<br />
defensively,” Gabel said. “Our<br />
younger kids will need to become<br />
consistent shooters and improve<br />
as a team each game.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-16<br />
Head Coach: Grant Gabel<br />
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SHELBY-RISING CITYGIRLS<br />
After a 2-6 start to the 2016-17<br />
campaign, the Shelby-Rising<br />
City girl’s basketball team<br />
rallied to finish 11-12, falling to<br />
Centennial in the C2-8 district<br />
tournament to close the season.<br />
Entering a new year, head<br />
coach Turner Trofholz is hoping<br />
that momentum can continue,<br />
and will rely on five returning<br />
letterwinners and four seniors to<br />
make it happen.<br />
The Huskies will be led by<br />
senior center Sydney Adams,<br />
who averaged an impressive 14.1<br />
points and 6.5 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
Point guard Emily Neujahr will<br />
also be an impact player, after<br />
averaging 6.5 points a contest her<br />
junior season.<br />
Clare Kohl, Kamryn Pokorney,<br />
and transfer Cassie Carraway<br />
will have significant roles, as<br />
well.<br />
“We are going to have to shoot<br />
the ball well this season to try<br />
and open the floor up to prevent<br />
teams from setting up zone<br />
defense,” Trofholz said. “We will<br />
need some young players to step<br />
up to help on all levels. We need<br />
seniors to be leaders and accept<br />
their roles.”<br />
The Huskies open the season on<br />
Dec. 1 against Cross County.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Turner Trofholz<br />
Career Record: 75-68<br />
106 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 107
HASTINGS ST. CECILIABOYS<br />
Success is nothing new for<br />
the Hastings St. Cecilia boy’s<br />
basketball squad, and the 2016-<br />
17 campaign was no different.<br />
The Bluehawks finished the<br />
season with a 22-6 record and a<br />
third place finish at the NSAA<br />
state tournament under tenured<br />
head coach Kevin Asher.<br />
As a new season approaches, the<br />
Bluehawks will look to stay on<br />
the winning track, and are in a<br />
position to do just that with eight<br />
letterwinners and six seniors set<br />
to return.<br />
Asher will rely heavily on senior<br />
center Blane Boyd, who averaged<br />
13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds his<br />
junior season.<br />
Senior point guard Trey Asher,<br />
who posted 7.2 points a contest<br />
last year, and guard Grant Farmer<br />
will also be key contributors for<br />
the Bluehawks this season.<br />
Seniors Myles Furman, Joe<br />
Carey, and Chris Weidt will play<br />
large roles, as well, come late<br />
November.<br />
When asked what the keys to<br />
another impressive season are,<br />
Asher laid out his recipe for<br />
success.<br />
“How we defend, can we get<br />
multiple stops,” Asher said.<br />
“Being able to finish and win<br />
close games, and developing post<br />
depth.”<br />
The Bluehawks will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 against<br />
Scotus.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bluehawks<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 22-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 22<br />
Head Coach: Kevin Asher<br />
Career Record: 398-168<br />
FEBRUARY 4, 2018<br />
FEBRUARY 9-25, 2018<br />
HASTINGS ST. CECILIAGIRLS<br />
The Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
girl’s basketball squad had an<br />
impressive showing during the<br />
2016-17 season, finishing 17-7<br />
under first-year head coach Greg<br />
Berndt.<br />
Now in his second year, Berndt<br />
and the Hawkettes will look to<br />
push all the way to the NSAA<br />
state championship, and keep<br />
building momentum with three<br />
starters expected back on the<br />
court.<br />
Hastings St. Cecilia will welcome<br />
back senior guard Kameron<br />
Kissinger, as well as juniors Lexi<br />
Vertin and Gracie Daly, all of<br />
whom have starting experience.<br />
In addition, juniors Kate Landgren<br />
and Lauren Parr, and sophomores<br />
Makenna Asher, Tori Thomas, and<br />
Chloe McCauley are all expected<br />
to do big things this season.<br />
However, even with some<br />
experience back on the roster,<br />
Berndt said some young athletes<br />
will have to fill big roles if the<br />
Hawkettes plan to navigate a<br />
challenging schedule.<br />
“We still have a young roster, but<br />
one that is talented and has state<br />
tournament experience,” Berndt<br />
said. “A good core is back to<br />
take on leadership roles, which<br />
is key with a tough schedule<br />
and conference. A challenging<br />
schedule will help prepare us for<br />
district play, and as our young<br />
team adapts to varsity action, the<br />
sky is the limit for this group in<br />
C-2.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Hawkettes<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 17-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Greg Berndt<br />
Career Record: 17-7<br />
CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEADER<br />
108 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 109
SUTTONBOYS<br />
PROPANE - GAS - DIESEL - FERTILIZER - GRAIN - FLATBED HAULING<br />
The Sutton boy’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off a solid 2016-<br />
17 season, which featured a 15-8<br />
record and the Mustangs winning<br />
10 of their final 13 games.<br />
Under head coach Jon Ladenhoff,<br />
Sutton will look to keep building<br />
momentum in the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign.<br />
The group will be led by three<br />
returning starters, including<br />
senior guard Nathan Hohensee,<br />
who posted 7.8 points and 2.4<br />
assists a game last year.<br />
Junior forward Seth George,<br />
who averaged 7.8 points and 5.1<br />
rebounds his sophomore season,<br />
will be a player to watch, as well.<br />
Senior forward Casey Van Kirk<br />
also brings starting experience<br />
to the roster, and Samuel Nuss,<br />
Jordan Davis, and Garrett Nuss<br />
will be asked to play substantial<br />
minutes.<br />
“We have a good mix of seniors<br />
and juniors who have worked<br />
well together over the past two<br />
years,” Ladenhoff said. “They<br />
work extremely hard and have<br />
put in a lot of time to get better.<br />
We have a tough schedule, and<br />
we hope to be competitive as we<br />
go throughout the season.”<br />
The season will get underway for<br />
Sutton on Dec. 1 against Friend.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 29<br />
Head Coach: Jon Ladehoff<br />
Career Record: 15-8<br />
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SUTTONGIRLS<br />
Fresh off a 12-12 season, the<br />
Sutton girl’s basketball squad<br />
will have to gain familiarity with<br />
each other quickly if they plan on<br />
being competitive in Class C-2.<br />
The Mustangs will not only be<br />
young in <strong>2017</strong>-18, featuring just<br />
one senior on the roster, but there<br />
will also be a new face on the<br />
sideline.<br />
Kyle Bottom takes over the<br />
head coaching responsibilities<br />
for Sutton, and will have to rely<br />
heavily on a large junior class to<br />
be successful.<br />
Players from that junior class to<br />
keep an eye on include Maddie<br />
Nuss, Natalie Dunn, Lacey<br />
Freking, Logan Majors, and<br />
Abby Osterhaus.<br />
Lone senior Alyssa Schurman<br />
will also be an impact player for<br />
the Mustangs come the start of<br />
the season.<br />
“The key to a successful season<br />
will be blending personalities<br />
and skill sets in a short amount<br />
of time,” Bottom said. “With<br />
only one senior and an all<br />
new coaching staff, it will be<br />
important for us to adapt quickly<br />
to playing together as a cohesive<br />
group. This summer served as<br />
a step in the right direction, but<br />
the first few weeks of the season<br />
will be vital in continuing that<br />
transition.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Kyle Bottom<br />
110 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 111
WOOD RIVERBOYS<br />
411 Walnut Street • Wood River, NE<br />
308.583.2875<br />
The Wood River boy’s basketball<br />
team is coming off a difficult<br />
2016-17 season, which saw the<br />
Eagles go 2-18.<br />
But a new campaign brings a<br />
fresh start for Wood River and<br />
second year head coach Joel<br />
Stryker.<br />
Seven returning letterwinners<br />
will be back on the court this<br />
season, including junior Tanner<br />
Hermann, who posted 9.8 points<br />
and 4.5 rebounds per game from<br />
the guard position last year.<br />
Senior Cade Ludwig, who<br />
averaged 6.8 points and 4.6<br />
rebounds per contest, and<br />
sophomore Ty Swanson will also<br />
play vital roles for the Eagles.<br />
Senior Jimmy Rojas, junior Jose<br />
Trejo, and junior Grant Gannon<br />
will also see plenty of court time<br />
for Wood River.<br />
“The keys to this season for us is<br />
our commitment to the defensive<br />
end. Our defensive numbers<br />
have to improve,” Stryker said.<br />
“As the kids enter their second<br />
year in a new system, I expect<br />
our guys to push tempo knowing<br />
what they can and can’t do in our<br />
offense. The biggest key for us<br />
is playing at a high intensity and<br />
attack everything.”<br />
Wood River will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 against Sandy Creek.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 2-18<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Joel Stryker<br />
Career Record: 2-18<br />
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WOOD RIVERGIRLS<br />
Coming off an 11-11 season that<br />
featured positive growth for the<br />
Wood River girl’s basketball<br />
squad, the Eagles will look<br />
to keep moving in the right<br />
direction in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Under the direction of Phillip<br />
Smith, who owns a 28-41 record<br />
at the helm of the program,<br />
Wood River will return eight<br />
letterwinners to the court, as<br />
well as a core of seniors.<br />
Three seniors are due back<br />
on the roster, as Elle Luehr,<br />
MaKenzie Peters, and Kiley<br />
Codner will all take leadership<br />
roles come the start of the<br />
season.<br />
A few younger athletes will<br />
also look to make an impact,<br />
including juniors Ainsley<br />
Stewart, Cydnee Huxtable, and<br />
Joci Rauert.<br />
“Ball control, limiting<br />
turnovers while playing fast<br />
and having our speed turn into<br />
turnovers on defense (are the<br />
keys to success),” Smith said.<br />
“Teamwork, blending of all<br />
ages, pushing for a common<br />
goal, and not an individual goal.<br />
Keep improving on knowledge<br />
of the game, and development of<br />
young guards will also be key.”<br />
The season will start for Wood<br />
River on Nov. 21 against<br />
Lexington.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Phillip Smith<br />
Career Record: 28-41<br />
112 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 113
ALMABOYS<br />
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As the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign<br />
approaches, the Alma boy’s<br />
basketball team will be looking<br />
to carry its momentum over from<br />
last season.<br />
The Cardinals finished the<br />
regular season at an 18-6 mark<br />
under veteran head coach Mike<br />
Brummer, and saw their season<br />
end with a tough loss to Burwell<br />
in the district final.<br />
But a new season brings new<br />
opportunities, as four returning<br />
letterwinners are set to take<br />
the court for Alma come late<br />
November.<br />
Among those returning is senior<br />
forward David Ehrke, a twotime<br />
district honorable mention<br />
selectee who is coming off a<br />
season in which he averaged 11<br />
points and 7 rebounds a game.<br />
Joining Ehrke will be senior<br />
forward Cooper Wright, who<br />
averaged 6 points, 6 rebounds,<br />
and 1.2 blocks a game last year.<br />
Senior Ty Heft and junior<br />
Jackson McKenzie are expected<br />
to see significant run in the<br />
backcourt for the Cardinals, as<br />
well.<br />
When asked what the keys<br />
to a successful season were,<br />
Brummer mentioned attitude,<br />
effort, execution, and having fun.<br />
Adding: “We are here to become<br />
better skilled athletes on the<br />
court, and better people off of it.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 18- 6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Mike Brummer<br />
Career Record: 116-106<br />
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ALMAGIRLS<br />
PAWNEE CITYBOYS<br />
The Cardinals finished last season<br />
10-14 under long tenured head<br />
coach Amanda Siebels, but with four<br />
starters returning in <strong>2017</strong>-18, there is<br />
plenty of reason for optimism.<br />
“We lost one starter off of last<br />
year’s team. She was a three<br />
year starter, which will be a huge<br />
position to fill,” Siebels said.<br />
“We had a disappointing year last<br />
year, and came up short in quite a<br />
few games. However, our team<br />
worked very well together and<br />
gained a lot of experience at the<br />
varsity level, which will be very<br />
beneficial for this upcoming year.”<br />
Leading the charge for the<br />
Cardinals will be Maddie Brugh,<br />
who is the only returning senior<br />
starter. However, juniors Dakota<br />
Hughes, Tiffany Wells, and Kayla<br />
Kindler all return to the hardwood<br />
after gaining starting experience<br />
last year.<br />
In addition, senior guards Maddie<br />
Cervera and Emma Smolik will<br />
also look to be key contributors for<br />
Siebels.<br />
“I feel that we will have a solid<br />
foundation to build on. These girls<br />
always give their all everyday<br />
no matter what. We had quite a<br />
few girls put in a lot of time and<br />
effort over the summer, that I think<br />
will pay-off big for us during this<br />
upcoming season,” Siebels added.<br />
“This is a very smart team, but<br />
I also feel we will be very quick<br />
offensively and defensively. We<br />
will also be trying a lot of new<br />
girls in some new positions, to<br />
compensate for our small numbers.<br />
This will be a great year for Alma<br />
Lady Cardinal basketball.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-14<br />
Head Coach: Amanda Siebels<br />
Career Record: 35-51<br />
The 2016-17 season didn’t<br />
feature a high volume of wins for<br />
the Pawnee City boy’s basketball<br />
squad, as the group finished with<br />
a 7-17 mark.<br />
However, tenured head coach<br />
Tyler Colvin, who owns a 145-<br />
103 mark at the helm of the<br />
program, will look to flip the<br />
script in <strong>2017</strong>-18, and get the<br />
Indians back on the winning<br />
track.<br />
Colvin will be working with a<br />
relatively young squad, as seven<br />
letterwinners return, but only two<br />
seniors are expected back.<br />
Senior forward Andrew Davis<br />
will be a leader on the court for<br />
Pawnee City, after posting 12<br />
points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2 steals<br />
a contest last year.<br />
Fellow senior Kaisonn Koester<br />
and junior Sabian Adams will<br />
also be asked to play significant<br />
roles for the Indians.<br />
An athlete to keep an eye on is<br />
sophomore TJ Mawhiney, who<br />
averaged 4.3 points and 2.2<br />
rebounds a game as a freshman.<br />
“We need to work as hard as we<br />
can everyday to improve. Taking<br />
care of the ball and limiting<br />
empty possessions offensively<br />
will be key,” Colvin said. ‘Our<br />
shooting and floor vision has to<br />
be better than it was last year.<br />
Our defensive discipline and<br />
awareness needs to be more<br />
consistent. Staying healthy will<br />
be important as depth is a bit of a<br />
concern.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Indians<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 18<br />
Head Coach: Tyler Colvin<br />
Career Record: 145-103<br />
114 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 115
ANSLEY-LITCHFIELDBOYS<br />
SOUTH LOUPBOYS<br />
The success of the Ansley-<br />
Litchfield boy’s basketball squad<br />
will come down to one aspect<br />
of the game according to the<br />
group’s head coach – defense.<br />
The Spartans went 8-11 in 2016-<br />
17, but struggled to consistently<br />
get stops on the defensive end.<br />
Something that will have to<br />
change if Ansley-Litchfield<br />
hopes to be competitive in Class<br />
D-1 this year.<br />
“The biggest key to the season<br />
is to improve our defense,” head<br />
coach Troy Schirmer said. “We<br />
must learn to play aggressive<br />
and physical defense quickly.”<br />
The Spartans have eight<br />
returning letterwinners expected<br />
back on the roster, led by junior<br />
Christ Paitz, who averaged<br />
12.4 points, 3.8 assists and<br />
3.5 rebounds a game as a<br />
sophomore.<br />
Junior Justin Bailey will<br />
also look to make an impact<br />
after posting 7 points and 5.6<br />
rebounds a contest last year, as<br />
will sophomores Jaden Jones<br />
and Parker LeFever.<br />
According to Schirmer, the<br />
development of young talent on<br />
the roster could determine the<br />
success of his group in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
“We really need our younger<br />
players to mature quickly to help<br />
reach our goals,” Schirmer said.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-11<br />
Head Coach: Troy Schirmer<br />
Career Record: 165-66<br />
For the second consecutive<br />
season, the South Loup boy’s<br />
basketball squad built quite a<br />
bit of momentum, finishing the<br />
2016-17 campaign 16-6.<br />
Under the direction of head<br />
coach Jeff Cole, the Bobcats<br />
will look to stay on the<br />
winning path in <strong>2017</strong>-18, and<br />
will have the advantage of 11<br />
returning letterwinners on the<br />
roster.<br />
South Loup will lean heavily<br />
on a core of five seniors,<br />
led by Cade Connell, who<br />
averaged an outstanding 21.3<br />
points and 6.3 rebounds a<br />
game as a junior.<br />
Another rising star for the<br />
Bobcats is Jack Rush. Rush, a<br />
senior, posted 16.1 points and 7.8<br />
rebounds a contest last year.<br />
Senior Landon Furue, who<br />
averaged 5.5 points a game in<br />
2016-17, and Spencer Johnson<br />
will also play vital roles for the<br />
Bobcats.<br />
“If we can stay healthy, I think<br />
we can have a special season,”<br />
Cole said. “We have had two<br />
really good seasons the past<br />
two years with key contributors<br />
missing multiple games or the<br />
season. We will have multiple<br />
three or four-year starters<br />
returning this season.”<br />
South Loup will tip off the <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18 campaign on Dec. 1 against<br />
Twin Loup.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bobcats<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-6<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Cole<br />
MERIDIANGIRLS<br />
SOUTH LOUPGIRLS<br />
The Meridian girls basketball<br />
team is coming off an impressive<br />
2016-17 campaign, which saw<br />
the Mustangs finish 20-7 and<br />
earn an NSAA state tournament<br />
appearance.<br />
This season, Meridian will look<br />
to find similar success under<br />
head coach Robert Schropfer.<br />
Schropfer has seven letterwinners<br />
back on the roster including a<br />
core group of seniors.<br />
Guards Erin Johnson, Jaicee<br />
Sobotka, and Breanna Miller will<br />
be relied upon to produce, as will<br />
forward Hailey Schafer.<br />
“We need to stay healthy,”<br />
Schropfer said. “Younger players<br />
need to continue to develop and<br />
improve. We also have some<br />
sophomores that have a lot of<br />
potential that will help us this<br />
year.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 20-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Robert Schropfer<br />
Career Record: 59-50<br />
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WESTERN, NE<br />
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Coming off a 10-9 campaign<br />
that featured plenty of positives<br />
and negatives, the South Loup<br />
girl’s basketball team will rely on<br />
experience as they look to make<br />
a run in Class D-1.<br />
The Bobcats will be lead by head<br />
coach Abe Hinman in <strong>2017</strong>-18,<br />
and 10 letterwinners are slated to<br />
return to the court.<br />
In addition, a core group of four<br />
seniors will be back, as well.<br />
Senior forward Shaylee Jones,<br />
who posted 6.2 points and 7.8<br />
rebounds a game her junior year,<br />
will look to lead the Bobcats, as<br />
will senior guard Vayle Berger.<br />
However, South Loup’s success<br />
may depend on how the<br />
Bobcats compliment the play of<br />
sophomore Jessie Sallach, who<br />
averaged an impressive 13.2<br />
points and 9.4 rebounds a contest<br />
as a freshman.<br />
“Our guard play has to improve.<br />
With a strong inside presence,<br />
outside shooting will be key<br />
to keeping defenses honest,”<br />
Hinman said. “The leadership<br />
on this team has to step up<br />
and solidify the character of<br />
our group in order for us to be<br />
successful.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
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Team Name: Bobcats<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-9<br />
Head Coach: Abe Hinman<br />
116 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 117
ARAPAHOEBOYS<br />
PALMERGIRLS<br />
The Arapahoe boy’s basketball<br />
squad continued to take steps<br />
in the right direction during<br />
the 2016-17 season, finishing<br />
9-14 and winning a game in the<br />
subdistrict tournament.<br />
This season, the Warriors will once<br />
again be led by head coach Josh<br />
Strand, who holds a 24-44 record<br />
at the helm of the program.<br />
In addition, six letterwinners<br />
and four seniors are returning,<br />
setting the Warriors up to do some<br />
damage in Class D-1 this year.<br />
Leading the charge will be senior<br />
guard Noah Koller, who averaged<br />
9 points and 4 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
Seniors Spencer Watson, who<br />
posted 8 points and 7 rebounds as<br />
a junior, and guard Parker Ehrke<br />
will also see plenty of court time<br />
for the Warriors.<br />
“We have a lot of experience<br />
back,” Strand said. “We don’t<br />
have a ton of size, so we are<br />
going to have to be physical and<br />
aggressive and play bigger than<br />
we are on defense. Of offense,<br />
we have to limit turnovers and<br />
play fast. We should have good<br />
depth, so we need to look to<br />
push the ball and wear teams<br />
down.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
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Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Josh Strand<br />
Career Record: 24-44<br />
While the 2016-17 campaign<br />
didn’t produce a large amount<br />
of victories for the Palmer<br />
girl’s basketball team, plenty of<br />
experience was gained under<br />
head coach Brandon Rolf.<br />
Now, as a new season<br />
approaches, a senior-heavy roster<br />
with nine returning letterwinners<br />
will look to improve on last<br />
year’s 5-17 mark, and Rolf<br />
knows just the recipe to find that<br />
success.<br />
“We are going to focus on the<br />
vowels, and victories should<br />
follow,” he said.<br />
The vowels Rolf is referring to<br />
are as follows: A – Attitude, E-<br />
Execution, I- Intensity, O – Out<br />
Work, U – Unselfishness.<br />
With that in mind, a number of<br />
players will look to contribute<br />
for the Tigers this year, including<br />
senior guard Marley Roepker,<br />
who averaged 6.9 points per<br />
game last season.<br />
In addition, Rolf will look to<br />
seniors Stacey Bohlken and Cara<br />
Menke to help shoulder the load<br />
for Palmer this season.<br />
Lana Menke, Allie Kunze, and<br />
Brooke Bruland will also see<br />
significant run for the Tigers.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 5-17<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Brandon Rolf<br />
Career Record: 7-35<br />
ARAPAHOEGIRLS<br />
The bad news for the Arapahoe<br />
girl’s basketball squad is they<br />
are coming off a difficult 1-21<br />
campaign.<br />
However, there is more than<br />
enough good news to inspire<br />
optimism for the upcoming <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18 season. The Warriors return<br />
plenty of experience, as first-year<br />
head coach Preston Blackmore<br />
will look to get his group on<br />
the winning track following a<br />
difficult year.<br />
“We return a lot of experience<br />
from last year. We have a good<br />
mix of older and younger kids<br />
that gained some valuable<br />
experience,” Blackmore said. “We<br />
have four of our top five scorers<br />
back. Our upper classmen really<br />
stepped up this summer providing<br />
great leadership in the weight<br />
room and at camps.”<br />
Alayna Whipple is one of those<br />
upper classmen the new head coach<br />
referred to, as the senior guard will<br />
be back on the court after averaging<br />
8.5 points per game last season.<br />
Also seeing significant minutes<br />
will be fellow seniors Madison<br />
Hanke and Nevada Gardner, as<br />
well as junior Mariah Watson.<br />
“I think the biggest key to having<br />
success this year will start on the<br />
defensive end. We need to play<br />
tough team defense,” Blackmore<br />
said regarding the keys to success<br />
for his team. “Also we will need to<br />
be able to handle pressure better this<br />
year. I think if we can improve in<br />
those two areas, we will see success<br />
throughout the season.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 1-21<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Preston Blackmore<br />
PALMER<br />
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118 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 119
BERTRANDBOYS<br />
OVERTONBOYS<br />
The Bertrand boys basketball<br />
squad has a major advantage<br />
heading into the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season<br />
– experience at the head coaching<br />
position.<br />
Craig Newcomb returns to the<br />
sidelines for the Vikings for his<br />
21st year, and owns a career 224-<br />
181 record after finishing last<br />
season at 11-11.<br />
He will have three starters<br />
returning to the court, as senior<br />
guard Riley Johnson, senior<br />
forward Wyatt Wilken, and junior<br />
guard Tyler Callahan all bring<br />
experience to the hardwood.<br />
Newcomb will also look to<br />
juniors Miles Peterson and<br />
Austin Long to take on expanded<br />
roles once the season gets<br />
underway.<br />
“We return quite a bit of<br />
experience, but size cold still<br />
be a problem,” Newcomb said.<br />
“How healthy we come through<br />
football will be a big determining<br />
factor as to how the basketball<br />
season will go.”<br />
The season gets underway for<br />
Bertrand on Nov. 30 against<br />
Alma.<br />
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Team Name: Vikings<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Craig Newcomb<br />
Career Record: 224-181<br />
The Overton boy’s basketball<br />
team will return five<br />
letterwinners to the hardwood<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18 after a solid 14-8<br />
campaign last year.<br />
The Eagles will look to make<br />
some noise in Class D-1, and<br />
will rely heavily on a powerful<br />
offensive attack under head<br />
coach Clint Little.<br />
“We will need to improve<br />
on rebounding and defense<br />
from last year but we should<br />
be exciting to watch on the<br />
offensive side of the ball,” Little<br />
said.<br />
Junior forward Braden Kizer<br />
will lead the Eagles, after<br />
posting 13.2 points and 4.4<br />
rebounds a game last season.<br />
Kizer also shot over 40 percent<br />
from beyond the 3-point line.<br />
Senior guard Brenden Meier,<br />
and junior guard Morgan<br />
Wallace will also play<br />
significant roles after impressive<br />
moments in 2016-17.<br />
“Scoring will be led by three<br />
returning starters in Kizer,<br />
Meier, and Wallace,” Little<br />
added. “Dane Watson and Chevy<br />
Davenport will look to provide<br />
rebounding and physical play<br />
underneath.”<br />
Overton will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 at home against<br />
Arapahoe.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Clint Little<br />
Career Record: 32-36<br />
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There are many reasons to be<br />
optimistic about the Overton<br />
girl’s basketball squad heading<br />
into the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
First, the Eagles have eight<br />
letterwinners returning,<br />
including a handful of seniors.<br />
Secondly, the program will reap<br />
the benefits of familiarity, as<br />
head coach Nicole Arp enters<br />
her second full season at the<br />
helm.<br />
Last year, Overton went 10-14,<br />
but with experience returning on<br />
the court and on the sidelines,<br />
the Eagles will look to make<br />
some noise in Class D-1.<br />
The group will be lead by senior<br />
forward Sidney Enochs and<br />
point guard Gracie Grote.<br />
Seniors Tori Anderson, Jayden<br />
Eby, and Jaycee Wallace will<br />
also look to make a significant<br />
impact once the season gets<br />
underway.<br />
“This year, we are really going<br />
to work on pushing the ball<br />
and having more of an inside/<br />
outside game,” Arp said. “With<br />
more depth, I want to step up<br />
our defense and have a more<br />
aggressive defense to create<br />
turnovers and have a more fastpaced<br />
tempo game.”<br />
The Eagles will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 against Arapahoe.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Nicole Arp<br />
Career Record: 10-14<br />
120 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 121
BLUE HILLGIRLS<br />
MEDICINE VALLEYBOYS<br />
A successful season came to<br />
an early close for the Blue Hill<br />
girl’s basketball squad during<br />
the 2016-17 campaign.<br />
The group posted an impressive<br />
19-5 record during the season,<br />
but lost a tight game in subdistricts<br />
to Heartland 32-28.<br />
But a new season brings a new<br />
opportunity to push further<br />
for Blue Hill, as 10 returning<br />
letterwinners are expected back<br />
for head coach Tim Streff.<br />
Leading that charge will be<br />
junior Jamie Bonifas, who<br />
averaged 7.6 points and 5<br />
rebounds from the guard<br />
position last year.<br />
Also playing a major role<br />
will be junior forward Rylee<br />
Kohmetscher, who posted<br />
6 points and 5.2 rebounds a<br />
contest in 2016-17.<br />
Streff will also lean heavily<br />
on Halee Kohmetscher, Emily<br />
Meyer, senior Taylor Bonifas,<br />
and sophomore Kyra Meyer<br />
when the season tips off.<br />
“If we are able to stop the ball<br />
well in the half court we will<br />
be a tough team to beat,” Streff<br />
said.<br />
The season gets underway on<br />
Dec. 1 against Kenesaw.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bobcats<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Tim Streff<br />
Career Record: 340-166<br />
Coming off a season that saw<br />
positive growth for the program,<br />
the Medicine Valley boy’s<br />
basketball team will look to<br />
take another step in the right<br />
direction under head coach<br />
Jason Maier.<br />
The Raiders posted a 10-10<br />
record during the 2016-17<br />
campaign, winning five straight<br />
down the stretch before falling<br />
in the sub-district final to DCS.<br />
This season, Medicine Valley<br />
returns five letterwinners from<br />
that squad, as the senior-heavy<br />
group will look to make noise in<br />
Class D-1.<br />
The Raiders will be led<br />
by senior big man Joseph<br />
Chancellor, who posted 12<br />
points and 8 rebounds last<br />
season to go along with 41<br />
blocked shots.<br />
In addition, three senior guards,<br />
Landon Lenz, Sheldon Johnsen,<br />
and Ryan Klintworth will all<br />
return to anchor the backcourt.<br />
“We have an experienced, well<br />
balanced, and senior laden team<br />
that could have a great year,”<br />
Maier said. “If we play strong<br />
defense all year and shoot the<br />
ball with consistency, we could<br />
be hard to beat.”<br />
The Raiders will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 when they<br />
travel to Southwest.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Jason Maier<br />
Career Record: 75-92<br />
(402) 756-3311 • 101 S. Willson St. • Blue Hill, NE<br />
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HITCHCOCK COUNTYBOYS<br />
Fresh off a 10-14 season, a<br />
number of newcomers will have<br />
to step up for the Hitchcock<br />
County boy’s basketball squad in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18 if the group hopes to be<br />
competitive.<br />
The Falcons lost five senior<br />
starters from last year’s team, and<br />
returns only three letterwinners<br />
under head coach Mike Tines.<br />
‘We will have to be very<br />
disciplined with the ball<br />
offensively this year as well as<br />
being very scrappy on defense,”<br />
Tines said. “We lost five senior<br />
starters from last year’s team so<br />
we will be pretty young on the<br />
varsity level.”<br />
Ironically, all three returning<br />
letterwinners will be sophomores<br />
for the Falcons, as point guard<br />
Pierce Utterback, Darian Hutto,<br />
and Chris O’Byrne will look to<br />
fill big roles.<br />
Juniors Shayne Mintling and<br />
Mason Bright, as well as lone<br />
senior Derrek Mintling, will also<br />
play significant minutes.<br />
“Our upperclassmen will have to<br />
be leaders in practice and on the<br />
court and our underclassmen will<br />
have to learn how to play at the<br />
varsity level very quickly,” Tines<br />
said. “Our goal this year will be<br />
to improve game-by-game and<br />
get the most out of each practice<br />
session.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Falcons<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Mike Tines<br />
122 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 123
BOYD COUNTYBOYS<br />
The Boyd County boy’s<br />
basketball squad will be hungry<br />
for success after finishing 21-3 but<br />
missing out on the NSAA state<br />
tournament last season.<br />
The chances of the Spartans<br />
putting together another strong<br />
season are high, as head coach<br />
Jim Carlson returns to the<br />
sidelines sporting an outstanding<br />
495-156 career record.<br />
The group will be led by guard<br />
Justin Drueke, who posted 11.3<br />
points a game as a junior while<br />
knocking down 67 three-pointers.<br />
He will be complimented on the<br />
court by guard/forward hybrid<br />
Clay Hansen, who dished out 140<br />
assists and snagged 53 steals last<br />
year.<br />
Senior Blake Ahlers will also<br />
be a player to watch, as will<br />
sophomore Colby Hansen, who<br />
racked up 20 steals during his<br />
freshman season.<br />
But even with some experience<br />
returning, Carlson knows some<br />
younger players are going to have<br />
to step into bigger roles in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18, after the Spartans lost a few<br />
key contributors to graduation.<br />
“We have to replace three seniors<br />
including starters Matthew<br />
Hansen and three-time all-stater<br />
Caleb Rihanek, who scored 1,828<br />
points in his career,” Carlson said.<br />
“We need to be healthy coming<br />
out of football, increase our<br />
scoring, and develop depth. We<br />
should be able to compete with<br />
most teams on our schedule.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 21-3<br />
Head Coach: Jim Carlson<br />
Career Record: 495-156<br />
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FEBRUARY 9-25, 2018<br />
BOYD COUNTYGIRLS<br />
FRANKLINGIRLS<br />
The Boyd County girl’s basketball<br />
squad has a number of reasons<br />
to be optimistic heading into the<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
Not only are the Spartans coming<br />
off a 13-9 campaign that featured<br />
a third place finish in the tough<br />
Niobrara Valley Conference, but<br />
they are returning a core group of<br />
contributors under experienced<br />
head coach Jeff Hart.<br />
Hart, who is entering his sixth year<br />
at Boyd County, has a talented trio<br />
of returners on his roster, including<br />
senior Rhiannan Smalley, who<br />
posted 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds<br />
a game last year.<br />
Junior Emma Stahlecker, who<br />
averaged 6.4 points and 2.4<br />
rebounds as a sophomore, and<br />
senior Kelsey Reiman will also<br />
play major roles for the Spartans<br />
this season.<br />
“Once again, we have an<br />
experienced nucleus of juniors<br />
and seniors, but will need a group<br />
of freshmen and sophomores to<br />
really step up and provide playing<br />
time, scoring and defense,” Hart<br />
said. “We need to replace 15 points<br />
and 15 rebounds from last year’s<br />
seniors. Size will be an issue for<br />
us, but we hope to counter with<br />
aggressive defense and the ability<br />
to run the floor. Our conference is<br />
always tough and non-conference<br />
games with Crofton and Wausa<br />
early will test us.”<br />
The season will get underway for<br />
Boyd County on Nov. 30 against<br />
North Central.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Hart<br />
Coming off a 10-10 season<br />
under second-year head coach<br />
Adam Boettcher, the Franklin<br />
girl’s basketball squad will<br />
have one major advantage in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18 — experience.<br />
The Flyers return nine<br />
letterwinners from last season,<br />
including four of the team’s five<br />
starters, and the entire bench.<br />
“This experience, as well as<br />
going 1-18 in 2015-16 to 10-10<br />
in 2016-17, will be a big key to<br />
our success,” Boettcher said.<br />
The Flyers will be extremely<br />
senior heavy this season, and<br />
will be led by guard Jordan<br />
Wilbur, who averaged 8.4<br />
points per game last year.<br />
In addition, seniors Lilia<br />
Aberle, Sierra Bruce, Haley<br />
Shannon and Mariah Biesecker<br />
will all be back on the<br />
hardwood come December.<br />
Four juniors with game<br />
experience are also set to return<br />
for Franklin, including guards<br />
Emma Goosic, Courtney Meade<br />
and Cassie Saathoff.<br />
The Flyers will open the season<br />
when they host Harvard on<br />
Dec. 1.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Flyers<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Adam Boettcher<br />
Career Record: 94-89<br />
124 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 125
BRUNING-DAVENPORT-SHICKLEYBOYS<br />
Fresh off a 20-4 season that<br />
ended with a 10-point loss in the<br />
NSAA State Tournament, the<br />
Bruning-Davenport-Schickley<br />
boy’s basketball squad will look<br />
to find similar success in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18.<br />
The Eagles will be led by Greg<br />
Schroeder, and will return five<br />
letterwinners to the court.<br />
“We have a nice core group of<br />
guys returning from last year,<br />
but we will be looking for some<br />
kids who have waited their turn<br />
the past few years to step up<br />
and be ready to provide depth,”<br />
Schroeder said. “We will also<br />
be looking for our returners to<br />
provide leadership both on and<br />
off the court.”<br />
The Eagles will be led by a group<br />
of four seniors, including Caden<br />
Norder, Holden Stengel, Garrett<br />
Schardt, and Anthony Beavers.<br />
Junior guard John Christensen<br />
will also look to carve out<br />
a significant role once the<br />
campaign gets underway.<br />
Even with plenty of experience<br />
returning, Schroeder said there<br />
is one role in particular that must<br />
be filled if his group wants to be<br />
successful.<br />
“We will have a new point guard<br />
so getting them accustomed to<br />
keeping the team on the same<br />
page will be one of our early<br />
season goals that we hope should<br />
translate to success,” he said.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 20-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Greg Schroeder<br />
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FEBRUARY 4, 2018<br />
BRUNING-DAVENPORT-SHICKLEYGIRLS<br />
Head coach Shana Gerberding<br />
is no stranger to success at the<br />
helm of the Bruning-Davenport-<br />
Shickley girl’s basketball squad,<br />
and the 2016-17 season was no<br />
different.<br />
This year, with eight<br />
letterwinners and five seniors<br />
returning, expectations are high,<br />
but the tenured head coach<br />
knows her team must stay<br />
focused.<br />
“Stay mentally tough throughout<br />
the entire season,” Gerberding<br />
said of her team’s keys to<br />
success. “We have a tough<br />
schedule and tough conference so<br />
we have to be able to be mentally<br />
into it every night.”<br />
Five starters will be back on the<br />
court for the Eagles this season,<br />
including senior Lexi Kadel,<br />
who returns after a solid junior<br />
campaign.<br />
Fellow seniors Carley Elznic and<br />
Megan Grote, as well as juniors<br />
TaraLee Hudson and Jadyn<br />
Kleinischmidt, will also be key<br />
contributors once the season gets<br />
underway.<br />
“We have a very capable squad<br />
and if we can sub and not lose a<br />
step we will be in good shape and<br />
I’m confident that it can happen,”<br />
Gerberding added. “We need<br />
involvement from the first player<br />
to the last player. We worked<br />
hard on this over the summer<br />
and I’m excited to see what the<br />
season brings.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Shana Gerberding<br />
126 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 127
CENTRAL VALLEYBOYS<br />
HIGH PLAINSBOYS<br />
If the Central Valley boy’s<br />
basketball squad plans on making<br />
some noise during the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign, some new faces are<br />
going to have to shine for the<br />
Cougars.<br />
Only one starter returns for Central<br />
Valley from last year’s 7-16 team,<br />
and a new face will be on the<br />
sidelines, as well.<br />
Riley Bonifas takes the reins<br />
as head coach, and will look to<br />
rely heavily on his only player<br />
with starting experience, Noah<br />
Nekoliczak.<br />
Bonfias said development will be<br />
key for his group as they look to<br />
compete in Class D-1.<br />
“In order to be successful, our<br />
younger kids will have to develop<br />
quickly and be able to make<br />
contributions, especially late in<br />
the season,” Bonifas said. “Our<br />
upperclassmen will also have to be<br />
able to make adjustments and learn<br />
our new coaching philosophy. Our<br />
goal is to play our best basketball<br />
by conference time and try to build<br />
some momentum heading into<br />
district play.”<br />
The season will get underway for<br />
the Cougars on Nov. 20 against<br />
Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cougars<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Riley Bonifas<br />
Career Record: 7-16<br />
The 2016-17 campaign for the<br />
High Plains boy’s basketball<br />
squad didn’t go according to<br />
plan, as the group finished the<br />
season with a 3-16 record.<br />
However, the Storm will now<br />
have some familiarity with their<br />
head coach, as Tom Hofmann<br />
enters his second season at the<br />
helm of the program.<br />
Another reason for optimism<br />
are the three returning starters<br />
who will be back on the court<br />
for High Plains come early<br />
December.<br />
Sophomore point guard Keaton<br />
Van Housen, who averaged 9.8<br />
points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1 steal<br />
a game last year, will look to<br />
lead the charge for the Storm.<br />
Senior guard Tanner Parsons,<br />
who averaged 3.6 points a<br />
contest last season, as well as<br />
senior center Bo Dittmar will<br />
also be key players for High<br />
Plains.<br />
When asked what the keys to a<br />
winning season are, Hofmann<br />
laid out his recipe for success,<br />
saying his squad needs to<br />
limit turnovers, slow the game<br />
down, make free throws,<br />
rebound, and stay out of foul<br />
trouble.<br />
The season will tip off for<br />
High Plains on Dec. 1 against<br />
Giltner.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Storm<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 3-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Tom Hofmann<br />
608 Howard Ave, St Paul, NE 68873<br />
308-754-4611<br />
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HIGH PLAINSGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season was a<br />
difficult one for the High Plains<br />
girl’s basketball team. The group<br />
finished 2-17 on the season, and<br />
struggled to find consistency on<br />
either side of the ball.<br />
However, the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign<br />
brings a new opportunity to find<br />
success under head coach Greg<br />
Wood.<br />
High Plains has a core group of<br />
athletes returning, including five<br />
seniors.<br />
Among that group are Cara<br />
Demers, Aylse Carlson, Doreli<br />
Marino, Emily McNaught, and<br />
Madie Young, who averaged<br />
13.7 points a contest as a junior.<br />
There is also a group of upand-coming<br />
players to keep an<br />
eye on, including sophomores<br />
Justice Majerous, Cassidy<br />
Rieken, and Hannah Tonniges.<br />
When asked about the keys<br />
to success for High Plains,<br />
Wood laid out his recipe for an<br />
improved season.<br />
“We have to play more<br />
consistent, younger girls are<br />
going to have to contribute<br />
more, and we need our seniors<br />
to step up and lead this season,”<br />
he said.<br />
High Plains will tip off the<br />
season on Dec. 1 against Giltner.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Storm<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 2-17<br />
Head Coach: Greg Wood<br />
128 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 129
EAST BUTLERBOYS<br />
ELGIN-POPE JOHNBOYS<br />
The East Butler boy’s basketball<br />
team put together a solid<br />
2016-17 season under tenured<br />
head coach Greg Jahde, as the<br />
Tigers went 16-9 before falling<br />
to Guardian Angels Central<br />
Catholic to close the campaign.<br />
Now, East Butler will look to<br />
keep the momentum rolling<br />
into a new season and push<br />
its way through the Class D-1<br />
competition.<br />
Five letterwinners are set to<br />
return to the court for the Tigers,<br />
led by senior Trevor Havlovic,<br />
who posted 11.5 points and 7<br />
rebounds a contest last year.<br />
Joining Havlovic will be<br />
talented sophomore Jaden<br />
Rhynalds, who tallied 2.3 steals<br />
and 9.4 points a game in 2016-<br />
17, and senior guard Carter<br />
Stara.<br />
Senior forwards Jakub Janak<br />
and Camden Robley, as well as<br />
senior guard Taylor Jirovsky,<br />
will all battle for significant<br />
playing time as well.<br />
“We will need to work on<br />
developing some depth,” Jahde<br />
said. “We will also need to find<br />
ways to get the ball to our main<br />
two scoring threats, that being<br />
Jaden and Trevor.”<br />
The Tigers will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 against Cedar Bluffs.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Greg Jahde<br />
Career Record: 122-203<br />
Although the Elgin/Pope John<br />
boy’s basketball squad is coming<br />
off a dissappointing 6-16 season,<br />
there is a lot to be excited about<br />
entering the <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign.<br />
The Wolfpack return seven<br />
starters to the court this season,<br />
and will look to take a step in the<br />
right direction under second year<br />
head coach Michael Becker.<br />
Elgin/Pope John’s biggest<br />
strength will be in the backcourt,<br />
as three game-tested guards are<br />
set to return this season.<br />
That group is led by 6-foot junior<br />
Kyle Schumacher, who averaged<br />
6.6 points per game last season.<br />
Hunter Reestman, who is also<br />
a junior, will see significant run<br />
after contributing 8.5 points and<br />
4 rebounds a contest last year,<br />
and senior Ashton Evans will<br />
round out a deep and talented<br />
guard position for the Wolfpack.<br />
“We will need to have strong<br />
team rebounding and efficient,<br />
consistent guard play this year,”<br />
Becker said.<br />
The Wolfpack will open the<br />
season on Dec. 1 when they<br />
battle Niobrara-Verdigre.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolfpack<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Michael Becker<br />
Career Record: 6-16<br />
EAST BUTLERGIRLS<br />
ELGIN-POPE JOHNGIRLS<br />
Coming off a season in which<br />
the East Butler girl’s basketball<br />
squad went 5-16, the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign will feature a new look<br />
Tiger squad. Plenty of playing<br />
time is up for grabs under head<br />
coach Kevin Behne.<br />
“I’m cautiously optimistic,”<br />
Behne said. “I expect the team to<br />
be competitive every night. We<br />
graduated three starters and those<br />
spots are up for grabs. There will<br />
be competition for the starting<br />
positions and I can see myself<br />
experimenting with two or three<br />
possible starting lineups.”<br />
There is some experience<br />
returning for East Butler, as<br />
seniors Anna Rigatuso and Abby<br />
Pierce will be back on the roster.<br />
In addition, juniors Madison<br />
Helman and Kaitlyn Hain both<br />
have varsity experience.<br />
But the fate of the Tigers’<br />
season will depend on new<br />
faces, such as juniors Erin Barta<br />
and Brooklyn Jones, as well<br />
as sophomores Amanda Aerts,<br />
Olivia Bohac, and Lexis Haney.<br />
“My major concern is that we<br />
develop consistent shooting. We<br />
shot 33 percent from the field last<br />
year and averaged only 34 points<br />
per game. If shooting doesn’t<br />
improve, it could be a long<br />
season,” Behne said. “We’ve<br />
got a young team and those<br />
youngsters will have to step up<br />
and help out on the varsity level.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 5-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Kevin Behne<br />
The 2016-17 campaign was an<br />
impressive one for the Elgin/<br />
Pope John girl’s basketball<br />
squad, as the Wolfpack<br />
dominated the regular season,<br />
finishing with a 19-5 record.<br />
Unfortunately, the season came<br />
to a close for the squad and<br />
head coach Randy Eisenhauer<br />
following a 10-point loss to<br />
Heartland in the NSAA state<br />
tournament.<br />
But a new season brings a new<br />
team, and the Wolfpack return<br />
four letterwinners to the court in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>-18, including junior guard<br />
Allyson Wemhoff.<br />
Wemhoff averaged an impressive<br />
11.9 points and 3.3 rebounds a<br />
game last season.<br />
In addition, senior forwards<br />
Paige Meis and Lydia Behnk<br />
will also be back on the floor.<br />
Meis contributed 12.4 rebounds<br />
a game last year, while Behnk<br />
averaged 8.2 points and 6.6<br />
rebounds.<br />
But with a number of<br />
underclassmen on the roster,<br />
Eisenhauer said his team must<br />
mature quickly if they want to<br />
repeat the success of last year.<br />
“We will have to have our<br />
younger players step up this<br />
year,” he said. “We will need to<br />
find consistency in our scoring<br />
column as we lost many great<br />
scorers from last year’s team.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolfpack<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Randy Eisenhauer<br />
Career Record: 151-159<br />
130 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 131
FRIENDBOYS<br />
The 2016-17 season for the<br />
Friend boy’s basketball squad<br />
not only featured a 13-12<br />
overall record, but also dramatic<br />
improvement over a 6-16<br />
campaign the year before.<br />
The Bulldogs will look to keep<br />
building momentum under head<br />
coach Brian Arp.<br />
However, that goal will have to<br />
be accomplished with only four<br />
returning letterwinners and low<br />
turnout numbers.<br />
“We need to stay healthy,” Arp<br />
said. “We have low numbers, but<br />
what we have is good enough to<br />
keep us competitive.”<br />
The Bulldogs will have an<br />
experienced athlete leading the<br />
squad, as point guard Kolby<br />
Houlden returns for his senior<br />
season. Houlden posted 10.1<br />
points and 4.7 assists a game as a<br />
junior.<br />
Complimenting Houlden in the<br />
backcourt will be senior shooting<br />
guard Darren Segner, who<br />
averaged 9.7 points a game last<br />
year and shot 36 percent from<br />
three-point land.<br />
Senior forward Ray Sharkey and<br />
sophomores Jacob Bottom and<br />
Mason Kelley will also look to<br />
make an impact for Friend.<br />
“Kolby is going to be our leader<br />
and we will go as far as he takes<br />
us,” Arp said. “If we do not turn<br />
the ball over that will be key.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 19<br />
Head Coach: Brian Arp<br />
Career Record: 37-57<br />
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FULLERTONBOYS<br />
Coming off a 2016-17 season<br />
in which the Fullerton boys<br />
basketball team finished 11-12,<br />
some younger athletes will have<br />
to fill big roles for the Warriors<br />
this season.<br />
Fullerton returns only one senior<br />
in the form of guard Riggs<br />
Patton.<br />
That means juniors TJ Dubas and<br />
Brent Wetovick will have to be<br />
leaders for the Warriors, as will<br />
sophomore Brandon Rassmussen.<br />
Juniors James Lesiak and<br />
Ryan Hellbusch will also see<br />
significant playing time come the<br />
start of the season.<br />
“We must take care of the ball<br />
and must force turnovers from<br />
the opponents,” Fullerton Head<br />
Coach Richard Plumbtree said.<br />
“We also need to find some<br />
leaders who can take over and<br />
lead this team since we only have<br />
one senior. We play some very<br />
tough opponents that dominated<br />
us last year, and we need to play<br />
as a team so we can compete<br />
with those teams this year.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 18<br />
Head Coach: Richard Plumbtree<br />
Career Record: 29-73<br />
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FULLERTONGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season did not<br />
produce the amount of success<br />
the Fullerton girls basketball<br />
team is used to, but the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign is a chance to get back<br />
on track.<br />
The Warriors will once again be<br />
led by head coach Stacy Kramer,<br />
who boasts an impressive 88-<br />
51 record at the head of the<br />
program.<br />
Kramer will have eight<br />
letterwinners back on the roster<br />
this year, but the loss of post<br />
player Halle Plumbtree to<br />
graduation could pose a problem.<br />
“We lost our experienced size in<br />
the paint with the graduation of<br />
Halle Plumbtree,” Kramer said.<br />
“She was injured last year for<br />
part of the season and the other<br />
post players gained valuable<br />
experience that will be required<br />
this year.”<br />
The Warriors will expect big<br />
things out of returning seniors<br />
Kenna Swertzic and Shaylee<br />
Horacek, while Caitlyn Beed and<br />
Katelyn Warner will also look to<br />
make an impact.<br />
Newcomers Stormy Herman and<br />
Hanna Plumblee will see court<br />
time for Fullerton, as well.<br />
“Our guard play will need to<br />
continue to improve to take the<br />
pressure off of post players,”<br />
Kramer said. “We will be<br />
playing younger ball handlers<br />
and post players that will need to<br />
step up as the season progresses<br />
for us to extend into the post<br />
season.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Stacy Kramer<br />
Career Record: 88-51<br />
134 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 135
HEARTLANDBOYS<br />
The Heartland boy’s basketball<br />
team is coming off an<br />
impressive 2016-17 campaign<br />
which saw the Huskies finish<br />
with a 14-9 record and a district<br />
championship.<br />
The squad, led by Head Coach<br />
Clark Ribble, will be hungry for<br />
more in <strong>2017</strong>-18, as 10 returning<br />
letterwinners will be back on the<br />
court when the season begins.<br />
The Huskies will rely heavily<br />
on senior Lane Huebert, as the<br />
6-foot 2-inch guard is coming<br />
off a campaign in which he<br />
averaged 21 points, 8 rebounds,<br />
and 4 assists per contest.<br />
Senior Aaron Buller, who stands<br />
6-foot 3-inches tall, will look to be<br />
a force inside at the post position,<br />
after contributing 10 points and 5<br />
rebounds a game last year.<br />
With the starting lineup being<br />
stacked full of experience, the<br />
Huskies’ head coach said depth is<br />
what will determine how far his<br />
team can go this season.<br />
“The keys to having a successful<br />
season for us will be the<br />
development of our bench,”<br />
Ribble said. “Being able to play<br />
7-10 players will be key to our<br />
season. We must also create a more<br />
balanced scoring attack.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 14-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Clark Ribble<br />
Career Record: 111-90<br />
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HEARTLANDGIRLS<br />
The Heartland girl’s basketball<br />
team found quite a bit of<br />
success during the 2016-17<br />
season, finishing the year 22-6<br />
and earning a fourth place finish<br />
in the NSAA state tournament.<br />
The Huskies are hoping for<br />
more of the same in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18 under head coach Greg<br />
Veerhusen, but will have to find<br />
a way to compete with some<br />
young athletes playing key<br />
roles.<br />
Only five letterwinners return<br />
for Heartland, after the group<br />
lost three seniors off last year’s<br />
roster to graduation.<br />
“The keys this year will be<br />
how well we play defense and<br />
how well we control the tempo<br />
of the game,” Veerhusen said.<br />
“We lost three seniors from last<br />
year’s team that played their<br />
roles very well. With only one<br />
junior out for basketball, we<br />
will need some younger players<br />
to step into those roles.”<br />
The Huskies will rely heavily<br />
on senior forward Krynn<br />
Arbuck, as well as lone junior<br />
Kate Bergen.<br />
Seniors Bailey Peters, Taylor<br />
Quiring, and Alexa Siebert will<br />
step into leadership roles for<br />
Heartland, while sophomore<br />
Odessa Ohrt will look to turn<br />
some heads once the season<br />
starts.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 22-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Greg Veerhusen<br />
Career Record: 53-50<br />
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McCOOL JUNCTIONBOYS<br />
Coming off a season in which the<br />
McCool Junction boy’s basketball<br />
squad went 8-15, the Mustangs<br />
will have to rely heavily on youth<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
Only four letterwinners return<br />
for head coach Jarred Weiss, who<br />
enters his third season at the helm<br />
of McCool Junction.<br />
Weiss will lean on senior forward<br />
Kellan Green, who averaged 6.2<br />
points and 7.1 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
In addition, junior guard Dallas<br />
Briney, who posted 1.4 points a<br />
game in 2016-17, will look to step<br />
into a bigger role.<br />
Weiss also identified Owen<br />
McDonald, Giovanni Riga, and<br />
Kaden Kirkpatrick as a group of<br />
newcomers who could carve out<br />
significant roles this season.<br />
“We will rely on several<br />
newcomers this season,” Weiss<br />
said. “How they pick up on<br />
everything will determine our<br />
season. We will not be overly big,<br />
however we should be able to get<br />
up and down the floor fairly well.”<br />
McCool Junction will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 against Cross<br />
County.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Jarred Weiss<br />
Career Record: 12-32<br />
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McCOOL JUNCTIONGIRLS<br />
For head coach Dade McDonald,<br />
the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season for the<br />
McCool Junction girl’s basketball<br />
squad will likely come down to<br />
one aspect of the game.<br />
“We need to establish<br />
consistency on both ends of the<br />
floor,” McDonald said.<br />
The Mustangs are coming off a<br />
10-12 season, which saw McCool<br />
Junction win 10 of its last 18<br />
games following a four-game<br />
losing streak to start the year.<br />
A number of key players will be<br />
back on the court at the start of<br />
the campaign, including junior<br />
forward Hadley Wiemer, who<br />
averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds<br />
a game last season.<br />
Junior forward Jillian Stark<br />
will also be returning after<br />
contributing 8 rebounds and 8<br />
points per contest last year, and<br />
senior guard Ciera Wilkinson<br />
will play a major role in the<br />
backcourt.<br />
The experience those three<br />
players provide could help<br />
McCool Junction find the<br />
consistency that is needed to be<br />
successful.<br />
“We must defend well to create<br />
easy scoring opportunities<br />
and limit our own turnovers,”<br />
McDonald added. “Many of our<br />
juniors and seniors have played<br />
substantial varsity minutes the<br />
last 2-3 years, so we will rely<br />
heavily on that experience.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Dade McDonald<br />
Career Record: 30-75<br />
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NORTH CENTRALBOYS<br />
The North Central boy’s<br />
basketball team continued to<br />
take steps in the right direction<br />
during the 2016-17 campaign.<br />
Last season, the Knights finished<br />
the year 9-11 under head<br />
coach Jed Snyder, and with six<br />
returning letterwinners back on<br />
the roster, more improvement is<br />
expected in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
“Keys to a successful season<br />
this year will start with doing<br />
the little things of being<br />
fundamentally sound and being<br />
consistent on offense and<br />
communication on defense,”<br />
Snyder said. “We have the<br />
experience coming into the<br />
season as I return four starters<br />
and 90 percent of our scoring<br />
and rebounding.”<br />
North Central will look for<br />
big things from juniors Colton<br />
Munger and Jakob Heerten, who<br />
Snyder said “played really well<br />
this summer,” and looks for<br />
them to “lead us on the offensive<br />
end.”<br />
Senior Griffin Smith and junior<br />
forward Byron Pfister will also<br />
play large roles, as Snyder called<br />
them “lock down defenders who<br />
can also get above the rim on<br />
offense.”<br />
“I feel this team is a contender<br />
to be in Lincoln in March and<br />
that is the expectation this year,”<br />
Snyder added.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-11<br />
Head Coach: Jed Snyder<br />
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NORTH CENTRALGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season was a<br />
special one for the North Central<br />
girl’s basketball team, as the<br />
Knights dominated the regular<br />
season, finishing 21-4 under<br />
head coach Alex McClaery.<br />
North Central continued to<br />
play well into the postseason,<br />
winning an overtime battle<br />
against Heartland to secure a<br />
third place finish in Class D-1.<br />
The Knights are hoping for<br />
much of the same in <strong>2017</strong>-18,<br />
and with eight letterwinners and<br />
a core of seniors back on the<br />
roster, a repeat performance is<br />
possible.<br />
The success of North Central<br />
this season may depend on<br />
the play of its senior guards,<br />
as Jadyn Bussinger, Skylar<br />
Cosgrove, Kylin Munger, and<br />
Lexy Heyden all return to the<br />
position.<br />
Senior forward Caitlin Orton<br />
and sophomore Sydney Linse<br />
will also make an impact for the<br />
Knights come the start of the<br />
season.<br />
‘We are an experienced team<br />
with very good depth again<br />
this year. The keys will be<br />
staying together as a team and<br />
outworking every opponent,”<br />
McClaery said. “Obviously<br />
staying healthy is a big key, but<br />
this will be a fun group with a<br />
ton of potential to make some<br />
noise at the end of the season.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 21-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Alex McClaery<br />
Career Record: 51-37<br />
FEBRUARY 4, 2018<br />
140 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 141
OSCEOLABOYS<br />
The Osceola boys basketball<br />
team is looking to bounce back<br />
after an 8-15 season in 2016-17,<br />
but will have to do so with a new<br />
look roster.<br />
The Bulldogs return only four<br />
letterwinners under head coach<br />
Brett Webster, who owns a career<br />
58-76 record at the helm of the<br />
program.<br />
However, Osceola should be<br />
optimistic heading into the<br />
season as three seniors return to<br />
make their mark, led by forward<br />
Tristin Johnston.<br />
Johnston posted 6.5 points and<br />
5 rebounds a contest his junior<br />
season.<br />
Guard Caden Theis, who<br />
averaged 8.4 points a game last<br />
year, and senior guard Garrett<br />
Fisher will also be asked to step<br />
into large roles for the Bulldogs.<br />
Up-and-coming players to keep<br />
an eye on this season include<br />
sophomore Carter Boden and<br />
junior guard Hayden Watts.<br />
“Last year we graduated six<br />
players. We need to develop<br />
some depth this year to help<br />
ourselves out,” Webster said.<br />
“We have a good core group of<br />
seniors who will need some of<br />
our younger guys to step up and<br />
help out.”<br />
The season tips off for the<br />
Bulldogs on Nov. 30 against<br />
Humphrey St. Francis.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Brett Webster<br />
Career Record: 58-76<br />
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OSCEOLA,NE<br />
OSCEOLAGIRLS<br />
The Osceola girl’s basketball<br />
squad had an up-and-down 2016-<br />
17 campaign, finishing the year<br />
12-11 in Class D-1.<br />
But the Bulldogs will have more<br />
familiarity with second year head<br />
coach Don Frenzen in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18, as they look to keep taking<br />
strides in the right direction.<br />
A trio of seniors will look to lead<br />
Osceola this year, as forward<br />
Samantha Hays, guard Ginni<br />
Johansen, and guard Kylie Merry<br />
all return to the hardwood.<br />
In addition, junior forward<br />
Kamryn Hahn will play<br />
significant minutes come the start<br />
of the season.<br />
When asked what will lead to a<br />
successful season, Frenzen laid<br />
out of a list of factors that will<br />
impact his squad.<br />
“Patience learning a new<br />
system, adjusting to changes<br />
in personnel, and learning to<br />
play together,” he said. “Also,<br />
a positive attitude, staying<br />
healthy as a team, and an<br />
acknowledgment of goals.”<br />
The season tips off for Osceola<br />
on Nov. 30 when it battles St.<br />
Francis.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Don Frenzen<br />
142 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 143
PLEASANTONBOYS<br />
KENESAWBOYS<br />
Fresh off a 7-15 2016-17<br />
campaign, the Pleasanton boy’s<br />
basketball squad will have a new<br />
face leading the charge on the<br />
sideline.<br />
Jeff Vetter will enter his first<br />
season as the head coach for the<br />
Bulldogs, and will have nine<br />
returning letterwinners to lean<br />
on.<br />
Senior forward Hunter Paitz will<br />
lead the charge for the Bulldogs,<br />
after posting an impressive 16.4<br />
points and 7 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
Senior center Bronson Gibbons<br />
will also be back on the<br />
hardwood, as will senior guard<br />
Travis Tolles.<br />
Junior Jayden Westland and<br />
sophomores Brady Klein,<br />
Jackson Keaschall, and Seth<br />
Eckel will all see significant<br />
playing time this season, too.<br />
With a deep roster containing<br />
plenty of in-game experience,<br />
Vetter said the keys to success for<br />
his team are simple, and come<br />
down to execution.<br />
“Playing fundamental basketball,<br />
reducing turnovers, and playing<br />
solid team defense,” he said.<br />
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Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 7-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 22<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Vetter<br />
Career Record: 36-24<br />
The 2016-17 campaign was yet<br />
another successful showing for the<br />
Kenesaw boy’s basketball squad<br />
and head coach Jack Einrem.<br />
The Blue Devils posted an 18-6<br />
record and finished second in a<br />
difficult district a year ago, and the<br />
group will be looking to repeat that<br />
success in Einrem’s 10th season at<br />
the helm.<br />
There will be more than enough<br />
returning talent to make a<br />
successful season a reality, as the<br />
Blue Devils welcome back eight<br />
returning letterwinners, and a core<br />
group of seniors.<br />
One of those seniors, Tyson Burr,<br />
will lead Kenesaw. Burr is coming<br />
off a season in which he averaged<br />
13.6 points a game.<br />
Another leader on the court will be<br />
senior Will Gallagher, who posted<br />
14.8 points a contest during his<br />
junior campaign.<br />
Seniors Jacob Weiler, Alex Heier,<br />
and Phillip Quackenbush are also<br />
expected to be impact players this<br />
season.<br />
“We will need to stay healthy and<br />
show improvement on defense,”<br />
Einrem said. “Scoring off the<br />
bench will need to improve from a<br />
year ago also.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Blue Devils<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 18-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Jack Einrem<br />
Career Record: 108-59<br />
PLEASANTONGIRLS<br />
The Pleasanton girl’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off a 2016-17<br />
campaign that saw the Bulldogs<br />
go 13-8 before falling in the<br />
playoffs to Burwell.<br />
This season, the program will be<br />
under new leadership, as head<br />
coach Randy Bauer takes the<br />
reins.<br />
Bauer, who had 218 wins as head<br />
coach of the Pleasanton boys<br />
team, has seven letterwinners<br />
returning.<br />
Leading that group will be junior<br />
Meghan Fisher, who averaged<br />
12.2 points and 7.8 rebounds a<br />
game from the center position<br />
last year.<br />
Sharing the court will be senior<br />
forwards Keri Bauer, who<br />
averaged 8.7 points and 2 steals<br />
per contest last season, and<br />
Keegan Linder.<br />
McKenna Siegel, Cadee Nichols,<br />
and Paige Welsdorfer will all be<br />
impact players for the Bulldogs,<br />
as well.<br />
“We had a good turn out for open<br />
gyms and summer camps,” Bauer<br />
said. “We have set our goals for<br />
conference and districts and will<br />
have to see if they fall into place.<br />
The girls will have to adapt to<br />
new coaches and their philosophy<br />
and styles. Our success will be<br />
determined by hard work, team<br />
chemistry, paying particular<br />
attention to our fundamental<br />
skills, and developing depth to be<br />
competitive in all phases of the<br />
game.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Randy Bauer<br />
Career Record: 82-30<br />
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SHELTONBOYS<br />
Coming off a 2-18 season, the<br />
Shelton boy’s basketball squad<br />
is in need of a fresh start.<br />
Enter first year head coach Dan<br />
Brown, who will look to get the<br />
Bulldogs on the winning track<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18, and establish them<br />
as a contenter in Class D-1.<br />
For Brown, a solid mix of<br />
returning talent and up-andcoming<br />
athletes will fill out<br />
the roster, including nine<br />
letterwinners and four seniors.<br />
A player to keep an eye on is<br />
senior forward Nick Arbogast,<br />
who averaged 3.7 points and<br />
4.7 rebounds last year.<br />
In addition, fellow seniors Case<br />
Terry and Daniel Romera, as<br />
well as sophomores Sterling<br />
Wright and Ben Bombeck will<br />
look to carve out significant<br />
roles.<br />
“(The keys to a successful<br />
season are) good shot selection,<br />
improved team chemistry, and<br />
a more competitive attitude,”<br />
Brown said. “We bring in some<br />
new, young talent, but are not<br />
an experienced team. We had a<br />
good off season so we will see.”<br />
The <strong>2017</strong>-18 campaign will get<br />
underway on Nov. 30 against<br />
Elm Creek.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 2-18<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Dan Brown<br />
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SHELTONGIRLS<br />
The Shelton girl’s basketball<br />
team is coming off a difficult<br />
season, as the Bulldogs finished<br />
the 2016-17 campaign with a<br />
2-19 record.<br />
Also looking to contribute will<br />
be fellow seniors Bri Kennedy,<br />
Halee Blackburn, Chloe<br />
Hellerich, Sandra Sauceda, and<br />
Harley Reilly.<br />
for the Bulldogs on Nov. 30<br />
against Elm Creek on the road.<br />
But a new year brings a new<br />
opportunity to succeed under<br />
second year head coach Will<br />
Reutzel, and with eight seniors<br />
on the roster, a bounce-back<br />
season is possible.<br />
Experience will not be lacking<br />
for the Bulldogs as they attempt<br />
to navigate through Class D-1,<br />
with seniors Jylissa Sinner,<br />
Jeresa Sinner, and Nadia Pinon<br />
all returning to the hardwood.<br />
In addition, juniors Luryn<br />
Hendrickson and Kathleen Juhl<br />
will also battle for significant<br />
playing time.<br />
“Our team will need to continue<br />
to improve fundamentals, learn<br />
the game and how to play it<br />
better, play better together, and<br />
communicate with each other (to<br />
be successful),” Reutzel said.<br />
The season will get underway<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 2-19<br />
Head Coach: Will Ruetzel<br />
146 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 147
TRI COUNTYBOYS<br />
On the heels of a 9-14 season, the<br />
Tri County boy’s basketball team<br />
will have a different look to it this<br />
year, as only four letterwinners<br />
return to the court for the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
campaign.<br />
But for head coach Cory Jensen<br />
and the Trojans, a new season<br />
brings an opportunity to impress<br />
in Class D-1.<br />
Among those returning for Tri<br />
County is senior point guard Riley<br />
Knust, who averaged 12.5 points<br />
and 3.5 assists per game as a<br />
junior.<br />
He will be joined by junior<br />
forward Creighton Niemeyer, who<br />
posted an impressive 13.5 points<br />
and 5 rebounds a contest last year.<br />
Junior forward Evan Larson and<br />
freshman Cole Siems are also<br />
expected to be impact players for<br />
the Trojans this season.<br />
“After a successful summer, a key<br />
for us will be to continue to work<br />
to get better every single day,”<br />
Jensen said. “And like a lot of<br />
D-1 teams, we will need to avoid<br />
injuries.”<br />
Tri County will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 on the road against<br />
Wilber-Clatonia.<br />
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Team Name: Trojans<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 9-14<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Cory Jensen<br />
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TRI COUNTYGIRLS<br />
After winning six of their final<br />
eight games during the 2016-17<br />
campaign, the Tri County girl’s<br />
basketball squad will look to<br />
keep its momentum going into a<br />
brand new season.<br />
The Trojans finished 11-13<br />
last year under head coach<br />
Bryce Simpson, and with<br />
seven returning letterwinners<br />
expected back, the group will<br />
look to make a dent in Class<br />
D-1.<br />
“For us it always starts with<br />
improving and hopefully<br />
getting to a point where we are<br />
playing our best basketball by<br />
the end of the season,” Simpson<br />
said.<br />
Simpson will look to four<br />
seniors to be leaders this year,<br />
as Celena Chavez, Shayna<br />
Lijewski, Shae Wattjes, and<br />
Kailey Weichel all return for<br />
the Trojans.<br />
Juniors Madison Freese,<br />
Shaylee Niemeyer, and Brianna<br />
Connelly, as well as sophomore<br />
Hannah Strein, will also make<br />
an impact this season.<br />
“We will be looking to fill some<br />
holes left by four seniors, but I<br />
like our athleticism,” Simpson<br />
added. “We need to use this<br />
to become more efficient<br />
offensively, while at the same<br />
time making it difficult for our<br />
opponents offensively.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Trojans<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Bryce Simpson<br />
Career Record: 75-110<br />
148 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 149
ELM CREEKBOYS<br />
CLEARWATER-ORCHARDBOYS<br />
The Elm Creek boy’s basketball<br />
squad is in prime position to<br />
make a run during the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
season.<br />
Not only are the Buffaloes<br />
coming off an impressive 17-7<br />
campaign, but five senior starters<br />
return under tenured head coach<br />
Tanner Cavenee.<br />
In total, eight letterwinners will<br />
return to the court, led by senior<br />
guard Jaydn Ford, who posted<br />
13.2 points and 4.2 assists a<br />
game last year.<br />
Complimenting Ford on the court<br />
will be senior forward Anthony<br />
Quintana, who averaged 5.8<br />
points a contest last year.<br />
Fellow seniors Nate Fields, Jerry<br />
Brumels, and Lathan Jonak will<br />
also be key contributors for the<br />
Buffaloes once the season tips<br />
off.<br />
Some younger athletes could step<br />
into big roles this season, as well,<br />
as Cavenee said he expects big<br />
things from sophomores Gage<br />
Clabaugh, Lane Gutzwiller, and<br />
freshman Trey Miner.<br />
“Staying healthy and having<br />
great leadership from five great<br />
seniors that I enjoy coaching,”<br />
Cavenee said about the keys to<br />
a successful season. “Need to<br />
break in some new rotational<br />
players, but we expect some<br />
great things from some of those<br />
younger kids.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Buffaloes<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 17-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Tanner Cavenee<br />
Career Record: 144-127<br />
The Clearwater-Orchard boy’s<br />
basketball team is coming off a<br />
difficult 2016-17 season, where<br />
the group finished 6-16 under<br />
head coach Jim Schutt.<br />
However, the Cyclones are set<br />
up in <strong>2017</strong>-18 to have a solid<br />
bounce back campaign, and are<br />
in position to make some noise in<br />
Class D-1.<br />
Clearwater-Orchard will return<br />
five starters back to the hardcourt<br />
this season, and will be led by a<br />
talented and deep junior class.<br />
Forward Liam Odell will be the<br />
lone senior in the starting lineup<br />
come the start of the season.<br />
But he will be joined by junior<br />
guards Blake Hoke and Chris<br />
Kester, as well as junior forwards<br />
Ryan Wilhelm and Jacob Long.<br />
“We have five starters back. We<br />
need to stay healthy and focused<br />
to have a successful season,”<br />
Schutt said. “Players put in a<br />
good effort this summer.”<br />
The season will tip off for the<br />
Cyclones on Nov. 30 against St.<br />
Mary’s.<br />
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Team Name: Cyclones<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 19<br />
Head Coach: James Schutt<br />
ELM CREEKGIRLS<br />
The Elm Creek girl’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off an impressive<br />
2016-17 campaign, which saw the<br />
Buffaloes go 23-3.<br />
The Buffaloes are reloaded under<br />
tenured head coach Mike Ford, as<br />
four starters will be back on the<br />
roster.<br />
However, Elm Creek lost Kenzie<br />
Deyo, who earned all-conference<br />
honors last season, to graduation.<br />
“She was an excellent distributor<br />
of the ball averaging 10 points per<br />
game and nearly four assists,” Ford<br />
said “Kenzie rewrote many of the<br />
records in the assist column.”<br />
The Buffaloes will rely heavily this<br />
season on senior guard/forward<br />
Claire Cornell, who averaged an<br />
impressive 19 points and 11.5<br />
rebounds per game in 2016-17.<br />
Juniors Allie Bauer, who averaged<br />
17.7 points and 5.8 rebounds, and<br />
Madison Halliwell, who totaled 42<br />
steals last year, will also play major<br />
roles for Elm Creek.<br />
“The young and inexperienced<br />
kids will have the opportunity to<br />
play, and playing time will depend<br />
on their ability to acclimate to the<br />
varsity pace of basketball,” Ford<br />
added. “Offensively there will be<br />
a learning curve for these younger<br />
kids, but defensively I think that we<br />
could be mobile and very disruptive<br />
when we start communicating<br />
and moving together as a team<br />
and that will aid in our efforts to<br />
find easy baskets. But our main<br />
key to success will be to eliminate<br />
mistakes by the kids that will be<br />
picking up the slack of the exiting<br />
seniors.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Buffaloes<br />
Class: D-1<br />
2016-17 Record: 23-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Mike Ford<br />
Career Record: 122-101<br />
150 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 151
ANSELMO-MERNAGIRLS<br />
STUARTBOYS<br />
The Anselmo-Merna girl’s<br />
basketball squad took steps in<br />
the right direction last season,<br />
finishing the 2016-17 campaign<br />
with a 15-7 record.<br />
Under the tutelage of head<br />
coach J.D. Furrow, the Coyotes<br />
will look to keep building<br />
momentum this season, and will<br />
rely on a core of eight returning<br />
letterwinners to do so.<br />
Leading the charge for<br />
Anselmo-Merna will be senior<br />
point guard Megan Christen,<br />
who posted 7.1 points, 7.8<br />
rebounds, and 3.1 steals a<br />
contest as a junior.<br />
Complimenting Christen on the<br />
court will be junior shooting<br />
guard Kourtney Safranek,<br />
who averaged 6.2 points and 2<br />
rebounds a game last year.<br />
Seniors Jalea Chandler and Tara<br />
Geiser, as well as sophomore<br />
Alexis Zimmer, will also<br />
look to make significant<br />
contributions for the Coyotes.<br />
“We will rely heavily on our<br />
defense to give us scoring<br />
opportunities,” Furrow said.<br />
“I think we will be a decent<br />
shooting team, but our lack of<br />
size will make rebounding and<br />
defending the post a challenge.<br />
We compete in a really tough<br />
conference, so the girls will<br />
be battle tested by the time<br />
districts roll around.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Coyotes<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 15-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: J.D. Furrow<br />
A 5-18 record wasn’t exactly<br />
what head coach Travis Ludwig<br />
was hoping for out of the Stuart<br />
boy’s basketball squad last<br />
season, but that doesn’t mean the<br />
campaign was a waste.<br />
Even though the Broncos<br />
scuffled through much of the<br />
2016-17 campaign, a number of<br />
young players earned valuable<br />
experience, setting the group up<br />
to make a run this season.<br />
Eight letterwinners will be back<br />
on the roster for the tenured<br />
head coach, led by junior Issac<br />
Steinhaser, who posted 12.6<br />
points and 8.7 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
Junior guard Ethan Sattler will<br />
also be a key contributor for the<br />
Broncos after averaging 6 points<br />
and 4.2 assists in his sophomore<br />
campaign.<br />
Juniors Coltin Schroder, Wyatt<br />
Paxton, and Zach Michka will<br />
also see significant run this<br />
season.<br />
“We have a lot of kids back who<br />
played a lot last year,” Ludwig<br />
said. “They gained valuable<br />
experience and were forced to<br />
grow up quick. We will look to<br />
make an impact this year.”<br />
Stuart will open the season<br />
on Nov. 30 at home against<br />
Niobrara-Verdigre.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 5-18<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Travis Ludwig<br />
Career Record: 93-84<br />
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FEBRUARY 4, 2018<br />
152 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 153
AXTELLBOYS<br />
CHAMBERS-WHEELER CENTRAL-EWINGGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 campaign was a<br />
difficult one for the Axtell boy’s<br />
basketball squad, as the group<br />
went 3-20 under head coach Chris<br />
Callan.<br />
However, the Wildcats were at a<br />
disadvantage from the start, as no<br />
player had starting experience at<br />
the start of last season.<br />
The opposite is true for Axtell<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>-18, as a plethora of<br />
returning experience and talent<br />
have raised expectations, and<br />
created optimism as the season<br />
approaches.<br />
“Last year we started the year<br />
with zero starters returning and<br />
three letterwinners. This year<br />
we we have 11 letterwinners<br />
and eight different players who<br />
started at one point in the season<br />
last year,” Callan said. “That<br />
experience will provide a lot for<br />
us to draw upon this season, as we<br />
return 99 percent of our scoring<br />
and rebounding from last year.”<br />
Leading the charge for Axtell will<br />
be senior guard Ryan Hubbard,<br />
who averaged 9.7 points and 7.3<br />
rebounds a contest last year.<br />
Also looking to contribute will<br />
be senior guard Jake Marsh,<br />
who posted 6.8 points a contest<br />
his junior year, and forward<br />
Creighton Kring.<br />
Junior Lane Bertrand, and<br />
sophomores Jake Wehrer, Zach<br />
Hinrichs, and Tyler Danburg will<br />
be key players for the Wildcats, as<br />
well.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wildcats<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 3-20<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Chris Callan<br />
Career Record: 25-25<br />
Fresh off a 13-9 campaign, the<br />
Chambers-Wheeler Central<br />
girl’s basketball squad will<br />
have to mature quickly if they<br />
plan on competing in Class D-2<br />
this season.<br />
“We are very young this year,<br />
so it will be important for us to<br />
work together as a team early in<br />
the season,” head coach Laurel<br />
O’Malley said.<br />
The Renegades only return<br />
five letterwinners and a pair of<br />
seniors this season.<br />
CWC will be led by sophomore<br />
guard Taylor Peter, who<br />
averaged 9.8 points and 9.5<br />
rebounds a contest as freshman.<br />
Also seeing significant run will<br />
be the duo of seniors Jamie<br />
Koenig and Neleigh Gehl, as<br />
well as junior Kyra Farewell.<br />
“We also need to rely on<br />
defense and rebounding and<br />
work very hard to keep our<br />
turnovers down,” O’Malley<br />
added. “Our upperclassmen will<br />
need to be good leaders to help<br />
our younger players as they<br />
develop experience. It will be<br />
exciting to see this team grow<br />
and improve throughout the<br />
year.”<br />
The season will tip off for CWC<br />
on Nov. 28 against Creighton.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Renegades<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 13-9<br />
Head Coach: Laurel O’Malley<br />
Career Record: 118-53<br />
AXTELLGIRLS<br />
SUMNER-EDDYVILLE-MILLERGIRLS<br />
Coming off a 19-5 campaign<br />
which ended in the second round<br />
of the state tournament, the<br />
Axtell girl’s basketball squad<br />
will have a new leader on the<br />
sidelines.<br />
Alyssa Willicott will take the<br />
reigns as the head coach for the<br />
Wildcats in <strong>2017</strong>-18, and will<br />
be looking to bring her team<br />
together from the first day of<br />
practice.<br />
“This year we are going to focus<br />
on teamwork. To win basketball<br />
games you need five players<br />
on the court, as well as all the<br />
players you have on the bench<br />
to mesh well together,” Willicott<br />
said. “Basketball isn’t won by<br />
just one or two players. It takes<br />
the entire team to be successful.”<br />
Willicott will have plenty of<br />
experience returning, as 11<br />
letterwinners will be back on the<br />
court this season.<br />
Senior Paige Kirby will lead<br />
the charge for Axtell after an<br />
impressive junior campaign,<br />
and Camille Fishell and Caitlin<br />
Callan will also be impact<br />
players.<br />
“If we can accomplish team unity<br />
plus hard work and dedication,<br />
our team will be successful once<br />
again. I have a good group of<br />
girls to work with and I have set<br />
my expectations high for them,<br />
but nothing they can’t achieve”<br />
Willicott added. “I am excited for<br />
this new year and to see where<br />
the season takes us.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Lady Cats<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Alyssa Willicott<br />
The Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
girl’s basketball squad had a<br />
difficult season in 2016-17<br />
under first year head coach<br />
Kathy Petersen-Cline.<br />
The Mustangs went 3-16 and<br />
1-9 in district play, but the group<br />
will look to get back on the<br />
winning track as a new season<br />
approaches.<br />
SEM will rely heavily on senior<br />
Sidney Ripp, who averaged 5.7<br />
points and 6.5 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
Joscelyn Soncksen will also play<br />
a significant role, coming off a<br />
season in which she averaged<br />
4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds a<br />
game.<br />
Mekenzie Beattie, Jenaya<br />
Pierce, and Mikayla Dittmar<br />
will also look to earn extended<br />
playing time for the Mustangs.<br />
SEM will open the season on<br />
Nov. 30 on the road against<br />
Loomis.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 3-16<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Kathy Petersen-Cline<br />
Career Record: 3-16<br />
154 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 155
DORCHESTERBOYS<br />
The Dorchester boy’s basketball<br />
squad is coming off a difficult<br />
2016-17 season, in which<br />
the Longhorns claimed only<br />
one victory en route to a 1-20<br />
campaign.<br />
Expectations are higher for the<br />
group in <strong>2017</strong>-18 under head<br />
coach Miles Ray, although a<br />
majority of Dorchester’s scoring<br />
from last year’s team was lost to<br />
graduation.<br />
However, the Longhorns do<br />
return a trio of players that could<br />
do some damage in Class D-2.<br />
Junior guard Nathan Cochnar,<br />
senior forward Ryan Weber, and<br />
junior guard Carson Zahourek<br />
will all play significant roles for<br />
Ray this season.<br />
“We will be a young team that<br />
needs to replace a majority<br />
of our scoring from last year.<br />
The goal is to get better every<br />
practice and every game,” Ray<br />
said. “As players get more<br />
experience at the varsity level<br />
we hope to be a competitive<br />
team come subdistrict time.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for Dorchester on Dec. 1 when it<br />
battles Meridian on the road.<br />
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Team Name: Longhorns<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 1-20<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Miles Ray<br />
Career Record: 3-39<br />
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DORCHESTERGIRLS<br />
PARKVIEW CHRISTIANBOYS<br />
Coming off a season in which the<br />
Dorchester girl’s basketball squad<br />
finished with an 11-13 record,<br />
head coach Brandon Burha will<br />
be looking to a core of young<br />
players to produce in <strong>2017</strong>-18.<br />
The Longhorns return only 4<br />
letterwinners to the court this<br />
season.<br />
Among those returners is forward<br />
Abby Plouzek, who averaged 2.2<br />
points and 3.5 rebounds a game<br />
last year.<br />
Point guard Makenna Bird,<br />
who posted 8.4 points and<br />
3.6 rebounds last season, and<br />
forward Kaylee Eberhardt will<br />
also look to make a significant<br />
impact come December.<br />
“We have a very young team<br />
this year,” Burha said. “We are<br />
going to rely on a lot of freshman<br />
to play. How quickly they learn<br />
how to play at the high school<br />
level is what is key for our<br />
season.”<br />
The Longhorns will open up<br />
the season on Dec. 1 when they<br />
travel to Meridian.<br />
The group won’t play their first<br />
home game until Dec. 8 when<br />
they host BDS.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Longhorns<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Brandon Bruha<br />
Career Record: 26-42<br />
The Parkview Christian boy’s<br />
basketball squad is coming<br />
off an impressive 2016-17<br />
season, finishing the year 21-5<br />
and making an NSAA state<br />
tournament appearance.<br />
The Patriots’ season came to an end<br />
in the first round of the tournament<br />
with a 39-34 loss to Wynot.<br />
Head coach Jordan Hitchcock<br />
will return to the sidelines for<br />
Parkview Christian in his second<br />
season at the helm, but will only<br />
have three returning letterwinners<br />
on the roster.<br />
The Patriots will be led by a pair<br />
of seniors, as Tucker Pinyan and<br />
Elijah Page are set to return to<br />
the court.<br />
Also looking to play a significant<br />
role will be sophomore Logan<br />
Page, who turned some heads<br />
during his freshman campaign.<br />
“Our season will be a success<br />
if we surrender personal goals<br />
for the good of the whole. This<br />
is exemplified in the pursuit of<br />
two basic goals,” Hitchcock<br />
said. “The first is to help light<br />
a fire in the hearts of the young<br />
men in our program to know<br />
and chase after Jesus Christ.<br />
The second is to win a state<br />
championship. Winning a state<br />
championship has nothing to do<br />
with the glory of winning state or<br />
putting Parkview Christian on the<br />
map, but everything to do with<br />
learning how to be 100 percent<br />
for each other and learning how<br />
to grow as an individual and as a<br />
team.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Patriots<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016-17 Record: 21-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Jordan Hitchcock<br />
Career Record: 21-5<br />
156 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 157
EXETER-MILLIGANBOYS<br />
The Exeter-Milligan boy’s<br />
basketball squad struggled to<br />
find consistency during the<br />
2016-17 campaign, finishing the<br />
season 12-11.<br />
But with 10 letterwinners and<br />
a trio of seniors returning, the<br />
Timberwolves are prepped to do<br />
some damage in Class D-2 this<br />
year.<br />
Under head coach Dean Filipi, a<br />
lack of experience will not be an<br />
issue for Exeter-Milligan.<br />
Senior guard Eric Olsen will<br />
return to the court after a solid<br />
junior campaign, and will be<br />
joined by fellow seniors Seth<br />
Maxson and Patrick Murphy.<br />
All three will be players to<br />
watch come the start of the<br />
season.<br />
Juniors Spencer Pribyl, Colton<br />
Bossaller, and Johnny Babula<br />
will also play significant<br />
minutes for the Timberwolves<br />
this year.<br />
When asked what the keys to a<br />
successful season are, Filipi was<br />
concise.<br />
“Building depth and consistent<br />
play on both ends of the floor,”<br />
he said.<br />
The season gets underway on<br />
Nov. 30 against Deshler.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Timberwolves<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Dean Filipi<br />
Career Record: 76-58<br />
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EXETER-MILLIGANGIRLS<br />
The 2016-17 season was an<br />
impressive one for the Exeter-<br />
Milligan girl’s basketball team, as<br />
the group went an impressive 19-8<br />
on its way to a fourth place finish<br />
at the NSAA state tournament.<br />
However, success is nothing new<br />
for head coach Jackson Krejci,<br />
who owns a career 156-59 record<br />
at the helm of the Timberwolves.<br />
The success the program has had<br />
in recent years places expectations<br />
high for the upcoming campaign,<br />
as five letterwinners and two<br />
seniors are set to return.<br />
The Timberwolves will be led<br />
by senior Hannah Beethe, who<br />
posted 9 points and 6 rebounds a<br />
game last year.<br />
In addition, senior Tara Mueller,<br />
who averaged 6 points and 6<br />
rebounds, will be back on the<br />
hardwood for Exeter-Milligan.<br />
Juniors Katherine White and Kate<br />
Jansky, as well as sophomore<br />
Anna Sluka, will also be key in<br />
the success of the Timberwolves<br />
this season.<br />
“We have a good core of our<br />
team back from last year,” Krejci<br />
said. “Having some younger girls<br />
play towards the end of last year<br />
will help their confidence going<br />
into the season. We will need to<br />
develop depth as the year goes<br />
on. I believe this team has great<br />
potential.”<br />
The Timberwolves tip off their<br />
season on Nov. 30 at home<br />
against Deshler.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Timberwolves<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 19-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Jackson Krejci<br />
Career Record: 156-59<br />
158 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 159
GILTNERBOYS<br />
The Giltner boy’s basketball<br />
squad has a lot working for it as<br />
it heads into the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season<br />
under first year head coach Jordan<br />
Ortmeier.<br />
The Hornets are coming off an<br />
18-7 campaign, and have 10<br />
returning letterwinners on a<br />
senior-heavy roster.<br />
The group will be led by senior<br />
guard Josh Hinrichs, who<br />
averaged an impressive 15.3<br />
points and 4.5 rebounds a contest<br />
last year.<br />
Alex Goracke, a senior forward<br />
who averaged 9.5 points and 4.4<br />
rebounds a game last season, will<br />
also carry some of the load for the<br />
Hornets.<br />
Forward Brodi Hansen will look<br />
to build on a successful 2016-<br />
17 season, as well. The senior<br />
averaged 7.3 points and 4.7<br />
rebounds.<br />
“With a roster full of seniors,<br />
leadership will be huge for us,”<br />
Ortmeier said. “We have plenty of<br />
experience with everyone coming<br />
back from last year. Learning to<br />
be road warriors with a difficult<br />
road schedule (will also be key).”<br />
Giltner will open the season on<br />
Nov. 30 against Harvard.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Hornets<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 18-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Jordan Ortmeier<br />
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FEBRUARY 9-25, 2018<br />
FEBRUARY 4, 2018<br />
GILTNERGIRLS<br />
Coming off an 8-13 season,<br />
the Giltner girl’s basketball<br />
squad will look to bounce<br />
back in a big way, and are in<br />
a position to do so with nine<br />
letterwinners expected back on<br />
the roster.<br />
Under tenured head coach<br />
Nancy Lockmon, who owns a<br />
167-105 record at the helm of<br />
the program, the Hornets will<br />
welcome back four seniors.<br />
Senior guards Reagan Janzen and<br />
Jordan Hansen are two athletes<br />
to watch once the season gets<br />
underway, as is senior forward<br />
Alexa Preissler.<br />
Forward Reagan Smith rounds<br />
out a talented senior class for<br />
Giltner.<br />
Some younger athletes will<br />
have to fill some big roles for<br />
the Hornets to be successful,<br />
as juniors Chloe Craig, Brooke<br />
Good, and Aubrey Leichty will<br />
look to take their game to the<br />
next level.<br />
Sophomores Sydney Janzen and<br />
Cassidy Tompkin will also be<br />
battling for playing time come<br />
late November.<br />
When asked what the keys are<br />
to a successful season, Lockmon<br />
didn’t mince words.<br />
“Being able to put the ball in<br />
the basket and playing solid<br />
defense,” she said.<br />
The season opens up for Giltner<br />
on Nov. 30 against Harvard.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Lady Hornets<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 8-13<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Nancy Lockmon<br />
Career Record: 321-272<br />
160 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 161
LAWRENCE-NELSONBOYS<br />
The Lawrence-Nelson boy’s<br />
basketball team will carry a lot<br />
of momentum into the <strong>2017</strong>-18<br />
season, as the Raiders finished<br />
16-8 last year, setting a school<br />
record for wins.<br />
Under third-year head coach<br />
Decker Brown, the group will<br />
look to keep taking steps in the<br />
right direction, with a core group<br />
of athletes slated to return.<br />
“We will have three starters<br />
from last year’s team back in the<br />
lineup,” Brown said. “We are<br />
very hopeful and excited about<br />
the group stepping into bigger<br />
roles. “<br />
Four letterwinners will return for<br />
the Raiders this season, led by<br />
senior center Micah Dolnicek,<br />
who averaged 8 points and 6<br />
rebounds a contest last year.<br />
Dolnicek will be complimented<br />
by senior point guard Peyton<br />
Drudik, who posted 5 points and<br />
3 rebounds as a junior.<br />
Senior forward Kevin Schroer<br />
and junior Lane Heikkinen will<br />
also play large roles for the<br />
Raiders.<br />
“Throughout the last couple<br />
seasons we have really improved<br />
in not only the wins and losses<br />
category, but with our style of<br />
play,” Brown said. “As is the<br />
case every year, people outside<br />
of Lawrence-Nelson don’t expect<br />
much from our boys. And as we<br />
have done every year, we have<br />
made that our motivator to prove<br />
them wrong.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 16-8<br />
Head Coach: Decker Brown<br />
Career Record: 37-34<br />
402.225.3581<br />
472 SOUTH MAIN - NELSON, NE<br />
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STARTS MARCH 13TH ON<br />
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HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
LAWRENCE-NELSONGIRLS<br />
Even though the Lawrence/<br />
Nelson girl’s basketball team<br />
had a difficult 2016-17 season,<br />
finishing 10-15, the Raiders are<br />
no stranger to success.<br />
The program is led by head<br />
coach Cathy Biltoft, who owns<br />
an impressive 218-130 record at<br />
Lawrence/Nelson.<br />
As <strong>2017</strong>-18 approaches, Biltoft<br />
will have eight returning<br />
letterwinners back on the roster,<br />
led by senior guard Mattee<br />
Kucera.<br />
Kucera averaged 8.2 points per<br />
game as a junior in 2016-17.<br />
In addition, fellow senior Morgan<br />
Menke, as well as sophomores<br />
Taylor Harrington, Karigan<br />
Drudik, and Hallie Epley will<br />
all be vital in getting the Raiders<br />
back on track this season.<br />
When asked what the keys to a<br />
successful season are, Biltoft laid<br />
out her winning recipe.<br />
“For one key, stay healthy,”<br />
Biltoft said. “Work together for<br />
those common goals, and be<br />
prepared for each team we play.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
on Nov. 21 against Heartland<br />
Lutheran.<br />
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Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 10-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Cathy Biltoft<br />
Career Record: 218-130<br />
162 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 163
LOOMISBOYS<br />
Team Phelps<br />
www.PhelpsMemorial.com<br />
The Loomis boys basketball team<br />
struggled to find consistency<br />
during the 2016-17 campaign,<br />
finishing the year 12-11 under head<br />
coach Drew Billeter.<br />
But as a new season approaches,<br />
the Wolves will have a chance to<br />
take steps in the right direction,<br />
and make some noise in Class D-2.<br />
will fellow juniors Josh Marcy,<br />
Andrew Dennis, and Issac Wahls.<br />
“Improving our offense and<br />
shooting (will be key),” Billeter<br />
said. “We need to improve on<br />
defense and rebounding.”<br />
The season will get underway for<br />
Loomis on Nov. 30 against SEM.<br />
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For that to happen, Loomis will<br />
have to get contributions from<br />
seniors Drew Lauby and Hunter<br />
Banzhaf, who make up the core of<br />
the seven returning letterwinners.<br />
Junior guard Aaron Dow will also<br />
have to play a significant role, as<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolves<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-11<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Drew Billeter<br />
Career Record: 82-72<br />
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HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
LOOMISGIRLS<br />
During the <strong>2017</strong>-18 season, the<br />
Loomis girl’s basketball squad<br />
will look to improve on a 12-10<br />
campaign.<br />
Under the leadership of head<br />
coach Staci Fertig, the Wolves<br />
will look to do some damage<br />
in Class D2, in a district that<br />
includes Axtell, Elwood, Eustis-<br />
Farnam, and Wilcox-Hildreth.<br />
In order for the group to have<br />
success, sophomore forward<br />
Darla Thorell will have to step<br />
into a big role, after performing<br />
well as a freshman.<br />
McKayla Meyer will also have<br />
to be a leader for Loomis.<br />
“We need to be in shape and be<br />
able to push the ball,” Fertig<br />
said. “We can’t have any injuries<br />
as numbers are low and we will<br />
need everyone to be successful.”<br />
The season will get underway<br />
for the Wolves on Nov. 11 when<br />
they battle Sumner-Eddyville-<br />
Miller.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Lady Wolves<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 12-10<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Staci Fertig<br />
In addition, junior guard<br />
164 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 165
ST. MARY’S CATHOLICBOYS<br />
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The St. Mary’s boy’s basketball<br />
squad made huge strides during<br />
the 2016-17 campaign, finishing<br />
11-12 on the heels of a 4-17<br />
campaign the year before.<br />
This season, the Cardinals will<br />
look to continue moving forward<br />
under third-year head coach Phil<br />
Baumgart, but will have to do<br />
it with a fairly inexperienced<br />
roster.<br />
“To be successful, we will have<br />
to play solid defense and limit<br />
turnovers,” Baumgart said. “We<br />
will need our younger guys to<br />
mature quickly.”<br />
A core group of juniors will look<br />
to help carry the load for the<br />
Cardinals, as Jack Krotter, Cole<br />
Gaughebaugh, Zach Crumly,<br />
and Jacob Wiese will all look to<br />
make a name for themselves.<br />
it will be important to handle<br />
any presses we see.”<br />
The Cardinals will open the<br />
season on Nov. 30 against<br />
Orchard/Clearwater.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
STARTS MARCH 13TH ON<br />
St. Mary’s returns only one<br />
letterwinner in <strong>2017</strong>-18, junior<br />
forward Grady Semin.<br />
Semin posted 6.3 points and 3<br />
rebounds a game last year.<br />
“My starters will need to stay<br />
out of foul trouble because of<br />
limited depth,” Baumgart added.<br />
“Staying healthy will be critical<br />
with only 11 players out this<br />
year. With no returning starters<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 11-12<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Phil Baumgart<br />
Career Record: 15-29<br />
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ST. MARY’S CATHOLICGIRLS<br />
The St. Mary’s girl’s basketball<br />
team had a season to remember<br />
in 2016-17, finishing the year<br />
22-5 and claiming third place at<br />
the NSAA state tournament.<br />
The talented squad was<br />
dominant throughout the<br />
season, going undefeated at<br />
home and finishing the year<br />
with a double-digit win over<br />
Exeter-Milligan to claim the<br />
third-place trophy.<br />
The Cardinals will look to have<br />
another successful year under<br />
head coach Traci Berg in <strong>2017</strong>-<br />
18, but the group will have to<br />
find a way to be competitive<br />
with a new look roster.<br />
Six seniors from last year’s<br />
team graduated, leaving St.<br />
Mary’s without any returning<br />
starters.<br />
“We graduated six seniors and<br />
had a starter transfer so we<br />
have zero returning starters and<br />
will be very young this year<br />
with only one returning player<br />
having any varsity playing<br />
time,” Berg said. “We will<br />
struggle this year but hope to<br />
get better every day. It will be a<br />
rebuilding year for us.”<br />
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Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 22-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Traci Berg<br />
166 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 167
SILVER LAKEBOYS<br />
The Silver Lake boy’s<br />
basketball squad is coming<br />
off a challenging 6-15 season,<br />
and after losing four seniors to<br />
graduation, the Mustangs will<br />
have to rely on some young<br />
players to get the program on<br />
the winning track.<br />
Head Coach Taylor Maulsby<br />
will return to the sidelines<br />
for Silver Lake in <strong>2017</strong>-18,<br />
and will need juniors Alex<br />
Ehrman, Johnny Borgman,<br />
and Casey Cassell to step into<br />
larger roles.<br />
Seniors Mark Thurston, who<br />
averaged 5 points a game last<br />
season, and Reid Parr will<br />
also need to help carry the<br />
Mustangs once the campaign<br />
gets underway.<br />
“We have a lot of young,<br />
talented kids who I believe are<br />
willing to work and get better<br />
as the season progresses,”<br />
Maulsby said. “We will need<br />
to be solid on the defense<br />
end and knock down a few<br />
more shots than we have the<br />
last couple years. It will be<br />
important for us to create<br />
some turnovers to get extra<br />
possessions while limiting the<br />
mistakes on our end of the<br />
court.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 6-15<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Taylor Maulsby<br />
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SILVER LAKEGIRLS<br />
Silver Lake looks to bounce<br />
back from a 2-19 record when<br />
the Lady Mustangs take the<br />
floor for the <strong>2017</strong>-2018 season.<br />
Joshua Drake returns as the<br />
program’s head coach after a<br />
year away from the sidelines.<br />
Drake was the head coach for<br />
Silver Lake during the 2014-<br />
2015 and 2015-2016 seasons.<br />
“We are going to have a young<br />
team,” said Drake. “Coming<br />
back from a year away from<br />
coaching, I am inheriting an<br />
almost completely new roster.”<br />
The Lady Mustangs had success<br />
with Drake as the head coach.<br />
Silver Lake posted a 26-21<br />
combined record in his two<br />
prior seasons.<br />
With Silver Lake coming off a<br />
two-win campaign, Drake looks<br />
to turn the program around this<br />
winter.<br />
“It will take some time for us<br />
to understand what it takes for<br />
this group to be successful,”<br />
said Drake. “We are going to<br />
build a foundation based upon<br />
defense and solid fundamental<br />
play.”<br />
Silver Lake opens the season<br />
Friday, Dec. 1 against Deshler.<br />
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Team Name: Lady Mustangs<br />
Class: D-2<br />
2016-17 Record: 2-19<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Joshua Drake<br />
Career Record: 26-21<br />
168 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonehardcourtpreview 169
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EDITORIAL - Jay Omar<br />
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<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Hardcourt</strong> <strong>Preview</strong><br />
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or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion,<br />
or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. Each<br />
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regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil<br />
Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
*Men: 3.4<br />
southeast.edu/VisitSCC<br />
*Women: 3.9<br />
Percentage of high<br />
school basketball<br />
players who play<br />
college basketball.<br />
*Men: 1.1<br />
*Women: 0.9<br />
Percentage of NCAA<br />
basketball players drafted<br />
by an NBA team.<br />
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*Sources: High school figures from the 2015-16 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the<br />
National Federation of State High School Associations; data from club teams not included. College numbers<br />
from the NCAA 2015-16 Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report.