Coach’s comments: “We couldn’t fill the empty basket and we couldn’t attack (defense) last year. The biggest plus this year is that we have competition in our practices, and that’s going to make us better. I have 12-13 kids competing every day. We will have games when we can go with our bigs or go with four or five guards in the lineup. Our juniors can shoot the ball. We have some sophomores that we are happy with. Our younger players will see playing time as we go. We have had good practices, and we have a lot to build on. This has been so much fun to watch these kids compete against each other. I feel really good about our effort and enthusiasm that I’ve seen in the gym so far.”
FRANKLIN CENTRAL (4-18) – Four straight sectional championships (2013-16) … failed to reach title game for first time in six years… lost only three players to graduation … four wins, fewest under eighth-year coach John Rockey (81-86) … first season in Hoosier Crossroads Conference … reload with six returnees … backcourt intact with 5-8 senior Michael Santoro (4.9 points, 3.0 assists), 6-3 junior MVP Isiah Morgan (11.5 points, team-high 32 steals) and 6-0 soph Mason Gonzales (8.2 points, 4.5 assists) … length comes from returning seniors in 6-7 Alan Cox (7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds), 6-5 Eric Kolp (4.2 points, 3.4 rebounds) and 6-2 Andrew Wichlinski … young guards: soph Jovann Small, via Texas and South Bend Riley, and freshman Brian Marshall up from 18-1 junior varsity team … added depth with 5-11 junior Quinten Gilliland, 6-0 soph Benny Ogayonne and freshman forward Alex Ewing … rugged season opens Saturday with Center Grove Saturday, at Brownsburg Nov. 30 and Warren Central visits Dec. 1.
Coach’s comments: “We couldn’t fill the empty basket and we couldn’t attack (defense) last year. The biggest plus this year is that we have competition in our practices, and that’s going to make us better. I have 12-13 kids competing every day. We will have games when we can go with our bigs or go with four or five guards in the lineup. Our juniors can shoot the ball. We have some sophomores that we are happy with. Our younger players will see playing time as we go. We have had good practices, and we have a lot to build on. This has been so much fun to watch these kids compete against each other. I feel really good about our effort and enthusiasm that I’ve seen in the gym so far.”
0 Comments
GREENWOOD (14-9) – Most wins and first winning season since 2006 under first-year coach Joe Bradburn … handcuffed Center Grove in sectional but lost by three points … graduated six standouts who ac-counted for 84.4 percent of offense and 88.3 of team rebounds … 5-10 senior Isaiah Drew (6.9 points) returns … 6-1 junior Bryce Hoffman, 5-8 classmate Ian Raker and 6-0 senior Devin Lester played sparingly … 6-1 senior TJ Price returns to hardwood … 6-5 senior transfer Matt Allen and 6-4 junior Gavin Dowling can help … juniors 6-3 Matt Boggess, 6-3 Spencer Aaron and 6-2 Nick Duffey add depth … help could come from soph Nick Belovic and freshman Brock Kincaid … lots of question marks … open at home Friday against New Castle and Saturday against Greenwood Christian.
Coach’s comments: “First of all, former coach Bruce Hensley was awesome in every capacity because the cupboard certainly was not bare. We shared many of the same philosophies. We had seniors who could compete, understood the game and who could play. We had a lot of fun. This season we have some unknowns because we were senior-dominated last year. We have some depth, but we are searching for leaders. We have the opportunity to surprise. The guys understand what our system is about, both on and off the court. Because of our depth there is competition everywhere in practice. Every position is open. We don’t have much size; we have some shooting skills, and we’re going to be aggressive. We have a group of guys who are excited to be in the gym. The coaches are challenging them to rise up. Our goal is to improve day by day.” |
Archives
December 2023
|