SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY Center Grove has high expectations with seniors (from left) in Spen- cer Pierceeld, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Ben Greller and Ben Nicoson. Seniors not pictured: Lucas Doyle and Cameron Petty, members of the sectional and regional championship football team
CENTER GROVE (20-7) – Among state’s elite teams … reigning two-time sectional champs … lost to New Albany in Seymour regional title game … allowed 51 points per game in last two seasons … 59 wins under coach Zach Hahn in four seasons … graduated four players, including playmaker Nate McLain (9.3 ppg) … returns with Mr. Basketball candidate Jackson-Davis (21.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.2 blocks, 2.6 assists), versatile, agile, powerful, can score and block shots … He scored 24 points against New Albany … five returning classmates: 6-6 Lucas Doyle, 6-1 Ben Greller, 6-0 Spencer Piercefield (11.2 points, team-high 34 steals), 6-0 Cameron Petty and 5-11 Ben Nicoson (3.9 points) … 6-5 junior Justin DeGraaf adds length … more depth from juniors in 6-5 Ben Cooney and 6-1 Derek Peterson, sophomores: 6-3 Charlie Bemis and 5-10 Landin Hacker, and 6-3 freshman Tayvon Jackson … quick offense … stingy defense … Cathedral visits Nov. 30 … meet Westfield
in Hall of Fame Classic Dec. 29.
Coach’s comments: “We will struggle early because we wait on our football athletes. Our senior leadership is phenomenal, and we have four guys who have been varsity for three years now. They are getting our young guys ready. The one aspect about this team is that they are unselfish. Our guards do a good job of moving without the ball. We will be able to put more motion into our offense. With the experience we have back, we should be strong defensively. We know that every night we play, there is a target on our back. We have a top-five schedule in the state, and our guys embrace that. If you want to be the best, you have to play the best. I believe our guys are up to the challenge.”
in Hall of Fame Classic Dec. 29.
Coach’s comments: “We will struggle early because we wait on our football athletes. Our senior leadership is phenomenal, and we have four guys who have been varsity for three years now. They are getting our young guys ready. The one aspect about this team is that they are unselfish. Our guards do a good job of moving without the ball. We will be able to put more motion into our offense. With the experience we have back, we should be strong defensively. We know that every night we play, there is a target on our back. We have a top-five schedule in the state, and our guys embrace that. If you want to be the best, you have to play the best. I believe our guys are up to the challenge.”
RSS Feed