SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY Lutheran juniors (from left) Riley Wilson, Matthew Alter and Clayton Pittman are expected to add some punch to the lineup.
Dick Alter, former Manual head coach and longtime assistant at Lutheran, moves into his first year as the Saints’ head coach. He has also coached baseball at Lutheran for several years. LUTHERAN (1A, 12-13) – Claimed sectional title as underdogs … longtime assistant coach Dick Alter takes over … must replace nearly 80 percent of last year’s scoring punch with five graduated seniors, including Brandon Perry, 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and Zach White, 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds … team averaged six steals per game … will rely upon versatile junior scorers Riley Wilson, Clayton Pittman and returning starter Matthew Alter … senior guards Max Lowry and Trevor Russell spark backcourt … juniors in pure center Mark Caster and Grant Pell and senior shooter Christian Navarra will see plenty of playing time … interchangeable parts … will rely on team ball, movement, screens and smart fast breaks … man-to-man defense … rebounding and leadership to come around … change in sectional pits Saints and preseason No. 1 Tinley in same sectional.
Coach’s comments: “We are a little bit behind with working in 15 football players into our three teams. We’re very proud of their success. There will be a lot of changes with this team. We will do the things that Lutheran basketball teams did from 2005 through 2015 when I helped coach (Tom) Finchum. They had a different system that was successful last year, but we don’t have that type of team. They had three big seniors who could score, drive the ball. These players have known each other for years, so that will really help.
“Based on what I’ve seen in scrimmages, we have good guards, good shooters. Our goal is to take uncontested shots. We will need to take good care of the ball and figure out a way to rebound. The (Indiana) Crossroads Conference will be very difficult, for sure (because) we’re the only 1A school.”
Coach’s comments: “We are a little bit behind with working in 15 football players into our three teams. We’re very proud of their success. There will be a lot of changes with this team. We will do the things that Lutheran basketball teams did from 2005 through 2015 when I helped coach (Tom) Finchum. They had a different system that was successful last year, but we don’t have that type of team. They had three big seniors who could score, drive the ball. These players have known each other for years, so that will really help.
“Based on what I’ve seen in scrimmages, we have good guards, good shooters. Our goal is to take uncontested shots. We will need to take good care of the ball and figure out a way to rebound. The (Indiana) Crossroads Conference will be very difficult, for sure (because) we’re the only 1A school.”
Lutheran’s only seniors are guards Max Lowry and Trevor Russell.
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