Prepzone Hardcourt Preview 2017

EAST BUTLERBOYS
ELGIN-POPE JOHNBOYS
The East Butler boy’s basketball
team put together a solid
2016-17 season under tenured
head coach Greg Jahde, as the
Tigers went 16-9 before falling
to Guardian Angels Central
Catholic to close the campaign.
Now, East Butler will look to
keep the momentum rolling
into a new season and push
its way through the Class D-1
competition.
Five letterwinners are set to
return to the court for the Tigers,
led by senior Trevor Havlovic,
who posted 11.5 points and 7
rebounds a contest last year.
Joining Havlovic will be
talented sophomore Jaden
Rhynalds, who tallied 2.3 steals
and 9.4 points a game in 2016-
17, and senior guard Carter
Stara.
Senior forwards Jakub Janak
and Camden Robley, as well as
senior guard Taylor Jirovsky,
will all battle for significant
playing time as well.
“We will need to work on
developing some depth,” Jahde
said. “We will also need to find
ways to get the ball to our main
two scoring threats, that being
Jaden and Trevor.”
The Tigers will open the season
on Nov. 30 against Cedar Bluffs.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Tigers
Class: D-1
2016-17 Record: 16-9
Playoff Appearances: 2
Head Coach: Greg Jahde
Career Record: 122-203
Although the Elgin/Pope John
boy’s basketball squad is coming
off a dissappointing 6-16 season,
there is a lot to be excited about
entering the 2017-18 campaign.
The Wolfpack return seven
starters to the court this season,
and will look to take a step in the
right direction under second year
head coach Michael Becker.
Elgin/Pope John’s biggest
strength will be in the backcourt,
as three game-tested guards are
set to return this season.
That group is led by 6-foot junior
Kyle Schumacher, who averaged
6.6 points per game last season.
Hunter Reestman, who is also
a junior, will see significant run
after contributing 8.5 points and
4 rebounds a contest last year,
and senior Ashton Evans will
round out a deep and talented
guard position for the Wolfpack.
“We will need to have strong
team rebounding and efficient,
consistent guard play this year,”
Becker said.
The Wolfpack will open the
season on Dec. 1 when they
battle Niobrara-Verdigre.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Wolfpack
Class: D-1
2016-17 Record: 6-16
Playoff Appearances: 17
Head Coach: Michael Becker
Career Record: 6-16
EAST BUTLERGIRLS
ELGIN-POPE JOHNGIRLS
Coming off a season in which
the East Butler girl’s basketball
squad went 5-16, the 2017-18
campaign will feature a new look
Tiger squad. Plenty of playing
time is up for grabs under head
coach Kevin Behne.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,”
Behne said. “I expect the team to
be competitive every night. We
graduated three starters and those
spots are up for grabs. There will
be competition for the starting
positions and I can see myself
experimenting with two or three
possible starting lineups.”
There is some experience
returning for East Butler, as
seniors Anna Rigatuso and Abby
Pierce will be back on the roster.
In addition, juniors Madison
Helman and Kaitlyn Hain both
have varsity experience.
But the fate of the Tigers’
season will depend on new
faces, such as juniors Erin Barta
and Brooklyn Jones, as well
as sophomores Amanda Aerts,
Olivia Bohac, and Lexis Haney.
“My major concern is that we
develop consistent shooting. We
shot 33 percent from the field last
year and averaged only 34 points
per game. If shooting doesn’t
improve, it could be a long
season,” Behne said. “We’ve
got a young team and those
youngsters will have to step up
and help out on the varsity level.”
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Tigers
Class: D-1
2016-17 Record: 5-16
Playoff Appearances: 8
Head Coach: Kevin Behne
The 2016-17 campaign was an
impressive one for the Elgin/
Pope John girl’s basketball
squad, as the Wolfpack
dominated the regular season,
finishing with a 19-5 record.
Unfortunately, the season came
to a close for the squad and
head coach Randy Eisenhauer
following a 10-point loss to
Heartland in the NSAA state
tournament.
But a new season brings a new
team, and the Wolfpack return
four letterwinners to the court in
2017-18, including junior guard
Allyson Wemhoff.
Wemhoff averaged an impressive
11.9 points and 3.3 rebounds a
game last season.
In addition, senior forwards
Paige Meis and Lydia Behnk
will also be back on the floor.
Meis contributed 12.4 rebounds
a game last year, while Behnk
averaged 8.2 points and 6.6
rebounds.
But with a number of
underclassmen on the roster,
Eisenhauer said his team must
mature quickly if they want to
repeat the success of last year.
“We will have to have our
younger players step up this
year,” he said. “We will need to
find consistency in our scoring
column as we lost many great
scorers from last year’s team.”
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Wolfpack
Class: D-1
2016-17 Record: 19-5
Playoff Appearances: 5
Head Coach: Randy Eisenhauer
Career Record: 151-159
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