Prepzone Hardcourt Preview 2017

AURORABOYS
Tom Leininger has created a
winning culture during his tenure
as head coach for the Aurora boy’s
basketball squad, and the 2016-17
campaign was no different.
The Huskies finished the season 25-
2, winning their conference before
falling to Scottsbluff in the state
semi-finals.
As a new season approaches,
Aurora will look for more of the
same, but will focus on pushing all
the way to the state championship
this time around.
“We will have a nice mix of players
from sophomores to seniors,”
Leininger said. “After having a
great off season, we are looking to
improve on last years’ season.”
The Huskies, who return seven
letterwinners and two starters, will
be lead this season by senior guard
Henry Penner, who in addition to
receiving a number of accolades,
averaged 14.1 points and 7.3
rebounds a game last season.
He will be joined on the court by
senior guard Baylor Scheierman,
who posted 8.9 points and 3
rebounds a contest in 2016-17.
Cade Reichardt, Jordan Stevenson,
Ian Boerkircher, and Jayden
Herzberg are also expected to see
significant time on the court come
the start the of the season.
Aurora will open the 2017-18
campaign on Nov. 30 when they
host Adams Central.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Huskies
Class: B
2016-17 Record: 25-2
Playoff Appearances: 29
Head Coach: Tom Leininger
Career Record: 368-231
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CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
LEADER
AURORAGIRLS
Although the Aurora girl’s
basketball squad posted a 15-9
record in 2016-17, the group fell
short of the state tournament for the
second straight season.
Under head coach Phil Thramer, the
Huskies will look to breakthrough
this year, and push past the district
final.
“We are coming off of back-to-back
seasons of reaching the district
championship, but came up short
of reaching the state tournament
in both of those contests,”
Thramer said. “Last year we
were able to compete with some
of the state’s best in Class B on
a consistent basis. We graduated
three experienced starters who
contributed a lot on the offensive
end. This opens up opportunities
for girls to step up and compete for
starting spots and additional playing
time.”
Seniors Corrie Schneider and
Brooke Williams will be the only
returning starters for the Huskies
this season. Schneider posted 8.1
rebounds and 5.7 points a game in
2016-17, and Williams averaged 7.1
points and 1.9 rebounds a contest.
“We have a solid foundation of
returning players to build off of as
we continue to develop our culture
for girls basketball here at Aurora,”
Thramer added. “Keys to our
success this year will be developing
an identity on the defensive side
of the ball early in the season and
maintaining that identity throughout
the year. Offensively, we need to
develop girls to fill different roles
that they may have not experienced
in past seasons.”
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Huskies
Class: B
2016-17 Record: 15-9
Playoff Appearances: 4
Head Coach: Phil Thramer
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