Prepzone Hardcourt Preview 2017

WAVERLYBOYS
McCOOKBOYS
On the heels of an 8-13 season, the
Waverly boy’s basketball squad will
look to bounce back in 2017-18,
but a new cast will be tasked with
accomplishing the goal.
“We return five letterwinners from
last year’s senior loaded team as we
graduated seven seniors,” Waverly
Head Coach Ryan Reeder said. “But
(we) return some key pieces that got
valuable experience playing in some
tough environments on the road.”
The Vikings will look for
production from a number of
different sources, including senior
forward Tanner Wubbels, who
averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds
a contest last season.
In addition, Alex Murray and Ben
Carter will play vital roles as guards
for Waverly, and Reeder noted
sophomore Noah Stoddard could
see extended runs on the court.
“Tanner Wubbels, a Concordia
commit, who was our leading
scorer and rebounder last year,
returns for his senior season,”
Reeder said. “Alex Murray, a junior,
started the second half of the season
and became a great defender. Ben
Carter, Jacob Hruska, and Noah
Stoddard all came off the bench and
played relevant minutes.”
But like any experienced coach,
Reeder believes his team’s
mentality will be the deciding factor
during the upcoming campaign.
“If we have the attitude (that)
success is earned, not given and
the confidence of believing in one
another, we have the potential to be
a tough team down the stretch,” he
said.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Vikings
Class: B
2016-17 Record: 8-13
Playoff Appearances: 21
Head Coach: Ryan Reeder
Career Record: 42-28
Even though the McCook boys
basketball squad is coming off
an 11-13 campaign, the 2017-18
version of the Bison could be
positioned for big things.
McCook returns seven
letterwinners, all juniors and
seniors, under head coach Jeremy
Yilk, setting the team up for a run
this season.
“We have a strong nucleus of
seniors and juniors returning that
are motivated to do great things
this year,” Yilk said. “We will
be looking for our experienced
players to expand their roles from
last season.”
The Bison will be led by senior
guard Hunter Potthoff, who
averaged an impressive 16 points
a contest last year.
In addition, seniors Zach
Schlager, Clayton Stevens,
and Hunter Hays all return for
McCook.
While the senior class is deep
this season, there will be plenty
of younger athletes pushing for
playing time come December.
“The competition for playing
time will help us build our
depth throughout the year,” Yilk
added. “Our athleticism and
aggressiveness on both ends of
the floor will help make up for our
overall lack of size. The continued
development of our up-tempo
style of play will also be key.”
The Bison open the season on
Dec. 2 when they host Valentine.
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Bison
Class: B
2016-17 Record: 11-13
Playoff Appearances: 27
Head Coach: Jeremy Yilk
Career Record: 58-66
WAVERLYGIRLS
Wecome to the
Coming off a 2016-17 campaign in
which the Waverly girl’s basketball
squad went 13-8, the group will
look to keep improving and make
some noise in Class B this season.
Under the leadership of second
year head coach John Cockerill, the
Vikings return seven letterwinners,
including a pair of talented seniors.
But even with some experience
coming back, Cockerill said the
success of the team could hinder on
one side of the ball.
“Our big key will be our team
defense,” he said. “We are not a big
team, but we have a lot of athletic
girls on this team. The girls will
have to give their all on defense for
this team. So we need to be fast,
communicate well, and rebound as
a group.”
The Vikings will rely heavily on
senior guard/forward hybrid Clair
Jones, as well as senior guard
Melissa Warner.
The two seniors will need assistance
from some younger athletes,
however, so look for juniors Sydni
Schernikau, Abigail Clark, and Alex
Danson to step into big roles for
Waverly this season.
“We also play a very tough
schedule and our depth will be
important. We have a number of
girls that can and hopefully will
step up and play at a high level,”
Cockerill added. “After one more
year of growth, weights, and fulltime
sports, well I expect much
more consistency from them. It
should be a very challenging and
exciting year.”
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Lady Vikes
Class: B
2016-17 Record: 13-8
Playoff Appearances: 6
Head Coach: John Cockerill
Career Record: 172-85
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