Staff writer
Having lost a slew of talented basketball players from last season, the Cougars have just one returning starter, Lane Methvin.
The 5’10” senior averaged 7.4 points and 3 rebounds per game last year.
The team isn’t able to practice until January, so coach Richard Idleman can’t even name his starting five or predict how the season might go.
“This year’s program will experience growing pains,” he said. “With so many underclassmen having to step in and play significant roles, we will have to grow up fast.”
Of the Cougars’ 16 players, just 3 are seniors. In addition to Methvin, who is expected to play guard and forward, there is Methvin, Kevin Spohn and Mathew Madron.
Juniors include 5’5” Mikey Silhan, 6’0” Tanner Stuchlik, 6’1” Quinten Bina, and 5’8” Keegan August, while the team’s two sophomores are 6’1” Matthew Basore, and 5’11” Anthony Rziha. Junior Kyle Peterson is out because of an injury he suffered during football season.
The team adds six freshmen this season to fill out its roster.
Idleman, in his sixth year as coach, expects that the team will need two weeks when practices finally start before players are ready to play.
“Ultimately, there’s no substitute for experience,” he said.
The team finished 9-13 last season and 3-6 in league play.