Goshert Takes Over Squire Fortunes
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Two trademarks identified the Manchester Squires last season: quickness and the ability to overachieve.
First-year coach Gary Goshert asks his team to do the same again this year.
For the second straight year, Manchester is not blessed with much height. Five of the players on the Squires roster are 5-foot-11. Their only returning starter taller than 5-11 is 6-4 forward/center Jake Peden.
But if the Squires have one strength, it's quickness in the backcourt. The Reimer brothers - Brandon and Rex - are two of the quickest guards around.
"Compared to the other teams we play, we're not tall," Goshert said. "I think we have players who are pretty quick. Team quickness will be an advantage for us."
The Squires played in the Peru Jamboree Tuesday, but Goshert has not settled on a starting lineup. He did name six players he will rely on - Brandon Reimer, Rex Reimer, Peden, Chris Enyeart, Eric Swan and Scot Croner.
Brandon Reimer and Peden, the two seniors on the team, are the leading returning scorers. Each scored 7 points per game. They must help fill the void left by Tory Shafer and Blake Williams, who graduated, each taking their 14 points per game with them.
Enyeart came on at the end and scored 30 points in the last four regular season games. Swan and Croner played on the junior varsity squad.
Goshert will call on Brandon Reimer and Peden to steer this team.
"Those two boys will have to hold the fort with their experience and capabilities, until these younger players catch on," he said. "They're tremendously valuable. Then, when the younger ones catch on, we can progress toward the team we want to become.
"It will be an adjustment."
Enyeart and Peden will handle the bulk of the duties in the frontcourt. Goshert believes his guards can turn in a solid perimeter game.
"I think there's two or three kids who have the ability to shoot the ball," he said. "We've been working hard on that. We're not going to be one-dimensional from the perimeter. We're not going to be one-dimensional from the post. Definitely Eric, Brandon, Scot Croner, Rex - all of those boys have the ability to shoot it. Nobody is handcuffed as far as shooting the basketball. We want to know when to take our shots."
What may determine Manchester's success more than anything else is how quickly the Squires latch on to Goshert's coaching style. Steve Rice, the junior varsity coach under previous coach Moe Smedley, was retained by Goshert. He will help the transition.
"I think there is an adjustment period anytime a new coach comes in," Goshert said. "There's an adjustment period for the kids. There's an adjustment period for me, too. We've had some good practices. We've had some practices where we haven't looked so good.
"We're not only trying to learn things that may be a little different than the past, we're also trying to string together some consistency. That's kind of hard to do."
One thing you could always count on about Manchester teams in the past: they would never beat themselves. The Squires are a traditionally sound team fundamentally.
Goshert plans to continue that trend.
"When to dribble, to pass - a lot of these boys have very good instincts in that respect," he said. "I think we will be comfortable with a number of players in the backcourt."
Goshert is in his 15th year as a head coach - 10 at Wawasee, four at West Noble. Those 15 years have taught him a lot, including not to look ahead.
When asked how good his team would be, he came up with a politically correct answer.
"Well, that's pretty hard to say from my standpoint, being here in my first year and everything," he said. "I know what we would like to become on the defensive end of the floor and the offensive end of the floor. As far as whether or not we can achieve that and respond to game situations, obstacles that arise, has yet to be seen.
"As far as number of wins, I can't tell you that. I can't say too much more than that."
The good news for Manchester fans is that the height is a year away from returning and making an impact. The Squires have sophomores Keith Wright (6-7) and Chris Betten (6-5) on the junior varsity squad. Betten will also be on this year's varsity roster.
For now, Goshert is taking a basic approach.
"The simple goal we have is to go out and play well every game," he said. "It's simple, yet it's difficult."
Manchester Squires
Coach - Gary Goshert (1st season)
Last year - 16-7, (4-3 TRC); lost in sectional finals
Key returners - Brandon Reimer, Jake Peden
Key losses - Tory Shafer, Blake Williams, Brett Eberly, Evan Nichols
1996-97 Manchester Roster
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.
Brandon Reimer G 5-11 12
Jake Peden F 6-3 12
Jonathan Price G 5-11 11
Chris Good G 5-11 11
Scot Croner G 5-11 11
Heath Simcoe G 6-3 11
Chris Enyeart C 6-4 11
Rex Reimer G 5-11 10
Eric Swan F 6-2 10
Steve Fawcett F 6-0 10
Chris Betten C 6-5 10
1996-97 Manchester Schedule
Nov. 27 FW WAYNE
Nov. 30 at Wabash
Dec. 6 at Southwood
Dec. 13 ROCHESTER
Dec. 14 HOMESTEAD
Dec. 21 COLUMBIA CITY
Dec. 27 at Southwood tour.
Dec. 28 at Southwood tour.
Jan. 3 at Oak Hill
Jan. 10 WHITKO
Jan. 17 NORTH MIAMI
Jan. 18 at FW Dwenger
Jan. 24 at Peru
Jan. 25 at Carroll
Jan. 31 TIPPY VALLEY
Feb. 7 CHURUBUSCO
Feb. 8 WAWASEE
Feb. 14 at FW Elmhurst
Feb. 15 FW HARDING
Feb. 21 at Northfield [[In-content Ad]]
Two trademarks identified the Manchester Squires last season: quickness and the ability to overachieve.
First-year coach Gary Goshert asks his team to do the same again this year.
For the second straight year, Manchester is not blessed with much height. Five of the players on the Squires roster are 5-foot-11. Their only returning starter taller than 5-11 is 6-4 forward/center Jake Peden.
But if the Squires have one strength, it's quickness in the backcourt. The Reimer brothers - Brandon and Rex - are two of the quickest guards around.
"Compared to the other teams we play, we're not tall," Goshert said. "I think we have players who are pretty quick. Team quickness will be an advantage for us."
The Squires played in the Peru Jamboree Tuesday, but Goshert has not settled on a starting lineup. He did name six players he will rely on - Brandon Reimer, Rex Reimer, Peden, Chris Enyeart, Eric Swan and Scot Croner.
Brandon Reimer and Peden, the two seniors on the team, are the leading returning scorers. Each scored 7 points per game. They must help fill the void left by Tory Shafer and Blake Williams, who graduated, each taking their 14 points per game with them.
Enyeart came on at the end and scored 30 points in the last four regular season games. Swan and Croner played on the junior varsity squad.
Goshert will call on Brandon Reimer and Peden to steer this team.
"Those two boys will have to hold the fort with their experience and capabilities, until these younger players catch on," he said. "They're tremendously valuable. Then, when the younger ones catch on, we can progress toward the team we want to become.
"It will be an adjustment."
Enyeart and Peden will handle the bulk of the duties in the frontcourt. Goshert believes his guards can turn in a solid perimeter game.
"I think there's two or three kids who have the ability to shoot the ball," he said. "We've been working hard on that. We're not going to be one-dimensional from the perimeter. We're not going to be one-dimensional from the post. Definitely Eric, Brandon, Scot Croner, Rex - all of those boys have the ability to shoot it. Nobody is handcuffed as far as shooting the basketball. We want to know when to take our shots."
What may determine Manchester's success more than anything else is how quickly the Squires latch on to Goshert's coaching style. Steve Rice, the junior varsity coach under previous coach Moe Smedley, was retained by Goshert. He will help the transition.
"I think there is an adjustment period anytime a new coach comes in," Goshert said. "There's an adjustment period for the kids. There's an adjustment period for me, too. We've had some good practices. We've had some practices where we haven't looked so good.
"We're not only trying to learn things that may be a little different than the past, we're also trying to string together some consistency. That's kind of hard to do."
One thing you could always count on about Manchester teams in the past: they would never beat themselves. The Squires are a traditionally sound team fundamentally.
Goshert plans to continue that trend.
"When to dribble, to pass - a lot of these boys have very good instincts in that respect," he said. "I think we will be comfortable with a number of players in the backcourt."
Goshert is in his 15th year as a head coach - 10 at Wawasee, four at West Noble. Those 15 years have taught him a lot, including not to look ahead.
When asked how good his team would be, he came up with a politically correct answer.
"Well, that's pretty hard to say from my standpoint, being here in my first year and everything," he said. "I know what we would like to become on the defensive end of the floor and the offensive end of the floor. As far as whether or not we can achieve that and respond to game situations, obstacles that arise, has yet to be seen.
"As far as number of wins, I can't tell you that. I can't say too much more than that."
The good news for Manchester fans is that the height is a year away from returning and making an impact. The Squires have sophomores Keith Wright (6-7) and Chris Betten (6-5) on the junior varsity squad. Betten will also be on this year's varsity roster.
For now, Goshert is taking a basic approach.
"The simple goal we have is to go out and play well every game," he said. "It's simple, yet it's difficult."
Manchester Squires
Coach - Gary Goshert (1st season)
Last year - 16-7, (4-3 TRC); lost in sectional finals
Key returners - Brandon Reimer, Jake Peden
Key losses - Tory Shafer, Blake Williams, Brett Eberly, Evan Nichols
1996-97 Manchester Roster
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.
Brandon Reimer G 5-11 12
Jake Peden F 6-3 12
Jonathan Price G 5-11 11
Chris Good G 5-11 11
Scot Croner G 5-11 11
Heath Simcoe G 6-3 11
Chris Enyeart C 6-4 11
Rex Reimer G 5-11 10
Eric Swan F 6-2 10
Steve Fawcett F 6-0 10
Chris Betten C 6-5 10
1996-97 Manchester Schedule
Nov. 27 FW WAYNE
Nov. 30 at Wabash
Dec. 6 at Southwood
Dec. 13 ROCHESTER
Dec. 14 HOMESTEAD
Dec. 21 COLUMBIA CITY
Dec. 27 at Southwood tour.
Dec. 28 at Southwood tour.
Jan. 3 at Oak Hill
Jan. 10 WHITKO
Jan. 17 NORTH MIAMI
Jan. 18 at FW Dwenger
Jan. 24 at Peru
Jan. 25 at Carroll
Jan. 31 TIPPY VALLEY
Feb. 7 CHURUBUSCO
Feb. 8 WAWASEE
Feb. 14 at FW Elmhurst
Feb. 15 FW HARDING
Feb. 21 at Northfield [[In-content Ad]]