Squires A Work In Progress
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Instead, the 13th-year Manchester High School boys basketball coach wants to talk about blocking out, rebounding, playing defense and playing the game the right away.[[In-content Ad]]After losing eight seniors from last year's team that went just 6-15, Goshert wants this season's young Squire team to get back to the basics.
"This year we're a work in progress," said Goshert, who enters his 27th season overall as a varsity head coach. "We're youthful, energetic and enthusiastic. Our whole motto, or slogan, or goal, or whatever you want to call it, is to play the game the right way."
"We want to be more fundamental," he added. "We want to respect the officials and our opponents. We don't want to fear anybody, but we want to respect them. And we just want to enjoy playing the game."
The Squires open the season Tuesday at Mississinewa. On Saturday, Manchester travels to Oak Hill for a boys/girls doubleheader, and then hits the road for a game at Alexandria Dec. 4.
The Squires play their first home game Dec. 9 against Wawasee, the school Goshert coached at before coming to Manchester.
Of the 11 players listed on Manchester's varsity roster, there is just one senior, 5-foot-11 guard Ryan Binkley.
"I think first of all, it starts with leadership," said Goshert. "We've got some excellent senior leadership in Ryan Binkley. He does a good job leading by example. He's the type of kid every body in the program should look at and say 'this is the guy I want to be like.'"
The starting five for Tuesday's game at Mississinewa will likely consist of sophomores Devan Knecht and Austin Flack, juniors Aaron Olinger and Austin Crockett, and Binkley.
"Our major goal is going to be how we play the game," said Goshert. "We're gonna have goals along the way, but our focus is going to be on getting better every day. We're not going to talk about wins and losses. I want to talk about blocking out, taking care of the ball and shot selection."
The rest of Manchester's varsity roster is filled by sophomores Coltin Jenks, Scott Baker, Aric Howard and Skyler Dingess, and juniors Kyle Lahman and Austin Gidley.
"We've got six or seven kids that will be mostly varsity at the beginning of the year," said Goshert. "The rest of the kids will split time and play some junior varsity. That's the beauty of having five quarters. We're gonna count quarters and see how it works out quarter-wise."
The Squires finished the 2007-2008 season with a 1-6 record in the Three Rives Conference, with the lone win coming over Whitko, which also finished at 1-6, as did Wabash.
Goshert said Whitko could be one of the frontrunners in the TRC this season.
"The conference was strong last year, and I see it being just as strong or stronger this year," said Goshert. I think Whitko is going to be very good. Northfield should be excellent with their guard play. Rochester will be excellent again because they have Bruce Grimm back. Southwood will be strong, tall and physical. North Miami has the (Greg) Miller kid back. Tippecanoe Valley lost some people, but they have an excellent tradition over there. I think the conference is going to be very strong."
The Squires open TRC play Dec. 19 when they host Southwood.
Instead, the 13th-year Manchester High School boys basketball coach wants to talk about blocking out, rebounding, playing defense and playing the game the right away.[[In-content Ad]]After losing eight seniors from last year's team that went just 6-15, Goshert wants this season's young Squire team to get back to the basics.
"This year we're a work in progress," said Goshert, who enters his 27th season overall as a varsity head coach. "We're youthful, energetic and enthusiastic. Our whole motto, or slogan, or goal, or whatever you want to call it, is to play the game the right way."
"We want to be more fundamental," he added. "We want to respect the officials and our opponents. We don't want to fear anybody, but we want to respect them. And we just want to enjoy playing the game."
The Squires open the season Tuesday at Mississinewa. On Saturday, Manchester travels to Oak Hill for a boys/girls doubleheader, and then hits the road for a game at Alexandria Dec. 4.
The Squires play their first home game Dec. 9 against Wawasee, the school Goshert coached at before coming to Manchester.
Of the 11 players listed on Manchester's varsity roster, there is just one senior, 5-foot-11 guard Ryan Binkley.
"I think first of all, it starts with leadership," said Goshert. "We've got some excellent senior leadership in Ryan Binkley. He does a good job leading by example. He's the type of kid every body in the program should look at and say 'this is the guy I want to be like.'"
The starting five for Tuesday's game at Mississinewa will likely consist of sophomores Devan Knecht and Austin Flack, juniors Aaron Olinger and Austin Crockett, and Binkley.
"Our major goal is going to be how we play the game," said Goshert. "We're gonna have goals along the way, but our focus is going to be on getting better every day. We're not going to talk about wins and losses. I want to talk about blocking out, taking care of the ball and shot selection."
The rest of Manchester's varsity roster is filled by sophomores Coltin Jenks, Scott Baker, Aric Howard and Skyler Dingess, and juniors Kyle Lahman and Austin Gidley.
"We've got six or seven kids that will be mostly varsity at the beginning of the year," said Goshert. "The rest of the kids will split time and play some junior varsity. That's the beauty of having five quarters. We're gonna count quarters and see how it works out quarter-wise."
The Squires finished the 2007-2008 season with a 1-6 record in the Three Rives Conference, with the lone win coming over Whitko, which also finished at 1-6, as did Wabash.
Goshert said Whitko could be one of the frontrunners in the TRC this season.
"The conference was strong last year, and I see it being just as strong or stronger this year," said Goshert. I think Whitko is going to be very good. Northfield should be excellent with their guard play. Rochester will be excellent again because they have Bruce Grimm back. Southwood will be strong, tall and physical. North Miami has the (Greg) Miller kid back. Tippecanoe Valley lost some people, but they have an excellent tradition over there. I think the conference is going to be very strong."
The Squires open TRC play Dec. 19 when they host Southwood.
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