Squires Looking For Intangibles
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
"The basketball tradition is rich at Manchester," the 12th- year Manchester coach said. "I admit, over the last couple of years, we've been down. We've had to work on the 'intangibles,' and that's what has kind of stymied the program."[[In-content Ad]]Fresh off a 5-17 season, Goshert is hoping his guys can come together as a team and produce the school's first winning season since a 12-10 campaign in 2001-2002.
"It's important to function as a team," Goshert said. "That's been part of the emphasis all summer long and through the season. It's not going to happen overnight, but progress is being made."
Reason for optimism from Goshert is the return of four starters in Aaron Medley, Spenser Penrod, David Cable and Dan Bourne. Though they lose Brandon Shepherd, Lucas Renz and Zach Sievers, Goshert will also have John Walker, Nolan Holloway, Jody Griggs, Ian Pattison, Corey Thomas, Ryan Binkley, Nate Miller, Broc Skaar and transfer Cornelius Cuffy.
"I'd say we're taller than most teams," Goshert said of his guys. "Most have two, three or four guys that are pretty tall. We can have four kids at one time on the floor that are 6-5 (Bourne), 6-4 (Medley), 6-4 (Cuffy) and a 5-10 point guard (Penrod)."
And Goshert's hoping that size can help his guys get through tough Three Rivers Conference schedule.
"This will probably be, from top to bottom, the highest quality of basketball in the conference in a long time," he said of this year's TRC. "Whitko has gotten better, then there's Rochester, Valley, Northfield, Southwood, North Miami, and Wabash has gotten so much better than last year and they have a solid nucleus coming back."
And with that much talent in the conference, Goshert believes it could be any team's year.
"Any one of the teams could win the conference - us included," he said. "If we get rolling, it's a wide open situation this year. It's setting up for an exciting year."
Before thinking about the conference, Goshert's concerned with the Squires' first game of the season Wednesday at home against Mississinewa, one of Manchester's five wins from a year ago.
"We want to start with a good attitude and have a solid beginning to the year," Goshert said. "I know the game doesn't mean everything, but we realize how important it is to focus on one game at a time."
If Manchester can get off to a strong start, Goshert hopes his guys can bring renewed enthusiasm to Squires' home court and community.
"We want to play the kind of basketball the fans and community can be real proud of," the coach said.
"The basketball tradition is rich at Manchester," the 12th- year Manchester coach said. "I admit, over the last couple of years, we've been down. We've had to work on the 'intangibles,' and that's what has kind of stymied the program."[[In-content Ad]]Fresh off a 5-17 season, Goshert is hoping his guys can come together as a team and produce the school's first winning season since a 12-10 campaign in 2001-2002.
"It's important to function as a team," Goshert said. "That's been part of the emphasis all summer long and through the season. It's not going to happen overnight, but progress is being made."
Reason for optimism from Goshert is the return of four starters in Aaron Medley, Spenser Penrod, David Cable and Dan Bourne. Though they lose Brandon Shepherd, Lucas Renz and Zach Sievers, Goshert will also have John Walker, Nolan Holloway, Jody Griggs, Ian Pattison, Corey Thomas, Ryan Binkley, Nate Miller, Broc Skaar and transfer Cornelius Cuffy.
"I'd say we're taller than most teams," Goshert said of his guys. "Most have two, three or four guys that are pretty tall. We can have four kids at one time on the floor that are 6-5 (Bourne), 6-4 (Medley), 6-4 (Cuffy) and a 5-10 point guard (Penrod)."
And Goshert's hoping that size can help his guys get through tough Three Rivers Conference schedule.
"This will probably be, from top to bottom, the highest quality of basketball in the conference in a long time," he said of this year's TRC. "Whitko has gotten better, then there's Rochester, Valley, Northfield, Southwood, North Miami, and Wabash has gotten so much better than last year and they have a solid nucleus coming back."
And with that much talent in the conference, Goshert believes it could be any team's year.
"Any one of the teams could win the conference - us included," he said. "If we get rolling, it's a wide open situation this year. It's setting up for an exciting year."
Before thinking about the conference, Goshert's concerned with the Squires' first game of the season Wednesday at home against Mississinewa, one of Manchester's five wins from a year ago.
"We want to start with a good attitude and have a solid beginning to the year," Goshert said. "I know the game doesn't mean everything, but we realize how important it is to focus on one game at a time."
If Manchester can get off to a strong start, Goshert hopes his guys can bring renewed enthusiasm to Squires' home court and community.
"We want to play the kind of basketball the fans and community can be real proud of," the coach said.
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