Wildcats Getting Balance From Multiple Classes
February 27, 2017 at 5:03 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
First-year Wildcat coach Eli Henson said it’s the sign of a good program that the team isn’t loaded with seniors who may leave the cupboard bare for the next season.
“It’s good to know we’re not relying on just seniors, and we’re not going to have a team full of guys with no experience next year,” he said. “I think Coach (Roger) Fleetwood has done a good job of getting the program back on its feet, after a couple of years where they weren’t winning very much. He came in and changed the attitude of these kids, and now these kids know nothing but to work hard, and they show up every day and work hard.”
Walpole has scored at a legendary pace, averaging 27 points a game, and West has evolved in to more of an inside-outside player this season to average 16 points a game. Sroufe averages a double-double with 12 points and almost 11 rebounds per contest.
Henson said for his team to make a postseason run, the role players will need to step up.
“For example, Colin Craig hasn’t been asked to do much on offense in his career, but this year he’s getting his number up in assists, and four to five rebounds a night, and four or five points a night,” Henson said. “All our role players are working to do their job. Alex Robbins has hit at least one three in each of the last 10 games, I think.
“I?think Spencer, River and Nate will show up and play well in the sectional, and I think teams are going to try to take them away from our offense. Our role players are going to be the ones who are going to have to step up. I’ve seen a lot of signs of improvement throughout the year, and I haven’t any doubt they’re going to continue to do well when it comes to sectional time.”
The coach said he felt like his team has come together to play as a unit more as the season went along.
“Our practices have been very competitive, and I talk to them about holding each other accountable. But at the same time, when I get on somebody, someone’s been there to pick them up,” Henson said. “The closeness of the team has really improved, and these kids are playing well together out there. They’re out there for the same reason; they want to win. They’re keeping each other encouraged and keeping each other focused on what we want to accomplish.”
Henson said he feels like the Wildcats are peaking at the right time.
“I do feel like we’ve progressed a lot over the season. We’re getting better at the right time of the year. Our record isn’t where we want it to be, and all of our losses have been by fewer than 10 points and decided late in the game. It’d have been nice to be able to pull out a few of those,” he said.
“But our record doesn’t really indicate how well we’ve played at times this year, and I’ve been happy with the production we’ve been getting from everybody on the team this year.”
Whitko will take on Central Noble in the first round of the 2A Westview Sectional at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, after the Fremont-Westview game. The winners will play in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.
First-year Wildcat coach Eli Henson said it’s the sign of a good program that the team isn’t loaded with seniors who may leave the cupboard bare for the next season.
“It’s good to know we’re not relying on just seniors, and we’re not going to have a team full of guys with no experience next year,” he said. “I think Coach (Roger) Fleetwood has done a good job of getting the program back on its feet, after a couple of years where they weren’t winning very much. He came in and changed the attitude of these kids, and now these kids know nothing but to work hard, and they show up every day and work hard.”
Walpole has scored at a legendary pace, averaging 27 points a game, and West has evolved in to more of an inside-outside player this season to average 16 points a game. Sroufe averages a double-double with 12 points and almost 11 rebounds per contest.
Henson said for his team to make a postseason run, the role players will need to step up.
“For example, Colin Craig hasn’t been asked to do much on offense in his career, but this year he’s getting his number up in assists, and four to five rebounds a night, and four or five points a night,” Henson said. “All our role players are working to do their job. Alex Robbins has hit at least one three in each of the last 10 games, I think.
“I?think Spencer, River and Nate will show up and play well in the sectional, and I think teams are going to try to take them away from our offense. Our role players are going to be the ones who are going to have to step up. I’ve seen a lot of signs of improvement throughout the year, and I haven’t any doubt they’re going to continue to do well when it comes to sectional time.”
The coach said he felt like his team has come together to play as a unit more as the season went along.
“Our practices have been very competitive, and I talk to them about holding each other accountable. But at the same time, when I get on somebody, someone’s been there to pick them up,” Henson said. “The closeness of the team has really improved, and these kids are playing well together out there. They’re out there for the same reason; they want to win. They’re keeping each other encouraged and keeping each other focused on what we want to accomplish.”
Henson said he feels like the Wildcats are peaking at the right time.
“I do feel like we’ve progressed a lot over the season. We’re getting better at the right time of the year. Our record isn’t where we want it to be, and all of our losses have been by fewer than 10 points and decided late in the game. It’d have been nice to be able to pull out a few of those,” he said.
“But our record doesn’t really indicate how well we’ve played at times this year, and I’ve been happy with the production we’ve been getting from everybody on the team this year.”
Whitko will take on Central Noble in the first round of the 2A Westview Sectional at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, after the Fremont-Westview game. The winners will play in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.
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