Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester head coach Gary Goshert said he can't remember having as much size in his time at Manchester as he has this year.
But that size-laden roster comes with a serious lack of varsity-experienced players.
The Squires graduated all five starters from last year's 8-13 squad.
Gone are Nick Poe, Joe Egner, Greg Lengel, Brett Williams and Ryan Camp.
Goshert now turns to an eight-player rotation to recoup a 90-percent loss in scoring production.
Six-foot-5 sophomore Daniel Bourne returns along with guard Brad Briner as the two most experienced players on the Manchester squad.
Bourne scored eight points in a 54-46 win over eventual 3A regional champion Wawasee last year.
Briner, a senior, is a long-range specialist who will see an increase in offensive responsibility this year.
"Most of the kids we have playing varsity this year played junior varsity last year," said Goshert. "Brad Briner and Dan Bourne have the most experience. So those kids along with our four other seniors and sophomore Aaron Medley are in our top eight rotation."
Seniors Wes Penrod and Andrew Evans will split time at point guard while Matt Walker will provide low-post help for Bourne. Senior Nathan Smith will see action at guard.
Medley gives the Squires more size as a 6-4 forward/center.
Penrod and Evans saw some time at the varsity level for Goshert and will be expected to step in and run the offense from the point guard spot.
"(Penrod and Evans) played some quality minutes at varsity last year as did four of our five seniors," said Goshert.
The Squires were an up and down team last year. At times, like they did against Wawasee, Manchester looked as if it could play with anyone.
Manchester also threw a scare into Tippecanoe Valley and threatened to end the Vikings' 17-game Three Rivers Conference winning streak before falling 58-54.
Other times Manchester struggled to put points on the board like in a 64-43 loss at Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger.
With no proven, viable scoring threats returning this year, the Squires will look to get into the win column with defense.
"I think the defensive end of the floor is where we begin," said Goshert. "Then we need to do a good job of containing the basketball. Those things will be huge for us."
"Offensively, we need to handle the ball well enough to get the shots we want to get."
Goshert knows that the key to consistent offensive production will lie in achieving a balance between the ability of perimeter players like Briner, Penrod and Evans and the potential of post players like Bourne and Medley.
"Hopefully we can have some balance with the inside and the outside," said Goshert. "How well we can take care of the ball on the perimeter will go a long way in determining how successful we are on offense."
As far as the TRC goes, Goshert believes the conference can be divided into two groups. The three prohibitive favorites, Goshert believes, are Southwood, Rochester and Tippecanoe Valley.
Southwood returns all five starters from last year's team. Rochester has created a buzz with potential D-1 player Luke Smith and its top 10 players returning. While Valley lost three starters from last year's sectional championship team, the Vikings do have the talented senior duo of David Lash and Shane Drudge.
As for the other five teams; Manchester, Northfield, North Miami, Oak Hill and Whitko, Goshert believes anyone of those teams can be tough to beat in conference play.
"The other five teams are going to be teams that might surprise some people," said Goshert. "Even though Valley has dominated the conference the past four or five years with championships, it's been very competitive. I think it's going to be the same way this year."
The Squires finished 5-2 in the TRC last year with the two losses coming to Valley and Rochester.
Manchester opens its season tonight when it hosts Mississinewa for a 7:45 p.m. tipoff.
