Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AKRON - Valley head coach Bill Patrick knows a few things about high school basketball. Patrick has been coaching for 36 years, and when he says his team is young and undersized, you believe it.
Looking deeper, while Valley may not be as deep as they were last year, they do return substantial talent.
The Vikings return two all-conference selections in Shane Denny and David Lash. Lash, a first-team selection, averaged 12.9 points per game last year to go along with 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Valley loses five seniors off last year's team including, Cory Vanlaningham, who averaged 13.6 points per game to lead the Vikings. The loss of Vanlaningham seems to put more of the offensive burden on Lash.
"Obviously we don't have a lot of experience. Lash is the only starter back. We lost those five seniors, all five good players. (Shane) Denny has some experience. He was our sixth man last year and had a great summer," said Patrick.
Shane Denny comes in as a second team all-conference player despite coming off the bench. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 5.8 points per game, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He has been limited in practice after an ankle injury sidelined him for a few days, and according to Patrick, isn't back at full strength yet.
Denny and fellow senior John Gibson will look to take some of the burden off Lash. Gibson, who made some big plays on the football field for coach Scott Bibler, will be looked to do the same on the hardwood.
"(Gibson) will be counted on to handle the ball and be a scorer. He penetrates well and can play inside or out," said Patrick. "Those three players, Lash, Denny and Gibson, will be solid. But from there it's inexperience."
Fellow football players who've made their way into the gym looking to garner varsity experience are, Aaron Reed, Bryce Kelley and O.B Thompson.
Kelley spent the fall as the Vikings' quarterback and this winter Patrick hopes he can continue to improve on a game that saw progress over the summer. Reed comes up to varsity play after spending last year with the junior varsity.
Several sophomores also look to be contributors on the varsity level. Kevin Kindig, Jerrod Parker and Adam Nelson may see some minutes.
Patrick is also high on a freshman class that, as the season progresses, can make their mark on Valley's season.
Shane Salyer, a 6-3 post player, lacks some physicality, which is expected with a freshman but makes up for it with a varsity level jump shot. Fellow freshman Steve Tillman is another good shooter who Patrick sees as someone with knowledge of the game that can grow as the season progresses. Chad Hoffer is another freshman who can be expected to see some varsity minutes as the season wears on.
Last year the Vikings finished 20-3 with a sectional final loss to Fort Wayne Elmhurst, 55-49. Valley ended the regular ranked No. 1 in 3A, but played a bit uneven toward the tail end of the season with a loss to a tough Wawasee team, 54-49, struggling with TRC foe Whitko in the opening round before escaping 51-49 and avenging an early season loss with a 46-36 win over Peru.
Before the Vikings can be concerned with sectionals, they must maneuver their way through a wide-open TRC.
"Rochester is going to be real strong. Northfield is going to be strong. The TRC in basketball is going to be pretty even," said Patrick. "It's going to be a real competitive conference. I think anybody can win it."
Valley is the reigning TRC champ having won or tied for the conference five straight years.
The Vikings' out-of-conference schedule contains a few matchups that could provide some training ground for Patrick's young team. The Vikings will face two NLC schools when they travel to Plymouth Dec. 7 and host Wawasee to close out the regular season Feb. 25.
The Vikings also will face two NSC schools in Knox (Dec. 3) and Glenn (Dec. 11) that should compete for a conference crown, along with a Triton squad (Feb. 18) that like Valley, is developing younger players.
Valley opens the season Wednesday on the road at South Bend St. Joseph's. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.
