Winamac

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

WINAMAC — The Winamac boys basketball team did not enjoy a team-wide growth spurt during the offseason.

So a team that one could argue did not have a traditional center or a player taller than 6-3 last year might not have one again this year.

But three of their top four scorers are back from a team that went 12-13. So are two of the top three rebounders and two of the top three players in assists.

And the players are more familiar with coach Mike Springer as he begins his second season.

“I haven’t had a real big player for several years,” Springer, who had previous boys head coaching stints at Cascade and Eastern (Greentown), said. “From that side of things, I don’t think it was a major adjustment.”

Springer said he tried to craft an offensive system that would be suited to the players’ strengths.

“We adjusted some things to more motion and maybe less dribbling,” Springer said. “That was probably the biggest adjustment because we had a lot of guards where I had been before.

“I think probably coming up we’re going to have more size, and our JV team’s got some bigger kids this year. Our varsity right now, maybe 6-2 again is our biggest guy. But I think they’ve adjusted to what we’re trying to do through the course of the summer and the preseason, we’ve really worked on being able to penetrate and kick. We’ve worked on trying to move the ball. We’ve had kids get in and get a lot of 3s up off the shooting gun. So we’ve made progress and adjustments to what we did last year, and I think going forward, we’re going to be in a good place. Obviously, you’ve got to play games, real games, and I think when we start doing that, we’ll make more progress because we’ll see exactly what our roles are.”

Springer said the team went 9-6 in 15 summer games. They also had skill development two to three times a week and also spent extensive time in the weight room. He also said that four of the top five players on the team are honor roll students.

“It was a good summer,” Springer said. “A lot of growth from where we ended the season at last year. Started to develop some roles, and I think that’s probably one of the big things we got out of the summer.”

Senior point guard Brendan Hines averaged 8.1 points and 2.9 assists per game last year, and he is the team’s most experienced player. He hit five 3-pointers and scored 23 points in a season-ending 50-48 loss to Lewis Cass in the sectional semifinals.

“In the sectional last year, he had a really good game,” Springer said. “He lets the game come to him, and I think that’s a pretty good trait when you’ve got to be a point guard that needs to set your team up, but at the same time, he can score. He got shots up this summer and really competed well during the course of the summer. My thing with him is I want him to be a better competitor. As the season goes as a senior, he’s got to be the guy that sets the tempo for us, and he’s got to compete. Last year, he had John (Malchow) and he had other guys, and now he’s going to be asked to do more.”

Other seniors include Brayden Mathias and Alex Hague. Springer said Mathias plays hard defensively. Hague is the team’s tallest player and back after an ankle injury marred his junior season on the JV.

“We’re going to ask him to be a beast on the glass,” Springer said.

Justin Potthoff also averaged 8.1 points per game last year. He started the year coming off the bench but was a starter by season’s end. Springer said Potthoff’s length, skill set and versatility give him the potential to be a “stat sheet stuffer.”

“Justin improved a lot through the course of last season,” Springer said. “Through the course of the summer, I think he really grew through some ups and downs. He grew as a player and as an individual. I really see him as a kid that can put it on the floor for us and score, shoot a 3, go rebound, and he’s got the ability to do some things for us defensively with his size and long arms.”

Will Malchow is another versatile junior who averaged 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds last year.

“Will is going to be a load for somebody to have to defend,” Springer said. “He’s going to go after every rebound like it’s his own. He’s improved his perimeter game. He’s improved his driving game. Last year, he was really good around the basket for us. I think he was our leading field goal shooter on the season, but I think he’s expanded his game to play some more out on the floor. I think through the course of the season, we will see that happen more. But he’s a kid that’s got a lot of confidence right now in his game.”

Other juniors include Ethan Burgess and Parker Zeider. Springer said Burgess can play both on the perimeter and in the post and calls him a “glue guy.” Zeider played JV last year.

Jaybin Hines, who is Brendan’s brother, got varsity minutes last year as a freshman. A seven-point effort in a win over North White was among his season highlights.

“He’s got some confidence in his ability to run and play physical,” Springer said. “He’s a really good perimeter shooter for us, and he’s a solid player for us right now. He’s going to be a guy who’s got to find his role, his niche. Because on a given night, he could score 15 points for us if need be.”

The experience of the Hines brothers, Malchow and Potthoff have created a higher level of trust, according to Springer.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be any different,” Springer said when asked about the team’s style of play. “But the kids know me better. They know what I want better. … I think the kids understand me better. I understand them better. They know what I’m wanting from them, and I think that will lead into some things, maybe playing better early in the year in November and December, even though I think we’re going to be at our best in January or February.”

Winamac boys basketball schedule

Nov. 26 – at Twin Lakes, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 30 – at North Newton, 8 p.m.

Dec. 6 – vs. Rochester, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 10 – at Knox, 8 p.m.

Dec. 13 – vs. Argos, 8 p.m.

Dec. 17 – vs. Culver, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 – at Triton, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 30-Jan. 4 – Indiana Kitchen Classic

Jan. 10 – vs. North Miami, 8 p.m.

Jan. 14 – at Northfield, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 – at North Judson, 8 p.m.