3 starters back for MHS boys

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 27 November 2012 15:17

Three strong starters will anchor a Marion boys’ basketball squad that brings depth and experience to the court this season.<p>“We’ve got a lot of returners who have played a lot of minutes and they’re excited to be out here,” said coach Jeff McMillin. <p>“They want to have a special season.”<p>Leading the charge will be the dynamic duo of seniors Jordan Hett and Jacob Harper, who led the team in scoring last season and set the pace on both ends of the court. <p>“The all-around game is really what both of them have, and I expect them to get better,” McMillin said. <p>But, he added, what he’s really looking for is the desire and attitude they bring to the court. <p>“If that improves then we’ll be a lot better,” McMillin said. “And I think it has, from what I’ve seen so far from them. They’re pretty hungry to lead this team.” <p>The third returning starter is?Taylor Heidebrecht, who saw increased playing time for the Warriors last year and whose speed and quickness proved valuable.<p>Heidebrecht, who started at quarterback for the football team this fall, is coming off a broken collar-bone sustained late in the season. But he’s expected to make significant contributions for the Warriors this season. <p>“We look for a lot in the guys who are known quantities,” McMillin said, “but I think a lot of people will be surprised by the guys who maybe didn’t do a whole lot last year but have really developed.” <p>Chief among those players are Ethan Hett, James Jones and Zac Robson, all of whom have really worked hard to improve.<p>Transfer Morgan Wheeler is the primary newcomer to the squad.<p>“He went a year without playing basketball, but he’s starting to get back into it,” McMillin said. “He’s big, strong and is one of the first ones out there who really likes to play physical.”<p>McMillin said the Warriors have a deep bench this year, and he anticipates a challenge to provide playing time for all the athletes who deserve it. <p>On the other hand, the strongest aspect of the team is its depth. <p>“We have a lot of kids who can come in,” he said. “On any given night we have kids who can come off the bench and have a good game.”<p>With improvements in returning players and the addition of a valuable newcomer, McMillin hopes to overcome areas in which his team faltered last season—namely, rebounding.<p>“We really, really struggled to rebound and we really worked on it, and I think they have that mindset now,” McMillin said. “We may be a little outsized, but we’ll be an aggressive rebounding team.”<p>The Warriors don’t boast players in the 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7 range, but they do have a numbr ofplayers around the 6-foot mark. <p>They’ll be competing with big, talented teams in a perennially strong Heart of America league this season, despite several HOA?leading teams losing key players to graduation. Berean Academy, Sedgwick and Moundridge are on that list.<p>“We have teams who have lost players, but have bounced back really quick,” McMillin said. <p>“Anybody who lost a lot of seniors, I expect to be really good. It’s a tough league and we want to try and be competitive in that league.” <p>The Warriors will open their season Nov. 30 at Southeast of Saline. Three strong starters will anchor a Marion boys’ basketball squad that brings depth and experience to the court this season.

“We’ve got a lot of returners who have played a lot of minutes and they’re excited to be out here,” said coach Jeff McMillin.

“They want to have a special season.”

Leading the charge will be the dynamic duo of seniors Jordan Hett and Jacob Harper, who led the team in scoring last season and set the pace on both ends of the court.

“The all-around game is really what both of them have, and I expect them to get better,” McMillin said.

But, he added, what he’s really looking for is the desire and attitude they bring to the court.

“If that improves then we’ll be a lot better,” McMillin...

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Two state qualifiers return for Trojan wrestling

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 27 November 2012 15:12

Seven seniors and letter-winners will lead HHS wrestling. Pictured are (front row, from left) Jesse Meier, Jon Carey, Preston Nelson; (back row) Tyrell Thiessen, Tanner Jones, Cody Delk, Matt Reeh. Quantity is still on the low side, but Hillsboro coach Scott O’Hare likes the quality of athletes that comprise this year’s wrestling team.

“The (weight class) positions we fill make for a pretty strong team,” O’Hare said. “The only problem is that is a small portion of the lineup. But it will be a strong part.”

O’Hare has 12 athletes to fill the 14 weight classes. Consider­ing the inexperience of some wrestlers and the overlap at some weights, the Trojan lineup could have as many as five or six vacancies.

That many potential forfeits will make it hard to win many duals. But the Trojan mentor, now in his 10th year at the helm, said the quality of his athletes should make his team competitive in tournaments.

“I...

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Hillsboro boys have potential for strong season

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 27 November 2012 15:11

Hillsboro started the new season with 10 seniors and returning letter-winners to build upon last year’s 18-5 record. Pictured from left are Christian Ratzlaff, Josh Davidson, Brett Weinbrenner, Josh Wiebe, Tyler Proffitt, Josh Richert, Evan Ollenburger, Harry Faber, Jeff Pritchard and Shaq Thiessen. Ratzlaff aggravated a knee injury during the preseason and will be lost for the year. With three starters and four letter-winners returning from last year’s 18-5 team, the Hillsboro boys are positioned for another successful run this season.

“I think we have a lot of upside on this team,” said Darrel Knoll, who is 418-146 as he enters his 25th year as head coach. “We just have to embrace that, build on our strengths and try to shore up some of the areas where we need it.”

The Trojans would have had four starters returning, but junior Christian Ratzlaff aggravated a knee injury in the first days of practice and will be lost for the season.

“I feel really bad for him,” Knoll said. “He put so much into it and was looking forward to the year.”

Core contributors

The loss of Ratzlaff is disappointing...

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Trojan girls reload for success after 3rd-place finish at state

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 27 November 2012 15:10

This core of returning seniors and letter-winners will form the foundation for success as the Trojans try to meet or exceed last year’s 23-3 record and third-place finish at state. Pictured are (from left) Addie Lackey, Tena Loewen, Christina Morris, Maci Schlehuber, Erin Winter and Dane Bina. The graduation of five senior letter-winners from a team that finished 23-3 and took third at the Class 3A state tournament a year ago might make some head coaches nervous about the season to come.

Nathan Hiebert, not so much.

Expectations may be as high as they’ve ever been for Hills­boro girls’ basketball in his sixth year at the helm. And Hiebert doesn’t back away from them.

“We’re looking forward to another great season,” he said. “I’m pleased with the core that we bring back. They bring a lot of experience and a lot of scoring and rebounding from last year.”

Key contributors

It starts with the Trojans’ top two scorers and rebounders in senior Tena Loewen and junior Addie Lackey.

“Returning” carries...

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