With several experienced players returning, the Canton-Galva boys? basketball team will try to improve on last year?s 6-15 record under the direction of third-year coach Shane Duncan.
The Eagles have three returning starters in senior guard Connor Farnham (6-1), senior forward Tanner Klingensmith (5-10) and junior guard Travis Unruh (6-0). Senior guard Nick Bray (6-0) also returns, having started half the season last year.
An additional key returner is senior guard Trey Moddelmog (6-0). Duncan also will look to newcomer Zach Snow (6-4), a junior center, to contribute this season.
One strength of this team is knowledge of the game.
?I feel this team has a high basketball IQ,? Duncan said. ?They understand the nuances of the game and are quick to adjust during the flow of the game.?
Chemistry is another strength.
?The returning players have played a lot of basketball together over the last three years,? Duncan said. ?They understand each other?s strengths and are very unselfish on the court.?
Challenges for the team may include size and depth.
?Our size matching up against teams with tall interior posts (may be a challenge),? Duncan said. ?After?the six returning lettermen, we don?t have anyone who has played significant varsity minutes.?We will have to create depth if we want?to be competitive in our league.?
Duncan expects Berean Academy to be strong in a competitive Heart of America league this year.
?Once again, I feel the HOA will be the best small-school division in the state,? he said. ?With the tradition of Inman, Moundridge, Berean Academy, among others, you never have a night off in this league.
?I expect Berean Acad?emy to be the front-runner this year in our league, but as tradition has shown, there are always four or five teams that could capture the league title.?
The Eagles will open the season at Elyria Christian Friday. They will host Centre for their home-opener Dec. 16.
