ADAMS CENTRAL
For the third time in as many years, the Flying Jets will have a new head coach, which doesn’t exactly help with consistency but AC is bringing in a young, relatable guy to fill the role and that may be a difference maker. David Vogel takes over on the sidelines with a mostly bright young staff around him. The ball is going to have to go into a lot of different hands than last season but that may be to Vogel’s benefit as he can truly rebuild the 4-win program from the ground up and in his own image.
BLUFFTON
You sometimes don’t know how much a duo matters until you don’t have them and Bluffton is going to have to be working around that this year with the loss of the Marshall Gerber-Declan Grieser combo as well as the transfer of Chase Kistler. However, they bring back two significant sets of brothers in Max and Maddox White and Gavin and Gibson Grieser that can handle that added pressure. Maddox White can really get going as a shooter, while the outside-inside game between Max White and Gibson Grieser as a primary ball handler and Gavin Grieser on the inside could work well. How quick can the Tigers work out any kinks with their personnel changes?
GARRETT
Things got derailed in Garrett last season with a host of injuries – including not having All-State player Isaiah King for the majority of his junior season – after going 19-7 two years ago. For Garrett to correct things, they have to stay healthy but do return five seniors including three who made All-Conference just a year ago even during a disappointing campaign with King, Carter Coffman and Ayden O’Neal. Was 2024-25 a flash in the pan or was last year’s injury bug truly something that did Garrett in? The Railroaders have a lot to prove for it to be the former and they will need to lean on a big senior class, but the injuries last year did allow some younger guys to get battle tested in ways they wouldn’t have otherwise.
BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN
Losing three of your top four scorers is always something difficult to bounce back from, but this Blackhawk Christian, right? The Braves, like some other teams even mentioned here, dabbled with injuries down the stretch of the season and it allowed for some quality tough minutes for guys like Ryker Knox, Elliot Cummings and Kyler Wood but can any of them really pour in a bunch of points? The Braves always seem to find a way with a next guy up mentality so watch those three to be significantly more aggressive as coach Matt Roth sees who fits as another top option next to returning Drake Sefton, who was second on the team in scoring a season ago.
NORTH SIDE
The things to prove are simple: win with youth and sustain success. North Side was a hair from winning a Sectional title last season, but their leading scorer left with graduation and others won’t be part of the program this year due to focus on their college football careers. It opens things up for young guys at North Side and do they ever have some, led by freshman Jase Brooks. The pressure is on from the get go for Brooks and how he gels with senior Max Goheen in the backcourt will go a long way in proving that the Legends can sustain as a top team in the SAC again.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
Be the first to comment