Team: North Bend Central
Mascot: Tigers
Colors: Orange and Black
Class: C-1
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Jon Baehr (4th season) (64-133 career record)
2015-2016 record: 22-3 (lost to Adams Central in the first round of state)
Returning Starters: 3
Overview:
The North Bend Central Boys look to reload this year after running the table and making state a season ago.
4th year Head Coach Jon Baehr returns three starters in Tanner Wietfeld, Matt Ortmeier, and Jake Wietfeld.
Here is the complete projected starting lineup for the Tigers this season:
John Emanuel – 6’1 Sophomore Point Guard: This will be his first year starting.
Tanner Wietfeld – 6’2 Sophomore Guard: This will be his second year starting.
Matt Ortmeier – 6’3 Senior Guard: This will be his fourth year as a starter.
Jake Wietfeld – 6’4 Senior Guard: This will be his third year starting.
James Seymour – 6’6 Junior Post: This will be his first year starting.
Height and size appear to be strengths for North Bend Central.
Baehr says there are still some holes to fill though due to last year's departing seniors.
"We lost 5 seniors who were all great parts of our team. We lost two point guards who were great defenders and great leaders in Dylan Emanuel and Nathan Boyce. We lost a 6’7 post in Hunter Oerman and then two guards who were three point threats for us in Jake Cleveringa and Gatlin Sindelar."
Baehr believes there are a couple of newcomers who will make an impact.
"I believe John Emanuel will do a great job of running the show for us this season as our point guard. Austin Endorf will be a freshmen that should be able to help us in come role this season as he is a nice shooter who has good overall ball skills and will fill with this group. We have a few others who I think could step up into a role as the year goes on."
Baehr adds that leadership and toughness are team strengths.
"I think from the physical standpoint our strengths will be our overall team length and athleticism. I also think this team is pretty mentally tough and will grind through the tough games with poise. I think maybe beyond anything else the current group of seniors have established what is expectable and what isn’t. Last I think this team by in large really just enjoys playing the game of basketball together."
Baehr says the team isn't without a couple of weaknesses though.
"I think our weaknesses would be our depth isn’t as experienced as I would like it to be. We will work on that and make it come together but that would be an area. The other is our outside shooting at times. We are going to be much improved I feel in that area, but it is still an area for us to work and grow."
I think the Tigers will have the ability to outmuscle, outhustle, and wear teams down.
Baehr says his team will look to run offensively and press and be multiple on defense.
"On offense we will to run a fairly up tempo fast paced style of offense. We will look to run hard in transition. In the half court setting we will look to run a motion style of offense that spreads the floor and allows us to drive and finish at the rim or allow for some inside out kicks for threes. We don’t run to many set plays. On defense we will look to press teams with various looks of presses and movements to put pressure on teams to make choices. In the half court we will be a man team by in large with a mix of some zone here and there."
I think North Bend Central has a chance to be as good as they were last year. This is an experienced team that knows and has seen what it takes to win, and that should help the Tigers in the tough, close games that they were able to win a year ago.
The difference this year, in my opinion, is North Bend Central won't be able to surprise any teams as teams will no doubt be gunning for the Tigers, but North Bend Central should still be able to win quite a few games this season.
Season Outlook:
North Bend Central would no doubt love to make it back-to-back trips to Lincoln.
Baehr says the biggest thing is getting better everyday.
"Our expectations are to simply go out and improve as individuals daily and by doing so improve as much as possible as a team. If we can go out and compete as hard as possible and do what we need to do to improve as a group then we should have a year people can talk about."
The Tigers won quite a few close games in 2015-2016, winning 6 games by 5 points or less.
But Baehr says the team isn't necessarily looking to copy last year's team.
"To make a run like last year won’t really be something we focus on as this year is a new group with a new mix of characters and a new set of things to work on. So overall we will just work like crazy to be the best we can and if we do that the rest will take care of itself."
With that said, Baehr says this season has a chance to be special.
"I feel this team has the ability to have a great year and a chance to make a lot of great memories and it is up to us to come out and work each day to improve and do things the correct way to get to that point. I am very excited to work with the group of kids I have and work toward achieving at a high level."
North Bend Central has some tough games right off the bat against Twin River, Stanton, and West Point-Beemer.
Other difficult contests throughout the year figure to be against Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, Fremont Bergan, Columbus Scotus, Oakland-Craig, Howells-Dodge, and Fort Calhoun.
The schedule appears to be slightly tougher for the Tigers this season, but North Bend Central should still have a fine season and win their fair share of games.
I fully expect the Tigers to be a factor in the Conference Tournament and Postseason again.
North Bend Central is in Sub-District C1-5 with the likes of Columbus Scotus, Columbus Lakeview, David City, and David City Aquinas.
A wildcard is certainly possible for the Tigers again this year, but Winnebago or Columbus Scotus could also get one if both of those teams were to meet in a district final. Logan View/Scribner-Snyder could also be in the mix for a wildcard if they don't win their sub-district (same sub-district as Winnebago).
To me that means it will be important for North Bend Central to run the table again should they need a wildcard to get into the state tournament.
The Tigers open up the season at home on December 1st against Twin River.
2016-2017 North Bend Central Tigers Boys Basketball Schedule:
12/01/16 Twin River
12/03/16 @ David City
12/08/16 West Point-Beemer
12/13/16 @ Stanton
12/16/16 @ Pender
12/17/16 Schuyler
12/22/16 @ Raymond Central
12/29-12/30 (To Be Determined) North Bend Holiday Tournament North Bend Central
01/03/17 Clarkson/Leigh
01/06/17 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/10/17 Arlington
01/14/17 @ Archbishop Bergan
01/17/17 Columbus Scotus
01/20/17 Oakland-Craig
01/24/17 @ Madison
01/26/17 Wisner-Pilger
01/28-02/04 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/09/17 Howells-Dodge
02/10/17 @ Tekamah-Herman
02/17/17 @ Fort Calhoun
Team: North Bend Central
Mascot: Tigers
Colors: Orange and Black
Class: C-1
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Aaron Sterup (15th season) (237-78 career record)
2015-2016 record: 17-6 (lost to Columbus Scotus in Sub-District Final)
Returning Starters: 3
Overview:
The North Bend Central Girls look to be successful again in 2016-2017 after winning 17 games in 2015-2016.
Head Coach Aaron Sterup returns three starters in Alexandria Humlicek (5’8, 12th, Wing, 2-year starter), Brooke Fredrickson (5’11, 11th, Post, 2-year starter), and Kristin Lux (6’1, 11th, Wing, 2-year starter).
The 4th starter will be Kaitlynn Bjorklund (5’6, 11th, PG) with the 5th spot up for grabs.
The Tigers return pretty much everybody from a season ago with the only senior who played significant minutes last year being Sabrina Adams.
There are a number of newcomers who could make an impact, according to Sterup, and they are Sophie Kluthe (5’11, 12th, Post), Hailey Bang (5’6, 11th, Wing), Megan Ortmeier (5’7, 9th, PG), and
Lauren Emanuel (6’1, 9th, Post).
North Bend Central should be even better this year than they were last year given who all they return and who comes in as freshmen.
The Tigers should be solid in the post game as well given all the height they have.
Sterup says this team has to score and take care of the ball to get where they want.
"We need to figure out how to score points consistently and turn the ball over less."
The Tigers certainly figured things out during the Volleyball season, making state in that sport.
Sterup says that only helps.
"Success is never a bad thing. It will hopefully give them a taste of what success looks like and can be something to build off of."
I think North Bend Central is capable of having a good season. The Tigers must find ways to score the ball though.
Making easy layups, getting to and converting at the free throw line, working for good shots, and making good, aggressive, and smart passes are all keys to success on the offensive end of the floor, in my opinion.
Season Outlook:
The North Bend Central Girls were really close to making another district final last year, but came up a couple of points short.
Sterup says his team is capable of competing against anyone on the schedule.
"We hope to be competitive with all of the teams on our schedule. If we improve and play well, we will be in any game we play."
The Tigers have some tough games early on against Twin River, West Point-Beemer, Stanton, and Pender.
Other challenging games appear to be against Columbus Scotus, Oakland-Craig, Wisner-Pilger, Howells-Dodge, and Tekamah-Herman.
Sterup feels his squad can hang with any of these teams.
"If we improve and play hard, we will be able to compete with anyone we might play this year."
I completely agree with Sterup. I think North Bend Central will be in the majority of if not all of their games this year.
The Tigers' biggest defeats last year were two games by 12 points each so North Bend Central certainly knows and understands what it takes to compete on a nightly basis.
The Tigers are in Sub-District C1-5 with the likes of Columbus Lakeview, Columbus Scotus, David City Aquinas, and David City.
I think Scotus will be good, but I feel North Bend Central is primed and ready to advance to a district final this time around, and perhaps make state.
That's a long ways off yet, but the Tigers should put themselves in a good position to have success in the postseason if they have a good regular season.
I feel the sky is the limit with this team. I think North Bend Central is capable of accomplishing big things this season.
The Tigers open up the season at home on December 1st against Twin River.
2016-2017 North Bend Central Tigers Girls Basketball Schedule:
12/01/16 Twin River
12/03/16 @ David City
12/06/16 @ Schuyler
12/08/16 West Point-Beemer
12/13/16 @ Stanton
12/16/16 @ Pender
12/22/16 @ Raymond Central
12/29-12/30 (To Be Determined) North Bend Invite North Bend
01/03/17 Clarkson/Leigh
01/06/17 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/10/17 Arlington
01/14/17 @ Archbishop Bergan
01/17/17 Columbus Scotus
01/20/17 Oakland-Craig
01/24/17 @ Madison
01/26/17 Wisner-Pilger
01/27-02/04 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/09/17 Howells-Dodge
02/10/17 @ Tekamah-Herman
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