Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, Gray
Class: D-1
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Jeff Bachman (2nd season)
2017-2018 record: 4-18 (lost to Walthill in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: N/A
Overview:
The Clarkson/Leigh Boys Basketball Team looks for improvement this season after going 4-18 a year ago.
Back for 2nd year Head Coach Jeff Bachman are Daniel Beller (Senior 6’3 Center), who averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds a game last year, Isaak Wiese (Junior 6’1 Forward), Tommy McEvoy (6’2 Sophomore Forward), who averaged 10 points a game last year, and Lance Paprocki (5’6 Sophomore Guard).
Newcomers who could make an impact this year are Travis Stanley (Senior 5’6 Guard/Forward), Trevor Zulkoski (Sophomore 5’8” Guard/Forward), Mitch Beeson (Freshman 6’0 Forward), Carter Hanel (Freshman 6’3” Center), and Jarred Novotny (Freshman 6’1” Guard).
Bachman says this squad is big. "We will be very athletic, and have some decent length. We will have success scoring inside."
Bachman adds being young could hurt the team this year. "We are very inexperienced and will need to find some more ball handlers."
He says McEvoy is a coach's dream. "He's not only a really good athlete, he's just a great kid. He's a very coachable person. He is one of the hardest workers I've ever been privileged to work with. He listens to exactly what you say, and really be able to apply what you teach him onto the court or field."
McEvoy had an excellent Football Season, and I look for that to carry over onto the hardwood as well.
Bachman says success breeds success. "We believe that carries over. I think our football to basketball season will be a great example of that."
The Patriots might be young, but having size is never a bad thing.
I think Beller and McEvoy have the ability to take over a game at any given time.
I think Stanley will be a big contributor as will Paprocki.
Wiese should help compliment Beller nicely in the post.
I'm really interested to see what some of these freshmen can do too.
I feel there is a lot of potential in them and the entire team for that matter.
I think time will tell how good this Clarkson/Leigh Team is and can be.
Season Outlook:
The Clarkson/Leigh Boys look to be much improved from last year.
The Patriots open up the season on Friday, November 30th at Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family. "They're going to have a lot of length again here this year. They have a few guys coming back from last year. Brett Hanis, who was a pretty good guard for them. They have a Hanzel, another pretty decent guard. And there's another Hanzel, who's a big 6'5, 6'6 post," Bachman said.
Bachman says the Bulldogs will be tough again, and are a team his team wants to measure themselves against, adding he feels the game will be very competitive.
Clarkson/Leigh is in Sub-District D1-3 with Fremont Bergan, Cedar Bluffs, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, and East Butler.
Bachman says Bergan is probably the favorite to win the Sub-District with Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family a tough close second.
Team goals include getting the most of the kids as possible, achieve at a high level, maximize their talent, and compete with everyone on their schedule.
I think there are a lot of opportunities for wins for the Patriots this season.
I look for Clarkson/Leigh to do better this year than they did last year, and continue to build this program.
Bachman says this team will get better as the year goes along. "We have a chance to be very successful. We will be very inexperienced, but will get better and progress throughout the season. We will be a team no one wants to play by the end of the year."
I would agree with Bachman. I feel the Patriots will be a team that is dangerous and capable of pulling off some big upsets in the East Husker Conference Tournament and postseason.
I think Clarkson/Leigh has a chance to win at least 6 games this year if not more.
The schedule has its challenges seeing as the Patriots play a lot of C-1 and C-2 Schools, but that will only make Clarkson/Leigh better down the line.
The Patriots had a nice football season, and I don't see any reason why Clarkson/Leigh can't have a nice basketball season as well.
The Patriots have to work hard and believe in one another and work to get better every time they take to the floor, whether that's during a game or in practice.
2018-2019 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Boys Basketball Schedule:
11/30/18 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
12/01/18 Madison
12/04/18 @ Oakland-Craig
12/06/18 Winside
12/07/18 BRLD
12/15/18 Howells-Dodge
12/18/18 @ Columbus Lakeview
12/27-12/28 (To Be Determined) Shelby-Rising City Holiday Tournament Shelby
01/05/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
01/11/19 Humphrey St. Francis
01/12/19 @ Pender
01/17/19 @ Twin River
01/18/19 Lutheran High Northeast
01/22/19 @ Wisner-Pilger
01/26-02/02 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/05/19 Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
02/07/19 @ Stanton
02/08/19 @ East Butler
02/15/19 David City
Team: Clarkson/Leigh
Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, Gray
Class: C-2
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Matt Murren (6th season) (44-72 record)
2017-2018 record: 14-10 (lost to GACC in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: 5
Overview:
The Clarkson/Leigh Girls Basketball Team looks for a great season and a breakout campaign.
The Patriots return everyone from last year, including Kaegan Held (12 5’4 G), who averaged 11 points a game last season, Ashlynn Novotny (11 5’10 G), who averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds a game last year, Halee Steffensmeier (12 5’4 G), who averaged 7 points a game last year, Hannah Kasik (12 5’8 F), who returns from an ACL injury. Leader in PPG, RPG as soph., Beth Wiese (12 5’8 F), Paige Moore (12 5’8 F), Kim Stodola (11 5’8 F), and Cassidy Hoffman (10 6’ F).
Others likely to contribute are Alissa Kasik (10 5’6 G) and Bailey Lemburg (10 5’4 G).
6th year Head Coach Matt Murren says the team challenged themselves this offseason. "The summer went very well. We tried to challenge the girls. We have everybody back this year. And so we really tried to challenge them and go to some tough team camps at York and Centennial and tried to play some bigger schools...some Class B Schools, some Class C-1 Schools. And really tried to make the girls work this summer, and improve their game, and see what it takes to get to that next level."
Murren says this year's senior class has improved by 5 wins each season.
Murren adds it doesn't make any difference to him that the team moved up to C-2. "We play the same games up until Sub-Districts that we would if we were in Class D-1. So quite frankly the schedule doesn't change. Yeah maybe it gets a little harder in the postseason, but you never know. You got to play well the first 20 some odd games to make those last ones really matter so we've got to make sure we do our job before we get to postseason when that starts to count."
Murren says the team will be very deep once again this year. "The Patriots have an opportunity to be a very successful team this season as they return their full team from the prior season, including 8 players in their rotation and add back senior Hannah Kasik who missed last year with an ACL injury. This group has multiple 2 or 3 year starters so experience is a positive. Will look to apply full court pressure that will lead to a transition offense creating points. Guard play with Held, Novotny,
Steffensmeier, Kasik, and Lemburg will allow the Patriots to have options to push the ball. Post
play will be improved with Kasik, Hoffman, Stodola, Wiese and Moore. Shooting has been an
emphasis for the Patriots, who look to continue to improve in that area."
Murren adds that defense is a team strength whereas scoring and free throw consistency are weaknesses.
I think scoring is the whole key to Clarkson/Leigh's season. The Patriots are proven and talented enough defensively, but it's the offense that has to kick it in high gear for Clarkson/Leigh to break through and achieve all their goals and dreams, in my opinion.
The Patriots are definitely capable of making a Sub-State Match and reaching the State Tournament, but it won't be easy.
Season Outlook:
The Clarkson/Leigh Girls look to break through and make State this year.
The road to Lincoln starts on Friday, November 30th when the team takes on Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family on the road in the season opener. "Yeah it's a game that we look forward to every year. It's kind of a rivalry as we're a little bit closer. They're only about 20 miles apart. And should be a good battle. They're going to be a highly ranked team I'm sure. Coming off a state berth last year, and that's the game last year that we look at that we felt we should have won," Murren said.
The Patriots are in Sub-District C2-6 with Stanton, Battle Creek, Norfolk Catholic, and Madison.
It's a difficult Sub-District, but there's no doubt in my mind that Clarkson/Leigh can hold their own against those teams.
Murren says he's a big fan of the sub-state format.
Murren adds the team has to focus on the little things to make state. "We're going to put the work in that we've got to reach small goals, game goals, do the little things. And if we do those little things and we enjoy them, we take on the process....the success is going to come in the end."
These girls have to embrace every challenge and obstacle they face this season.
Life often throws one curveballs, and these girls just have to roll with the punches and be a very resilient group.
Struggles are bound to come the Patriots' way during the season, but what Clarkson/Leigh chooses to do about their struggles could ultimately dictate their fate this season.
It's often said that struggles turn into successes, and so the hard work and progress and improvements these girls have made over the course of their careers should be able to pay off at some point in the season for the Patriots.
I think Clarkson/Leigh can use the disappointment of how the Volleyball season ended as motivation and fuel to the fire this year.
The Patriots have to play with a chip on their shoulder throughout the season, and play as if they have something to prove and accomplish.
I think there are a lot of very winnable games on the schedule for Clarkson/Leigh, and feel we will learn a lot about this team in the second half of the season.
I look for the Patriots to have a lot of success this year.
2018-2019 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Girls Basketball Schedule:
11/30/18 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
12/01/18 Madison
12/04/18 @ Oakland-Craig
12/06/18 Winside
12/07/18 BRLD
12/11/18 David City
12/15/18 Howells-Dodge
12/18/18 @ Columbus Lakeview
12/27-12/28 (To Be Determined) Shelby-Rising City Holiday Tournament Shelby
01/04/19 East Butler
01/05/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
01/11/19 Humphrey St. Francis
01/12/19 @ Pender
01/17/19 @ Twin River
01/18/19 Lutheran High Northeast
01/22/19 @ Wisner-Pilger
01/25-02/02 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/05/19 Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
02/07/19 @ Stanton
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