Team: Guardian Angels Central Catholic
Mascot: Bluejays
Colors: Blue and White
Class: C-2
Conference: Mid-State
Head Coach: Alex Stieren (2nd season)
2017-2018 record: 3-18 (lost to Pender in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: 2
Overview:
The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Boys Basketball Team looks to make strides and improve in Head Coach Alex Stieren's second season at the helm of the program.
The Bluejays return two starters in Jared Minnick (SF 6-0 Sr.) and Casey Doernemann (C 6-5 Jr.).
Returning letterwinners include Ben Ulrich (PG 6-2 So.), Matthew Rolf (PF 6-3 Jr.), Adam Reeson (PF 6-3 Jr.), Hunter Uhing (PF 5-11 Sr.), and Brendan Rief (PG 5-10 So.).
Stieren says the preseason has gone well. "Practices have been great. We've been hitting a lot of shots. We've been trying to implement a lot of fundamentals. Got a lot of varsity minutes for a lot of young kids last year. Hopefully that pays off in the end."
Stieren says the team wants to try to run deep on the bench, try and run the floor, and try to score more fast break than halfcourt.
Getting out and running and scoring in transition is a recipe for success in my book.
I feel GACC has what it takes to get back to an elite level and play the type of ball they're accustomed to.
Last year was a rebuilding year with the loss of a lot of seniors from the year before, and despite being young this year, I think the Bluejays are capable of doing a lot of nice things this season.
GACC lost just two players from last year in Bryant Rief and Derek Petz.
I feel the success the boys had in Football and all the experience they got last year will really help them find their way this season.
Stieren says togetherness and teamwork is a strength of the team. "I think this group of boys right now are going to play as a team, they're going to have each other's back throughout the whole game through thick and thin. We've been seeing a lot of selflessness. They've been putting their teammates above them."
That's a very good sign that the Bluejays are putting their teammates and the team first.
As they say there is no "I" in team, and that certainly appears to be how GACC is approaching things.
Stieren says the Bluejays are a work in progress. "We are in the middle of a program overhaul. Last season we had only 2 seniors so we didn’t lose a lot. We also had very little Varsity expereince last year. But we moved up a class to C-2 and I think we are ready for the challenge and hopes are high this year, we just need to put in the effort and time!"
I'm very interested to see what type of year the Bluejays have as I feel they have the potential to improve drastically.
Last year was a learning year, and there's always room for growth and improvement, but I feel GACC has already made a lot of strides and improvements since last year, and will continue to do so this year throughout the season.
Season Outlook:
GACC no doubt wants to get back to their winning ways of the past this year.
I think the Bluejays have a lot of games that are potential wins, games against teams you don't really know how they're going to be exactly.
I think GACC has a lot of potential and an opportunity to win a lot of games. I will say that much.
I feel a lot of it depends on how well the Bluejays play and how far they've come as a team, and also how much they improve throughout the course of the season.
Doing the little things like making good passes, knocking down free throws, and making easy layups are all going to be critical I feel.
GACC opens up the season at Wisner-Pilger Friday night in action that can be heard on 107.9 the Bull. "I know Coach Mendlik will have the Gators ready. Plays a 1-3-1. Probably expect to see that in a press too. We just got to stay in our lanes, see the floor, and beat the press more with the pass than the dribble," Stieren said.
The thing about the 1-3-1 is you have to make quick, smart, and crisp passes to beat it.
If you dribble too much and get caught in traffic then a turnover is likely.
GACC is in Sub-District C2-5 with BRLD, Oakland-Craig, Omaha Nation, and Walthill.
I feel the Bluejays are an up and coming team with a lot of potential this season.
Stieren says goals include go to State, win conference, and Sub-Districts and Districts.
Expectations are always high at GACC, and you can bet the Bluejays expect to be much improved this year.
I feel all the tools are in place for that to happen too.
GACC just has to figure out how to close the close games, and maximize their potential and opportunities.
The Bluejays can't let victories get away from them, GACC has to figure out a way to win games when given the chance and opportunity.
I don't think anyone expects the Bluejays to go undefeated or anything like that, but I feel like GACC can get to double digit wins this year or do something like triple their win total from last year.
2018-2019 Guardian Angels Central Catholic Bluejays Boys Basketball Schedule:
11/30/18 @ Wisner-Pilger
12/01/18 Lutheran High Northeast
12/04/18 Columbus Scotus
12/06/18 Wynot
12/08/18 @ Crofton
12/15/18 @ Ponca
12/18/18 Oakland-Craig
12/21/18 @ Aquinas Catholic
12/28-12/29 (To Be Determined) Howells-Dodge Holiday Tournament Howells
01/11/19 @ Wayne
01/12/19 @ Boone Central/Newman Grove
01/15/19 @ Battle Creek
01/18/19 @ O'Neill
01/19/19 Hartington Cedar Catholic
01/26-02/02 (To Be Determined) Mid State Conference Tournament Norfolk
02/05/19 @ Norfolk Catholic
02/07/19 Pierce
02/09/19 @ Archbishop Bergan
02/15/19 @ Winnebago
Team: Guardian Angels Central Catholic
Mascot: Bluejays
Colors: Blue and White
Class: C-2
Conference: Mid-State
Head Coach: Jerry Stracke (16th season) (416-109 career record)
2017-2018 record: 20-7 (lost to Ansley-Litchfield in first round of State)
Returning Starters: 4
Overview:
The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Girls Basketball Team returns four starters from last year, but the lone starter lost is Lexis Haase, who made up about half of the team's scoring last season.
Head Coach Jerry Stracke. "Yeah we'll miss Lexis. She was a big part of our offense. It's going to be hard to replace her. We do return four starters."
The team has 3 seniors, a couple juniors that can help, sophomores, and freshmen.
The returning starters are Ally Plagge (5’5 Sr), Angela Jansen (5’8 Sr), Hannah Knobbe (5'6, Jr), and Marissa Hunke (5’7 Jr).
Other returning letterwinners are Maddie Bracht (5’6 Sr), Greta Vering (5’6 Jr), Brandi Doernemann (5’11 So), Avery Kreikemeier (5’6 So), Brenna Rief (5’4 So), and Reece Snodgrass (5’6 So).
Sophia Hass (5’7 Fr) is a newcomer likely to contribute for the Bluejays.
Stracke says the girls have been working very hard at practice.
He adds the team has a good bench and will be deep, saying the team will play a faster tempo this year and rely a lot on their defense.
Stracke expects his team to improve and grow as the season progresses given the strong offseason the team had. "I thought we got better as the summer went along. I thought the girls put a lot of work into improving, and I can tell here at the beginning of the year we're going to take our lumps, and hopefully we'll grow and learn from our mistakes and we'll just be there and keep getting better there towards the end."
GACC is looking to make state for the 22nd year in a row.
The fact the Bluejays have made state 21 years in a row is incredible and quite remarkable.
It will be interesting to see if GACC can make it 22 in a row. I think they definitely can, but it won't be easy.
The Bluejays are back in C-2 after being D-1 for a couple of years.
This is a veteran experienced team that I expect to peak at season's end, but I feel the loss of Haase will be felt, at least early on.
I don't know if GACC will have as much offensive firepower as they've had in the past, but the Bluejays should be a very tough defensive team that improves on offense as the season progresses.
Season Outlook:
The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Girls Basketball Team comes in with high expectations like always.
Stracke says his team has their work cut out for them this year. "Moved up a class - Only lost one player but 50% of our scoring. Will have a hard time scoring this year. Not a tall team. In a tough sub district."
I feel teams with height and speed could give GACC issues.
Despite all that, I look for the Bluejays to have another fine season, similar to what they've had in the past.
GACC opens up the season on Friday at Wisner-Pilger in action that will be aired on 107.9 the Bull.
Stracke says the game will be a good test for them to see where they're at in the early season.
The Bluejays are in Sub-District C2-5 with the Gators, Oakland-Craig, BRLD, and Omaha Nation.
I would say the Knights are the favorite to win it, but you can never count out GACC in the postseason.
I fully expect the Bluejays to be on top of their game come the end of the season, and challenge and push Oakland-Craig and others at the very least.
Every game is so important and critical with the new Sub-State format.
It will be interesting to see how the new Sub-State format treats GACC this year.
Stracke says the old system has helped his team in the past, but feels the new format could help the Bluejays this year given the tough Sub-District they are in.
I feel GACC is one of those teams that can have a good enough regular season to make Sub-State should they not win their Sub-District, but it won't be easy.
The Bluejays have to win the games they're supposed to and knock off some juggernauts.
I'm not expecting GACC to go out and steamroll people night in and night out, but I still look for the Bluejays to be good and have a nice season.
Whether GACC does enough to make state a 22nd year in a row remains to be seen, but I will say one thing.....I think the Bluejays are going to be a tough out no matter who they play.
2018-2019 Guardian Angels Central Catholic Girls Basketball Schedule:
11/30/18 @ Wisner-Pilger
12/01/18 Lutheran High Northeast
12/04/18 Columbus Scotus
12/06/18 Wynot
12/08/18 @ Crofton
12/11/18 Archbishop Bergan
12/13/18 @ Winnebago
12/15/18 @ Norfolk Catholic
12/17/18 Wayne
12/21/18 @ Aquinas Catholic
12/28-12/29 (To Be Determined) Howells-Dodge Holiday Tournament Howells
01/08/19 Bishop Neumann
01/12/19 @ Boone Central/Newman Grove
01/15/19 @ Battle Creek
01/18/19 @ O'Neill
01/19/19 Hartington Cedar Catholic
01/24/19 Spalding Academy
01/26-02/02 (To Be Determined) Mid State Conference Tournament Norfolk
02/05/19 Pender
02/07/19 Pierce
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