Team: North Bend Central
Mascot: Tigers
Colors: Orange and Black
Class: C-1
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Jon Baehr (6th season) (105-142 career record)
2017-2018 record: 22-4 (lost to Lincoln Christian in District Final)
Returning Starters: N/A
Overview:
The North Bend Central Boys Basketball Team is looking for a special season with the return of several players from last year's team that went 22-4 and reached the District Final before losing to Lincoln Christian.
Returners from last year include John Emanuel (6'2, SR), Chase Ruzicka (6'0, SR), Austin Endorf (6'3, JR), Tanner Wietfeld (6'2, SR), Jaxon Wietfeld (6'3, SO), Ben Rolenc (6'5, SR), and Cole Kluthe (6'4, SR).
With a lot of seniors and a veteran laden team this year I would say it is the Tigers' year to do big things like make a state run.
6th year Head Coach Jon Baehr says as good a season as North Bend Central had last year, they're looking for an even better season this year. "And our guys accomplished a lot of great things, but I think they are ready to kind of take on that next step and next challenge, and try to do something special this year."
I'm sure doing something special would include not only making state, but winning a game or two or winning the whole thing.
Baehr says his team has improved in all aspects of the game. "I think we've grown physically in the weightroom. I think we've grown mentally with our toughness throughout the summer by going to different camps and doing things at summer leagues. And I think just overall skill wise our guys have gotten just bigger, faster, and stronger, and improved their skill level, and I think you'll see that this year when we play."
I would add that I feel the Tigers are going to be a very tough and difficult team to beat this year.
North Bend Central got so close to making state again last year, but came up a little bit short.
I feel the taste of defeat in the District Final last season will only make the Tigers better and stronger this year.
I think that and all the improvements North Bend Central made in the offseason will get them over the hump this year.
I look for the Tigers to make a state run, and compete for the Conference Tournament, Sub-District, and District Final Championships.
I really feel it will be a banner year and a season to remember for North Bend Central.
The football team had a lot of success, and I don't see any reason why the basketball team can't have a great season too.
Season Outlook:
The North Bend Central Boys are thinking big things this season.
The Tigers have a lot of games they should win this year and a tough mid-season stretch before a trip to Grand Island at the end of the regular season to face GICC in the Heartland Hoops Classic.
It should be a very fun season and a great ride for North Bend Central, and I look for the Tigers to have a spectacular and marvelous season once again this year.
North Bend Central opens up the season on Thursday at home against Twin River. Baehr says the Titans are a tough team. "They're going to be aggressive, they'll be quick, they'll get up and down the floor really well. They always play physical and strong."
The Tigers are in Sub-District C1-6 with West Point-Beemer, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, and Arlington, and have to figure to be the odds on favorite to win it.
Baehr highlights some team goals for the season. "Making sure we can control what we can control. And if we can do that I think we're talented enough, and if we work hard enough that we'll put ourselves in positions to do some great things this year."
I look for it to be a great and memorable season for North Bend Central Boys Basketball.
I feel the Tigers will win a lot of games this year, and be right there when it comes to winning championships.
It sounds like the kids have made some really nice improvements and have gotten even better so that will be fun to watch no doubt.
I look for North Bend Central to do some really good things this season, and make a state run.
I feel the Sub-State format really helps the Tigers given all the tough teams in the area like the Wahoo Schools and Columbus Scotus and others.
We'll see what happens, but I look for North Bend Central to have a season to remember.....a season that makes the players, coaches, parents, fans, and community proud.
The Tigers have had a good run the last 3 years, and I look for this senior class to top off their careers with a great season this year.
The stage is set for North Bend Central to go out there and win and do a lot of great things...now it's a matter of the Tigers going out there and getting the job done.
These kids should have something to remember for the rest of their lives after this season is all said and done.
2018-2019 North Bend Central Tigers Boys Basketball Schedule:
11/29/18 Twin River
12/01/18 @ Seward
12/04/18 @ Schuyler
12/06/18 West Point-Beemer
12/11/18 @ Stanton
12/21/18 Milford
12/28-12/29 (To Be Determined) North Bend Central Holiday Tournament North Bend Central High School
01/04/19 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/08/19 Arlington
01/10/19 Wayne
01/12/19 @ Archbishop Bergan
01/15/19 Columbus Scotus
01/18/19 Oakland-Craig
01/22/19 @ Madison
01/24/19 Wisner-Pilger
01/26-02/02 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/05/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
02/07/19 Howells-Dodge
02/09/19 Grand Island Central Catholic Site: Heartland Events Center Heartland Events Center
02/15/19 @ Fort Calhoun
Team: North Bend Central
Mascot: Tigers
Colors: Orange and Black
Class: C-1
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Aaron Sterup (18th season) (272-89 career record)
2017-2018 record: 18-5 (lost to Columbus Scotus in Sub-District Final)
Returning Starters: 1
Overview:
The North Bend Central Girls Basketball Team looks to have success this season, but the Tigers return just one starter from last year's 18-5 team.
The lone returner is Lauren Emanuel (6'1, JR Wing), who averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds a game last year. She had 30 points in one game and 20 rebounds in another as a matter of fact.
Other returning letterwinners for longtime Head Coach Aaron Sterup are Megan Ortmeier (5'9, JR G), Faith Taylor (5'9, SR P), Abby Post (5'8, JR Wing), and Cierra Kluthe (5'9, SO G).
Sydney Emanuel (5'8, FR) is a newcomer likely to contribute this season.
Big losses from last year include Brooke Fredrickson, Kristin Lux, Kaitlynn Bjorklund, and Hailey Bang.
Sterup says Lauren Emanuel will be a big factor for the team this year. "Yeah she played a pretty big role for us last year and is the only returning starter so we're going to expect her to do a lot, we're going to lean on her on a lot not only to score points, but in a leadership role and getting us through clutch situations because she's seen those things before."
Sterup says the team was banged up during the offseason, but there were positives that came out of that. "This summer we had a few injuries that we were dealing with so we weren't at full strength at all. But I think that that probably aided our depth a little bit. We got some girls some time in the summer that maybe wouldn't of gotten as many opportunities otherwise."
It sounds to me like a lot of the newcomers and new players should be more ready for the season than they would of been had everyone been healthy in the offseason.
I think that will only help the Tigers this year given their youth and inexperience.
I look for Lauren Emanuel, Taylor, and Ortmeier to really lead the team this year.
I think Post and Kluthe will do nice things as well.
I'm interested to see what Sydney Emanuel can do also.
I think North Bend Central will be very competitive this year.
The Tigers were hit hard by graduation so I don't know if they'll be as good as they have been in the past, but I still expect North Bend Central to be a tough, hard nosed, and physical team.
I also feel depth could be a bit of an issue for the Tigers perhaps so I would say North Bend Central can't afford for any of their top 6 players to get hurt.
Season Outlook:
The North Bend Central Girls look to have a nice season with lots of growth and improvement throughout its course.
The Tigers have a lot of games in bunches that can be wins and a lot of games in bunches that could be losses, in my opinion.
I think it's possible North Bend Central could be about .500 or a little better this year, but I could be wrong, and the team could definitely exceed expectations.
The Tigers open up the season on Thursday at home against Twin River. Sterup says the two teams are almost identical. "It's two teams that have always had similar philosophies as far as really playing good solid half court man-to-man defense. And so both teams know each other very well. So points are hard to come by. And it usually comes down to the team that happens to make a few free throws or make a couple clutch shots because rarely does the winning team get much out of the 30's."
North Bend Central is in Sub-District C1-6 with West Point-Beemer, Tekamah-Herman, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, and Arlington.
Sterup says he would of really liked the new Sub-State format last year, and I think it would of helped North Bend Central get to state perhaps.
Sterup adds his squad isn't going to set goals on wins and losses.
I think the Tigers can upset some teams this year, and if they can win the games they're supposed to then I don't think 15+ wins is out of the question.
The Cadets figure to be the Sub-District favorite, and the other three teams figure to be tough and no slouches either, but North Bend Central should be right in the thick of things when that time comes.
The Tigers will have had an entire season to work out the kinks and grow and mature.
I think North Bend Central will be a much different team at the end of the year than the one you will see at the start of the season.
I think the first five games or so could be tough on the Tigers, but I look for North Bend Central to pick things up before Christmas and make a nice push into January.
The Tigers just have to keep working hard and must get better as the season progresses to be where they want to be at the end of it.
If North Bend Central plays up to their potential and full capability this year then I think they can walk away proud of what they accomplished regardless of how the season turns out in terms of wins and losses.
2018-2019 North Bend Central Tigers Girls Basketball Schedule:
11/29/18 Twin River
12/01/18 @ Seward
12/04/18 @ Schuyler
12/06/18 West Point-Beemer
12/11/18 @ Stanton
12/14/18 @ Pender
12/20/18 @ Raymond Central
12/21/18 Milford
12/28-12/29 (To Be Determined) North Bend Central Holiday Tournament North Bend Central High School
01/04/19 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/08/19 Arlington
01/10/19 Wayne
01/12/19 @ Archbishop Bergan
01/15/19 Columbus Scotus
01/18/19 Oakland-Craig
01/22/19 @ Madison
01/24/19 Wisner-Pilger
01/25-02/02 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament TBD
02/05/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
02/07/19 Howells-Dodge
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