Team: Clarkson/Leigh
Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, Gray
Class: D-1
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Jeff Bachman (3rd season) (11-32 record)
2018-2019 record: 7-14 (lost to Fremont Bergan in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: 4
Overview:
The Clarkson/Leigh Boys Basketball Team looks for success under 3rd year Head Coach Jeff Bachman.
The Patriots return four starters from last year's 7-14 team, including Carter Hanel (6'4, SO C), and Jarred Novotny (6'0, SO G), as well as Tommy McEvoy (6'2, JR F) and Isaak Wiese (6'0, SR F), who are both currently injured with McEvoy to miss the entire year with a torn ACL and Wiese's status up in the air.
Other letterwinners/newcomers include Lance Paprocki (5'8, JR G), Trevor Zulkoski (6'0, JR F), Mitch Beeson (6'1, SO F), Eli Hays (5'6, SO G), Logan Schroeder (5'6, SO G), Drew Beeson (5'8, FR G/F), and Kyle Kasik (5'8, FR G).
Head Coach Jeff Bachman says the offseason was outstanding. "The kids did a great job in the weightroom. They did a great job in camps, and the summer leagues we went to."
Daniel Beller, Douglas Pocasangre, and Travis Stanley all graduated last year.
Bachman has this preseason assessment of this year's team. "We will be young and athletic. We return several key guys with varsity experience and look to build on some end of the year success."
The Patriots won 3 of their 7 games in the month of February last year.
I think Clarkson/Leigh played really well at times last year, but really struggled at others.
If the Patriots can be consistent and knock off some of the teams they lost to close last year and narrow the gap on those teams where the games weren't close then I think that would be a huge step forward for Clarkson/Leigh.
I look for the Patriots to improve upon last year and have an even better year this year.
I think Clarkson/Leigh is still a couple years away from being really good, but there's no doubt this team can be solid this year.
The Patriots have to go out there and work hard and be ready to compete on a nightly basis.
Clarkson/Leigh can't take anyone or anything for granted. The Patriots have to play hard night in and night out.
I think Clarkson/Leigh has a lot of potential, and now it's simply a matter of putting things together this season.
Season Outlook:
The Clarkson/Leigh Boys expect a lot out of themselves this season, I think that much is safe to say.
Bachman says this year's team is very hungry and determined. "The guys show up, they work hard every day. They want to be good. They want to knock off some of the teams that we haven't beat before. They want to make a run at conference. They want to make a run at Sub-Districts, and hope to get to a Sub-State or a State Tournament."
The Patriots open up the season at home against Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family on December 6th.
Bachman says the defending D-1 State Champs will be good once again. "They have a nice group of returning players. They're very well Coached. Coach Hesse does a great job there. And they're going to be solid."
Bachman feels his team will battle with the Bulldogs.
I think Clarkson/Leigh can definitely compete with and narrow the gap against Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family.
The Bulldogs, Oakland-Craig, BRLD, Howells-Dodge, David City Aquinas, Humphrey St. Francis, Lutheran High Northeast, Wisner-Pilger, and Logan View/Scribner-Snyder all figure to be tough.
The Patriots have to have the attitude that they're going to compete with and narrow the gap against these teams though if not beat them.
Clarkson/Leigh is in Sub-District D1-3 with Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Howells-Dodge, and Elkhorn Valley.
Bachman says his team is no stranger to tough competition. "It's good quality competition. And we're used to that. We're used to playing good teams in our Sub-District and our conference. Last year in our Sub-District we had the Class Champion and Class Runner-Up."
It's a heck of a Sub-District that's for sure, but the Patriots have a great attitude and willingness to work hard and compete, and those things should serve Clarkson/Leigh well.
The East Husker Conference is rock solid once again this year.
I feel the Patriots have a chance to improve on last year's win total and get to double digit wins this year.
Clarkson/Leigh nearly doubled their win total from 2017-2018 to last year so we'll see what this year brings.
2019-2020 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Boys Basketball Schedule:
12/06/19 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
12/07/19 @ Madison
12/10/19 Oakland-Craig
12/12/19 @ Winside
12/13/19 @ BRLD
12/21/19 @ Howells-Dodge
12/27-12/28 (To Be Determined) Shelby-Rising City Holiday Shelby
01/03/20 Columbus Lakeview
01/07/20 Aquinas Catholic
01/11/20 Tekamah-Herman
01/17/20 @ Humphrey St. Francis
01/18/20 Pender
01/23/20 Twin River
01/24/20 @ Lutheran High Northeast
01/28/20 Wisner-Pilger
02/01-02/08 (To Be Determined) East Husker BBB Tournament TBD
02/11/20 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
02/13/20 Stanton
02/14/20 East Butler
02/21/20 @ David City
Team: Clarkson/Leigh
Mascot: Patriots
Colors: Red, Blue, Gray
Class: C-2
Conference: East Husker
Head Coach: Matt Murren (7th season) (65-76 record)
2018-2019 record: 21-4 (lost to Blue Hill at Sub-State)
Returning Starters: 1
Overview:
The Clarkson/Leigh Girls look to have another huge year after going 21-4 a season ago.
Just one starter returns for 7th year Head Coach Matt Murren, however, as Ashlynn Novotny (5'11, SR G) will handle things at the point for the Patriots this season.
Other returning letterwinners include Kim Stodola (5'9, SR P), Cassidy Hoffman (6'0, JR P), and Alissa Kasik (5'5, JR G).
Other possible contributors include Reagan Settje (5'8, SR P), Bailey Lemburg (5'5, JR G), Kennedy Settje (5'6, SO G), and Kayden Schumacher (5'7, JR P).
Murren says the girls were busy with offseason activities. "Our attendance is unbelievable. We don't have kids that miss unless they have an obligation that they have to miss for."
Murren adds offseason team camps also went well. "We had a very good summer at team camps. We tried to push our team this summer and go to some different camps where we're playing some high quality competition."
The team graduated Hannah Kasik, Beth Wiese, Kaegan Held, Halee Steffensmeier, and Paige Moore last year.
Lots of talent to replace and some big shoes to fill, but this year's team is very capable, in my opinion.
I thought the program made tons of progress last year, having won a record 21 games.
The girls took 3rd at Conference and made a Sub-State Final.
Murren says the team is hungry to get back to Sub-State this year. "Last year was a big step. We felt we fell a little short of our goal. And this year it's the same goals in mind. Our goal's to get to the Sub-State Final and when you get there anything can happen."
Team strengths will be good defense and transition offense, but scoring could be a weakness for the Patriots again, according to Coach Murren.
However, I feel Clarkson/Leigh has a good mix of size and quickness, and that should help them out a lot.
I think this team will be really well balanced offensively.
It should be a fun year for the Patriots, and I'm anxious to see what Clarkson/Leigh can do this season.
Season Outlook:
The Clarkson/Leigh Girls are looking for another huge season this year.
Murren has this preseason assessment of the team. "The Patriots have an opportunity to have another strong year. They will be lead by 4-year starter Ashlynn Novotny who will run the point for them. Should have a strong inside presence with Stodola and Hoffman as well as guards that can really shoot the ball from the perimeter in with Novotny, Kasik, Lemburg and K. Settje. Consistency in their play will be key as many newcomers are in the rotation but the ability to score is there. Schumacher and Settje look to bring energy to the court with their play."
The Patriots open up the season with Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family at home on December 6th. Murren says it should be a heck of a battle. "Last year we were able to get them twice, we got them in the regular season and then we were able to get them at the conference tournament. But it's always a real good game. They've got some real nice players coming back. The Veik girl's going to be a heck of a guard for them."
I think it being a home game for Clarkson/Leigh helps the Patriots quite a bit.
Other tough games for Clarkson/Leigh this year figure to come against Oakland-Craig, BRLD, Columbus Lakeview, David City Aquinas, Humphrey St. Francis, Pender, and Twin River.
I really think the schedule and Sub-District sets up nicely for the Patriots to do well.
Clarkson/Leigh is in Sub-District C2-5 with Howells-Dodge, Lutheran High Northeast, Stanton, and Madison. "There's quality basketball, and there's a lot of good basketball, and hopefully we're peaking at the right time of the season and we'll be playing playing our best basketball then, and we'll be able to make some noise." Murren said.
Murren feels the East Husker is one of the toughest conferences in the State.
I would agree with him and I think that is where the Patriots could face their biggest challenge is come conference tournament time.
Clarkson/Leigh took 3rd last year though so we'll see how the Patriots fare in the Conference Tournament this year.
I think things set up very nicely for Clarkson/Leigh to have another great season with the chance to make Sub-State.
And I think the Patriots can make State, especially with the right Sub-State matchup.
C-2 is loaded this year again though so it doesn't figure to be easy for Clarkson/Leigh once again.
I think a lot of it hinges on the Patriots' ability to score.
2019-2020 Clarkson/Leigh Patriots Girls Basketball Schedule:
12/06/19 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
12/07/19 @ Madison
12/10/19 Oakland-Craig
12/12/19 @ Winside
12/13/19 @ BRLD
12/17/19 @ David City
12/21/19 @ Howells-Dodge
12/27-12/28 (To Be Determined) Shelby-Rising City Holiday Shelby, NE
01/03/20 Columbus Lakeview
01/07/20 Aquinas Catholic
01/10/20 @ East Butler
01/11/20 Tekamah-Herman
01/17/20 @ Humphrey St. Francis
01/18/20 Pender
01/23/20 Twin River
01/24/20 @ Lutheran High Northeast
01/28/20 Wisner-Pilger
01/31-02/08 (To Be Determined) East Husker GBB Tournament TBA
02/11/20 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
02/13/20 Stanton
No comments:
Post a Comment