Generals’ outlook for 2012? Have talent, need experience
There is height. There is speed. But if the Wooster High boys basketball team wants to take that next step into the upper half of the Ohio Cardinal Conference, experience is the thing it needs.
Wooster lost an impact player to graduation in Alex LaLonde, one of six seniors who saw considerable minutes last year, but the pieces could still be there for a successful season. How quickly it all comes together will determine how the season goes.
The Generals will have to replace a big pair of shoes in LaLonde. At 6-foot-5, he had the ability to play inside and out with equal ability, scoring 19.5 points a game. As a result of those numbers, LaLonde was named the Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year despite missing five games after breaking his wrist in Wooster’s season opener.
He will he missed – “Yes, for sure. For sure,” laughed WHS coach Craig Martin.
“He was Player of the year in the OCC and obviously was our go-to guy,” he added. “But, we also lost our point guard Duke Price and a plethora of other seniors who were experienced. Our biggest challenge this year is a lack of varsity game experience at the beginning of the season.”
The Generals finished 11-11 overall last year and won their opening sectional tournament game, putting together a solid finish after a slow start. Wooster was also 7-7 in the OCC, finishing fourth in the league.
The Generals return three letter winners who all started a number of games last season.
Among them is Luke McGee, a 6-2 senior who recently signed a scholarship with the Ohio State Baseball Buckeyes. He saw some varsity time as a sophomore and then played full-time a year ago, averaging 5.1 points a game.
He will be joined by a pair of juniors in 6-foot post player Grant Stokes, a starter a year ago who closed with 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game, and 5-11 Von Blair, who had 6.1 points.
“Those three have the bulk of varsity experience and those three played a lot,” said Martin. “After that we lack players that have varsity game experience, but I’m very excited about the group we have coming up. Right now, I feel like we’re more balanced and deeper. We don’t have that experience, but we’re a deeper team because of players we have.
“The three back from last year are in a good position to retain their starting spots. We have an idea they will see a majority of the minutes, but some of our ideas are still a work in progress and we’ll have to see what combinations work best.”
The rest of the team is lacking experience, but Martin is hoping with a little playing time the pieces will fall into place quickly.
“We have two players that actually dressed some varsity, but they saw very little playing time,” said Martin. “Mason Tomblin (6-0, junior) can play either the two, three or four spot, but he’s so strong he can play the post and he’s one of our better perimeter players. Charles Cairnie (6-5, junior) will also play in the post. They can compete at this level. They are up from the JV, but they will definitely contribute.”
Kyle Hartman (senior, 6-1) will play either guard/wing and “his strength is his shooting ability – he’s one of our better shooters,” said Martin. James Preston (6-1, junior) will also play wing, but could also see time at point guard as needed. Corey Beckett, a 5-10 sophomore, will back up Blair at point guard.
Zack Edmunds, 6-0, junior, will give the Generals an outside shooting presence. Another guard, 6-1 sophomore Nolan Bricker, will start at point guard on JV, but could also see some time on the varsity.
The Generals will also have some height to work with, although that talent is young. Connor Kubiak is a 6-5 sophomore who will play in the post, “but he can step out on the wing and shoot from the perimeter and handle the ball a little,” said Martin. Cam Daugherty, a 6-5 freshman, could also see time in the post.
“We’re still working on finding the right rotation and combination out there on floor,” said Martin. “We have a deep group. The group we have this year has more versatility. It’s different. We can have a couple different teams on the floor because for the first time in my tenure we have some height.
“A lot of these kids really dedicated themselves this summer. A lot of them played football, which is a good thing, but we had a group of six to seven kids who were not in a fall sport and they dedicated themselves in open gyms and the weight room.
“They are working hard and they are coachable. I’m excited. We know there will be bumps along the way and how we handle that adversity will go a long way toward determining our success.”
Part of the season Martin is hoping the Generals will improve on last year’s season is the various looks the team can put on the floor.
“We can put height on the floor or we can put a quick, athletic group out there,” said Martin. “We’re versatile in the different styles or the type of team we can put on the floor, depending on the opponent or what we’re trying to achieve during that game.
“We also have some shooters, people who can attack the basket or we can go into the post more than we have in the past. The key is how early and how soon we can get that experience and get that confidence.
“We are young, so we’re keeping it simple, not too complex in the beginning of the year,” he said. “We have some objectives offensively and defensively, but we don’t want to complicate it. We want to do what we do and do it well. As we gain experience, we’ll add to it.”
The quicker that experience comes, the better as far as Martin is concerned.
“We have to get out and play,” he said. “I’ve seen some progression … but we still have room for improvement and we’re getting better every day. We’re young, but we can’t use that as an excuse.”
Wooster opened its season at home against Cloverleaf Friday, Dec. 2.
Wooster lost an impact player to graduation in Alex LaLonde, one of six seniors who saw considerable minutes last year, but the pieces could still be there for a successful season. How quickly it all comes together will determine how the season goes.
The Generals will have to replace a big pair of shoes in LaLonde. At 6-foot-5, he had the ability to play inside and out with equal ability, scoring 19.5 points a game. As a result of those numbers, LaLonde was named the Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year despite missing five games after breaking his wrist in Wooster’s season opener.
He will he missed – “Yes, for sure. For sure,” laughed WHS coach Craig Martin.
“He was Player of the year in the OCC and obviously was our go-to guy,” he added. “But, we also lost our point guard Duke Price and a plethora of other seniors who were experienced. Our biggest challenge this year is a lack of varsity game experience at the beginning of the season.”
The Generals finished 11-11 overall last year and won their opening sectional tournament game, putting together a solid finish after a slow start. Wooster was also 7-7 in the OCC, finishing fourth in the league.
The Generals return three letter winners who all started a number of games last season.
Among them is Luke McGee, a 6-2 senior who recently signed a scholarship with the Ohio State Baseball Buckeyes. He saw some varsity time as a sophomore and then played full-time a year ago, averaging 5.1 points a game.
He will be joined by a pair of juniors in 6-foot post player Grant Stokes, a starter a year ago who closed with 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds a game, and 5-11 Von Blair, who had 6.1 points.
“Those three have the bulk of varsity experience and those three played a lot,” said Martin. “After that we lack players that have varsity game experience, but I’m very excited about the group we have coming up. Right now, I feel like we’re more balanced and deeper. We don’t have that experience, but we’re a deeper team because of players we have.
“The three back from last year are in a good position to retain their starting spots. We have an idea they will see a majority of the minutes, but some of our ideas are still a work in progress and we’ll have to see what combinations work best.”
The rest of the team is lacking experience, but Martin is hoping with a little playing time the pieces will fall into place quickly.
“We have two players that actually dressed some varsity, but they saw very little playing time,” said Martin. “Mason Tomblin (6-0, junior) can play either the two, three or four spot, but he’s so strong he can play the post and he’s one of our better perimeter players. Charles Cairnie (6-5, junior) will also play in the post. They can compete at this level. They are up from the JV, but they will definitely contribute.”
Kyle Hartman (senior, 6-1) will play either guard/wing and “his strength is his shooting ability – he’s one of our better shooters,” said Martin. James Preston (6-1, junior) will also play wing, but could also see time at point guard as needed. Corey Beckett, a 5-10 sophomore, will back up Blair at point guard.
Zack Edmunds, 6-0, junior, will give the Generals an outside shooting presence. Another guard, 6-1 sophomore Nolan Bricker, will start at point guard on JV, but could also see some time on the varsity.
The Generals will also have some height to work with, although that talent is young. Connor Kubiak is a 6-5 sophomore who will play in the post, “but he can step out on the wing and shoot from the perimeter and handle the ball a little,” said Martin. Cam Daugherty, a 6-5 freshman, could also see time in the post.
“We’re still working on finding the right rotation and combination out there on floor,” said Martin. “We have a deep group. The group we have this year has more versatility. It’s different. We can have a couple different teams on the floor because for the first time in my tenure we have some height.
“A lot of these kids really dedicated themselves this summer. A lot of them played football, which is a good thing, but we had a group of six to seven kids who were not in a fall sport and they dedicated themselves in open gyms and the weight room.
“They are working hard and they are coachable. I’m excited. We know there will be bumps along the way and how we handle that adversity will go a long way toward determining our success.”
Part of the season Martin is hoping the Generals will improve on last year’s season is the various looks the team can put on the floor.
“We can put height on the floor or we can put a quick, athletic group out there,” said Martin. “We’re versatile in the different styles or the type of team we can put on the floor, depending on the opponent or what we’re trying to achieve during that game.
“We also have some shooters, people who can attack the basket or we can go into the post more than we have in the past. The key is how early and how soon we can get that experience and get that confidence.
“We are young, so we’re keeping it simple, not too complex in the beginning of the year,” he said. “We have some objectives offensively and defensively, but we don’t want to complicate it. We want to do what we do and do it well. As we gain experience, we’ll add to it.”
The quicker that experience comes, the better as far as Martin is concerned.
“We have to get out and play,” he said. “I’ve seen some progression … but we still have room for improvement and we’re getting better every day. We’re young, but we can’t use that as an excuse.”
Wooster opened its season at home against Cloverleaf Friday, Dec. 2.
Published: November 30, 2011
