Team Preview: Can Lions continue success of last year with new roster?
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
If there was any team that is rebuilding following a successful season, the Fairfield Lions fit the bill. They've lost 90 percent of the scoring from their district champion team, and now they must move on and start the journey once again.
Entering his third season in his third stint as the FHS head coach, Everett Snyder knows a lot has changed with his program, losing his entire starting lineup from the Division IV SE District champion team. He also knows his team still has the expectations of returning to the Convocation Center to defend their district championship.
The team this season for the Lions includes seniors Brant Huff, Dustin Willey, Matthew Leach, Paul Dean and Alec Irvin. The junior class consists of Wyatt Harris, Ethan Putnam and Jake Fraley. There are also sophomores Klay Walker, Wyatt Evans and Jensen Daulton.
The Lions are coming off a season where the program finished 17-9 overall, and in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, the Lions were 11-2.
"We are going with a youth movement this year, compared to last year when we had a team of seniors leading us," Snyder said. "This year we have a mixture of three grades, and we are just trying to come together and see who is playing what role."
One player to keep an eye on is Huff, who Snyder said knows can score points, and Putnam was a scorer on the JV team last season. Another player the Lions are also looking to is Dalton, who was a scorer on the freshman team last year.
[[In-content Ad]]"Those three are our front runners who will put some points on the board," Snyder said. "They have experience at different level, and there are others, including Matthew Leach and Wyatt Evans, as they can put some numbers up as well."
There is also a difference as a coach when basically starting with an entire new lineup, but a lineup who is favored to win the Division II of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference for the second consecutive season.
"With the experience of last year, we had certain expectations of how we were going to do and what we needed to improve on," Snyder said. "Now, with basically a rebuild group, we are having to work on everything."
One of the positions that will be key to the Lions success is the point guard position, one left vacated by Blake Hildebrant graduating from last season's team.
"Klay and Brant are sharing the position. Right now there is no clear front-runner, but hopefully by the time the season starts, we'll establish who will be running the offense," Snyder said.
Fairfield's defense took a major hit with the graduation of leading rebounders (and scorers) Gage Montgomery, Ryan Bates and Joey Wilson. Montgomery was an Associated Press All-Ohio selection (and second-team All-District) who averaged 14 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game. Wilson was also an All-District selection.
"With the loss of Joey, Ryan and Gage, they were three consistent rebounders and could depend on two of the three having big nights on the boards each game," Snyder said. "Right now, Dustin, Matthew and Wyatt (Harris) will have to be the guys who crash the board night-in, night-out and get possession of the ball."
Last year, the Lions' season ended in the Division IV Regional Semifinals in a loss to Harvest Preparatory by a 72-51 score.
Also in the postseason, the Lions won a sectional title by defeating the Western Indians (65-57) and the Ironton St. Joseph Flyers (48-31). In the district championship game, FHS defeated the Paint Valley Bearcats (61-51).
The expectations are different, but still one where Snyder wants success from his team.
"We have a tough non-league schedule, and the league will still be good. My expectations for the team are to improve as the season goes on, and we'll be ready for the tournament.
"Hopefully the experience of playing the tough teams this season will get us ready for tournament play."
Even with the experience of last season of those who are still on the roster, the Lions will make a few minor changes in their game.
"We are trying to maintain the same style, but I don't know if we'll be able to press as much as we did in the past," Snyder said. "Throughout the program we press, so hopefully we can continue to do so. We want to play a little up-tempo basketball.
"Our three-point shooting is a little more solid than it has been in the past. We'll be a quicker team also for the most part, but we are a smaller team than last year, so hopefully we are quicker."
Entering his third season in his third stint as the FHS head coach, Everett Snyder knows a lot has changed with his program, losing his entire starting lineup from the Division IV SE District champion team. He also knows his team still has the expectations of returning to the Convocation Center to defend their district championship.
The team this season for the Lions includes seniors Brant Huff, Dustin Willey, Matthew Leach, Paul Dean and Alec Irvin. The junior class consists of Wyatt Harris, Ethan Putnam and Jake Fraley. There are also sophomores Klay Walker, Wyatt Evans and Jensen Daulton.
The Lions are coming off a season where the program finished 17-9 overall, and in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, the Lions were 11-2.
"We are going with a youth movement this year, compared to last year when we had a team of seniors leading us," Snyder said. "This year we have a mixture of three grades, and we are just trying to come together and see who is playing what role."
One player to keep an eye on is Huff, who Snyder said knows can score points, and Putnam was a scorer on the JV team last season. Another player the Lions are also looking to is Dalton, who was a scorer on the freshman team last year.
[[In-content Ad]]"Those three are our front runners who will put some points on the board," Snyder said. "They have experience at different level, and there are others, including Matthew Leach and Wyatt Evans, as they can put some numbers up as well."
There is also a difference as a coach when basically starting with an entire new lineup, but a lineup who is favored to win the Division II of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference for the second consecutive season.
"With the experience of last year, we had certain expectations of how we were going to do and what we needed to improve on," Snyder said. "Now, with basically a rebuild group, we are having to work on everything."
One of the positions that will be key to the Lions success is the point guard position, one left vacated by Blake Hildebrant graduating from last season's team.
"Klay and Brant are sharing the position. Right now there is no clear front-runner, but hopefully by the time the season starts, we'll establish who will be running the offense," Snyder said.
Fairfield's defense took a major hit with the graduation of leading rebounders (and scorers) Gage Montgomery, Ryan Bates and Joey Wilson. Montgomery was an Associated Press All-Ohio selection (and second-team All-District) who averaged 14 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game. Wilson was also an All-District selection.
"With the loss of Joey, Ryan and Gage, they were three consistent rebounders and could depend on two of the three having big nights on the boards each game," Snyder said. "Right now, Dustin, Matthew and Wyatt (Harris) will have to be the guys who crash the board night-in, night-out and get possession of the ball."
Last year, the Lions' season ended in the Division IV Regional Semifinals in a loss to Harvest Preparatory by a 72-51 score.
Also in the postseason, the Lions won a sectional title by defeating the Western Indians (65-57) and the Ironton St. Joseph Flyers (48-31). In the district championship game, FHS defeated the Paint Valley Bearcats (61-51).
The expectations are different, but still one where Snyder wants success from his team.
"We have a tough non-league schedule, and the league will still be good. My expectations for the team are to improve as the season goes on, and we'll be ready for the tournament.
"Hopefully the experience of playing the tough teams this season will get us ready for tournament play."
Even with the experience of last season of those who are still on the roster, the Lions will make a few minor changes in their game.
"We are trying to maintain the same style, but I don't know if we'll be able to press as much as we did in the past," Snyder said. "Throughout the program we press, so hopefully we can continue to do so. We want to play a little up-tempo basketball.
"Our three-point shooting is a little more solid than it has been in the past. We'll be a quicker team also for the most part, but we are a smaller team than last year, so hopefully we are quicker."