Team Preview: Will Hillsboro move up in the SCOL standings this season?
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Indians have a new head coach and along with that some new faces on the varsity roster, as the team looks to turn the program around for the upcoming 2014-15 season.
The new Indians head coach is Bruce Miles, who has been an assistant coach the past two HHS regimes under former head coaches Tim Davis and Brett Prince. Now it is Miles' turn to take over the program in his vision.
Last season, the Indians were 7-17 overall and 1-11 in the South Central Ohio League. They were eliminated in the sectional semifinals by the Washington Blue Lions, 50-29.
"It has been a good experience being the head coach, as opposed to being the assistant," Miles said. "I've learned under Coach Davis and Coach Prince, and I'm using those experiences. The staff I've put in place (Randy Abbott, Matt Garman) has done an excellent job."
For HHS, they will have a team that consists of six seniors, three juniors and one sophomore, but just four of those players have solid varsity experience.
Seniors are Zach Young, Alex Van Zant, Latrell Haithcock, Trey Moberly, Jacob Aber and Chase Reed.
[[In-content Ad]]The Indians' juniors are D.J. Brown, Logan Kibler and Dylan Rhodes, and the lone sophomore will be Trey Captain.
With the mix of some varsity players who have the experience level of playing in the SCOL and those who are new to the highest level of high school basketball, Miles is pleased with the offseason thus far.
"We are trying to figure out where everyone is fitting in, but practices have been going great," Miles said. "The effort has been awesome in practice. We have two guys who didn't play last year (Rhodes, Kibler), and I'm excited to see how they fit in this year.
"It is nice to have four returning starters from last season."
Those four players are Young, Van Zant, Haithcock and Moberly, as it has been a huge help in the transition of the program for the 2014-15 season.
Young was described as having a good offseason by getting in the weight room and getting a lot of shots up. Young is the Indians' returning leading scorer from last season.
As a junior, Young averaged 11.7 points per game, 2.7 assists per game, 2.1 rebounds per game and shot 32 percent from beyond the arc. Also last season, Young, who was Division II All-District special mention, shot 78 percent from the free-throw line.
"Having those guys and the experience they have is great," Miles said. "Three of those guys have started since their sophomore year (Young, Haithcock, Moberly), so being to able have that experience in practice has been an advantage in this transition.
"They know what to expect from me, and they've played for me in the past, so that also has been big in the transition. Moving forward, we are excited about that group."
Two of the players no longer with HHS from last season are Jordan Captain (graduation) and point guard Austin Bagshaw, who isn't playing this season to concentrate on his collegiate golf career. Bagshaw recently signed to play golf for Division I Eastern Kentucky University next fall.
"Austin is working towards his golf career, and we wish him the best of luck with that," Miles said. "We are looking to replace the point from last year and are trying some different lineups to see what works the best."
With the change at the head coaching level, there will be some changes on the court as to how the Indians play the game this season.
"I want our guys to play freely," Miles said. "On the offensive side of the ball, I'm hoping to push the tempo when the time is right. If we can do that, I feel we have the guys who can run the floor well and score buckets in transition.
"Defensively, I think we can expect to see the same style that we've had in the past. Our defense is hard-nosed, and we want to pressure the ball and have great help-side defense."
Even with the season being a journey that lasts from December to at least part of February, there are expectations set by each team, including the Indians. HHS has expectations for each game, not just the season.
"With the league being as tough as it will be with Wilmington and Chillicothe, it will be extremely competitive," Miles explained. "We can't take possessions off, grind on the defensive end and rebound.
"We are going to have to out-work teams, and it is just going to be each night we'll have to bring it. It will be about competing on each possession."
The new Indians head coach is Bruce Miles, who has been an assistant coach the past two HHS regimes under former head coaches Tim Davis and Brett Prince. Now it is Miles' turn to take over the program in his vision.
Last season, the Indians were 7-17 overall and 1-11 in the South Central Ohio League. They were eliminated in the sectional semifinals by the Washington Blue Lions, 50-29.
"It has been a good experience being the head coach, as opposed to being the assistant," Miles said. "I've learned under Coach Davis and Coach Prince, and I'm using those experiences. The staff I've put in place (Randy Abbott, Matt Garman) has done an excellent job."
For HHS, they will have a team that consists of six seniors, three juniors and one sophomore, but just four of those players have solid varsity experience.
Seniors are Zach Young, Alex Van Zant, Latrell Haithcock, Trey Moberly, Jacob Aber and Chase Reed.
[[In-content Ad]]The Indians' juniors are D.J. Brown, Logan Kibler and Dylan Rhodes, and the lone sophomore will be Trey Captain.
With the mix of some varsity players who have the experience level of playing in the SCOL and those who are new to the highest level of high school basketball, Miles is pleased with the offseason thus far.
"We are trying to figure out where everyone is fitting in, but practices have been going great," Miles said. "The effort has been awesome in practice. We have two guys who didn't play last year (Rhodes, Kibler), and I'm excited to see how they fit in this year.
"It is nice to have four returning starters from last season."
Those four players are Young, Van Zant, Haithcock and Moberly, as it has been a huge help in the transition of the program for the 2014-15 season.
Young was described as having a good offseason by getting in the weight room and getting a lot of shots up. Young is the Indians' returning leading scorer from last season.
As a junior, Young averaged 11.7 points per game, 2.7 assists per game, 2.1 rebounds per game and shot 32 percent from beyond the arc. Also last season, Young, who was Division II All-District special mention, shot 78 percent from the free-throw line.
"Having those guys and the experience they have is great," Miles said. "Three of those guys have started since their sophomore year (Young, Haithcock, Moberly), so being to able have that experience in practice has been an advantage in this transition.
"They know what to expect from me, and they've played for me in the past, so that also has been big in the transition. Moving forward, we are excited about that group."
Two of the players no longer with HHS from last season are Jordan Captain (graduation) and point guard Austin Bagshaw, who isn't playing this season to concentrate on his collegiate golf career. Bagshaw recently signed to play golf for Division I Eastern Kentucky University next fall.
"Austin is working towards his golf career, and we wish him the best of luck with that," Miles said. "We are looking to replace the point from last year and are trying some different lineups to see what works the best."
With the change at the head coaching level, there will be some changes on the court as to how the Indians play the game this season.
"I want our guys to play freely," Miles said. "On the offensive side of the ball, I'm hoping to push the tempo when the time is right. If we can do that, I feel we have the guys who can run the floor well and score buckets in transition.
"Defensively, I think we can expect to see the same style that we've had in the past. Our defense is hard-nosed, and we want to pressure the ball and have great help-side defense."
Even with the season being a journey that lasts from December to at least part of February, there are expectations set by each team, including the Indians. HHS has expectations for each game, not just the season.
"With the league being as tough as it will be with Wilmington and Chillicothe, it will be extremely competitive," Miles explained. "We can't take possessions off, grind on the defensive end and rebound.
"We are going to have to out-work teams, and it is just going to be each night we'll have to bring it. It will be about competing on each possession."