2015 Preview: How will Whiteoak Wildcats progress in year 2 under McGraw?
Last season, the Whiteoak Wildcats gained just a single win … but that was last year, and the more experienced Wildcats team have learned from that tough season and have a lot more in mind to achieve as this season rolls around.
Though they were 1-20 last season, with that win coming against North Adams, the Wildcats have high expectations for themselves and goals they want to achieve in their second season under head coach Jeremy McGraw. To do so, McGraw knows they have to improve on the court.
“Our expectations are always high – we want to win league titles,” he told The Highland County Press. “To achieve those goals, we need to get better in all phases of the game.”
This season, the Wildcats consist of four seniors in Kyle Marler, Jacob Burns, Brandon Ashbaugh and Josh Bowman. There are also two juniors in Shawn Wissel and Cody McClure.
The sophomores will be the remainder of the team, with six on the roster. Those players are Michael Crowe, Charley Skinner, Stephen Ross, Chase Carraher, Trevor Martin and Trevor Yeager.
“We have several returning players that we will rely on pretty heavily,” McGraw said. “Brandon Ashbaugh, who was first-team All-SHAC, led the team in points and rebounds. We ask a lot of him on both ends of the floor. I also look forward to seniors Kyle Marler and Jacob Burns to do good things for us.”
As for Ashbaugh, he finished last season averaging 12.8 points per game for the Wildcats in 20 regular-season games, while Carraher averaged 12.2 points per game in 19 regular-season games.
Looking back at last season, even though the results weren’t there in terms of wins and losses, the roster of the WHS team gained valuable experience in that season. For many of the Wildcats, it was their first season of full-time varsity action.
“I do believe the experience from last season will help us,” McGraw said. “We have guys who know what it takes to get the job done at the varsity level.
“They understand that if we don’t play physical, do not box out and handle pressure, we will be in for a long night. We will still be pretty young with six sophomores on the varsity roster.
“With that said, they are on the varsity team for a reason – I believe they can get it done.”
“I want to see us compete night in and night out, no matter what the circumstances are,” McGraw said. “When things do not go our way, how will we respond? As long as these young men come into practice and games and work extremely hard to get better daily, that is all I can ask for.”
McGraw also spoke about the up-and-down summer and preseason of his team.
“The summer was a little disappointing, as we did not get the turnout that I thought we would,” he said. “Our scrimmages to this point have been pretty good. We are playing hard and competing for spots, and as a coach, that’s what you love to see.”
This year, the Wildcats’ nonleague slate of games will include Felicity, Clermont Northeastern, Western Latham, Bethel-Tate, Silver Grove (Ky.), Clinton-Massie, East Clinton, Northwest and Blanchester.
With the season nearing, and the Wildcats competing in the SHAC, McGraw ended by speaking about the conference and the excitement for the upcoming slate of games.
“The SHAC will be pretty solid this year,” McGraw said. “Each night will be tough. One thing I have gathered from this conference is there are a bunch of guys that can shoot the basketball.
“I am looking forward to this season. These guys are working hard day-in, and day-out with a pretty good attitude.”