2022-23 Whiteoak Wildcats Basketball Preview
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
With six seniors on the roster this year and a total of four returning starters, a solid nucleus of players is returning to Whiteoak for the 2022-23 season, as the Wildcats look to battle each and every game in a competitive Southern Hills Athletic Conference.
The Wildcats lost 1,000-point scorer and All-Ohio player Bradley Ashbaugh to graduation, but returning starters are seniors Landon Barnett, Carson Emery, Luken Roades and Logan Bieler.
Barnett, who averaged 15 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game as a junior, was an All-SHAC and All-District selection a season ago.
Emery averaged 7.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for the Wildcats, with Roades averaging 6 ppg and Bieler averaging 4.9 ppg.
Other seniors on the team who aren’t returning starters are Evan DeAtley and David Kennedy.
Juniors this season are Weston Blair and Linus Wik, while the sophomores are Zander Roades, Aiden Crowe and Landen Eyre. The lone freshman is Sawyer Blair.
WHS head coach Ryan Barnett is returning for his fourth year this season, as he spoke about his expectations for his team.
“I look for Landon Barnett to have a big year, both defensively and offensively,” Barnett said. “I look for Luken Roades to really elevate his game and continue to shoot well. Carson Emery should have a great year and has really found his game around the basket.
“Also, I look for Logan Bieler to provide us a good bit of offense and develop into a good point guard. Evan DeAtley has always been a firestarter for the team. I look for him to contribute some offense. With Weston Blair, David Kennedy and Zander Roades, I look for them to play hard and contribute to the team in a very positive way.”
WHS has prepared for the season with a strong summer effort, plus they’re had four scrimmages this month.
“The offseason has gone pretty well. The kids have gotten a lot stronger physically,” Barnett said. “We played well in the shootouts, and so far we’ve had four scrimmages and the kids have progressed after each one.
“The positives with the team are that whatever we lack in height, we make up in speed. We shoot the ball pretty well and are an older, experienced team. We want to improve on being a little more disciplined and always playing hard-nosed defense.”
With such a big group of seniors and most of the starting lineup returning, the expectations are high for this group of Whiteoak players. As for describing his team, Barnett said his team is “very athletic, experienced and fast.”
“I have pretty high expectations for this group. We’ve been together for a long time, and I think we will compete for a SHAC title and as always try to take it one game at a time in the tournament,” Barnett said.
Speaking of the SHAC, being in Division II, last season the Wildcats were 5-7 in conference play, third in the conference. Overall, the Wildcats finished 10-11 last season.
“The conference is always very competitive,” Barnett said. “There are several good coaches and teams. We should compete for a league title.”
In their non-conference schedule of games for the ’22-23 season, the Wildcats are scheduled to face Felicity, Hillsboro (at the Hoosier Gym), CNE, South Point (Dave Young Classic at North Adams), McClain, Williamsburg, Piketon, Lucasville Valley (Chad Hodson Classic at Fairfield) and East Clinton.
“We always play a pretty tough nonconference schedule, with most teams being really physical and bigger than us, which helps prepare us for tournament,” Barnett said. “I look forward for the guys to have a good year, and we will always play hard.”
The Wildcats open the season Friday, Nov. 29 on the road in non-conference play against Felicity.
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The Wildcats lost 1,000-point scorer and All-Ohio player Bradley Ashbaugh to graduation, but returning starters are seniors Landon Barnett, Carson Emery, Luken Roades and Logan Bieler.
Barnett, who averaged 15 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game as a junior, was an All-SHAC and All-District selection a season ago.
Emery averaged 7.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for the Wildcats, with Roades averaging 6 ppg and Bieler averaging 4.9 ppg.
Other seniors on the team who aren’t returning starters are Evan DeAtley and David Kennedy.
Juniors this season are Weston Blair and Linus Wik, while the sophomores are Zander Roades, Aiden Crowe and Landen Eyre. The lone freshman is Sawyer Blair.
WHS head coach Ryan Barnett is returning for his fourth year this season, as he spoke about his expectations for his team.
“I look for Landon Barnett to have a big year, both defensively and offensively,” Barnett said. “I look for Luken Roades to really elevate his game and continue to shoot well. Carson Emery should have a great year and has really found his game around the basket.
“Also, I look for Logan Bieler to provide us a good bit of offense and develop into a good point guard. Evan DeAtley has always been a firestarter for the team. I look for him to contribute some offense. With Weston Blair, David Kennedy and Zander Roades, I look for them to play hard and contribute to the team in a very positive way.”
WHS has prepared for the season with a strong summer effort, plus they’re had four scrimmages this month.
“The offseason has gone pretty well. The kids have gotten a lot stronger physically,” Barnett said. “We played well in the shootouts, and so far we’ve had four scrimmages and the kids have progressed after each one.
“The positives with the team are that whatever we lack in height, we make up in speed. We shoot the ball pretty well and are an older, experienced team. We want to improve on being a little more disciplined and always playing hard-nosed defense.”
With such a big group of seniors and most of the starting lineup returning, the expectations are high for this group of Whiteoak players. As for describing his team, Barnett said his team is “very athletic, experienced and fast.”
“I have pretty high expectations for this group. We’ve been together for a long time, and I think we will compete for a SHAC title and as always try to take it one game at a time in the tournament,” Barnett said.
Speaking of the SHAC, being in Division II, last season the Wildcats were 5-7 in conference play, third in the conference. Overall, the Wildcats finished 10-11 last season.
“The conference is always very competitive,” Barnett said. “There are several good coaches and teams. We should compete for a league title.”
In their non-conference schedule of games for the ’22-23 season, the Wildcats are scheduled to face Felicity, Hillsboro (at the Hoosier Gym), CNE, South Point (Dave Young Classic at North Adams), McClain, Williamsburg, Piketon, Lucasville Valley (Chad Hodson Classic at Fairfield) and East Clinton.
“We always play a pretty tough nonconference schedule, with most teams being really physical and bigger than us, which helps prepare us for tournament,” Barnett said. “I look forward for the guys to have a good year, and we will always play hard.”
The Wildcats open the season Friday, Nov. 29 on the road in non-conference play against Felicity.
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