Team Preview: Hillsboro Indians
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
New leaders, defending a league title and a new coach. Those are just some of the storylines that the 2011-12 Hillsboro Indians are staring at as the season inches closer.
Last season, the Indians were co-South Central Ohio League champions with Miami Trace, as the season came down to the final game with a Hillsboro victory over the London Red Raiders.
This year, they look to defend that crown, but it will be without a strong senior class from last season and the coach from a year ago in Tim Davis, who left the position for an administrator's job within the school system.
Enter new head coach Brett Prince, who wants to keep the momentum going from last season, using what the Indians already know, added with his style of basketball, and mixed with his flair for coaching for this season, his first in Hillsboro.
"We have a good core of seniors this year, who were juniors last season," Prince said. "We still have some work defensively, as that's been our focal point of practice. I like the direction we are headed, but we still have a long way to go to be where we need to be."
Seniors this season are Tyrand Cumberland, Devanté Ames, Trevor Gleadle, Chase Gilliland, Taron Captain, Christian Cundiff and Tyia Cumberland. Juniors will include Reese Leibreich and Jarrod Hart. The lone sophomore is Jordan Captain.
The program is strong numbers-wise as well, with Prince saying they are in the mid-30s in terms of players from the freshman level on up.
"Our numbers are great, and I think things are going in the right direction," he said.
Prince likes having a senior-heavy team to coach, but admits it is tougher on his senior class having a new coach in their final year than it is on him entering his first season and putting a new system in place.
"They've been in a program for four years, and they are getting a new coach and have to learn a new system, so they have to buy in right away," he said. "They don't have two years to learn, so that is tough on them, but having that leadership mentality they bring to practice everyday ... that is a big bonus for us.”
Speaking of the system being installed by Prince, how have the Indians picked it up?
"We are still doing some of the things they did last year, plus we are adding onto that. They pick things up really well," Prince said. "I'm pleased where we are at offensively right now. Our defensive system has been a struggle, but I'm happy where we are at offensively.
"We just have a long road to go defensively."
Offensively, the Indians will be the aggressors.
"We like to push the ball. We want to get the ball down the floor and score as quick as we can," Prince said. "By saying that … that doesn't mean we are taking quick shots or bad shots, but our goal is to push the ball and get into early offense.
"We are screening the ball a lot and just taking advantage of our athleticism."
Prince likes the fact his team does have some strengths by using their athleticism, along with their experience, as the Indians do have seven seniors, along with two juniors and a sophomore on the varsity squad.
"We have five guys coming back who have lettered, so they have been in the fire before, so that is big," he said. "I like the fact we have some kids who started last year.
"I go back to improving on defense because we don't want to play in 80-75 point games, we want to win 60-55 point games."
This area is all new to Prince as this is his first season in Hillsboro as a head coach, coming from some quality programs.
"I'm thrilled for us to have a chance to defend that title (the SCOL championship) because that will be our first goal every year, to win the league," Prince said. "For them to have a taste of that last year has to be a good thing for us because we'll be a No. 1 target for everybody, which I like.
"I've been a part of championship teams as a coach also, but it is kind of nice to have that target on your back because you have to bring your 'A-game' every night."
The play will be a bit different from last season as the Indians did lose Aric Carroll and Eli Hogsett from last year, two captains who brought the best out of their teammates.
"We are definitely guard-heavy with Jarrod, Chase and Christian," Prince said. "Devanté is a little under the weather .. he's hurt right now, but he'll be back, we're just not sure when. I like our guard play, we have some versatility.
"We are shallow in the post position because we don't have a lot of size. We are taking advantage of our athleticism in the post, which is what we'll try to do," Prince said. "We aren't big enough to cram the ball down people's throats and force it inside. We'll use our athleticism of our bigs to spread the floor and attack that way."
The coach and his players are ready to the season to start.
"I'm extremely excited, obviously, with this being my first year here and having a good group of guys returning from a championship year," Prince said. "The guys can't wait to get out there and play and show some of the things we've been working on and how they have gotten better.
"There is excitement all-around."[[In-content Ad]]
Last season, the Indians were co-South Central Ohio League champions with Miami Trace, as the season came down to the final game with a Hillsboro victory over the London Red Raiders.
This year, they look to defend that crown, but it will be without a strong senior class from last season and the coach from a year ago in Tim Davis, who left the position for an administrator's job within the school system.
Enter new head coach Brett Prince, who wants to keep the momentum going from last season, using what the Indians already know, added with his style of basketball, and mixed with his flair for coaching for this season, his first in Hillsboro.
"We have a good core of seniors this year, who were juniors last season," Prince said. "We still have some work defensively, as that's been our focal point of practice. I like the direction we are headed, but we still have a long way to go to be where we need to be."
Seniors this season are Tyrand Cumberland, Devanté Ames, Trevor Gleadle, Chase Gilliland, Taron Captain, Christian Cundiff and Tyia Cumberland. Juniors will include Reese Leibreich and Jarrod Hart. The lone sophomore is Jordan Captain.
The program is strong numbers-wise as well, with Prince saying they are in the mid-30s in terms of players from the freshman level on up.
"Our numbers are great, and I think things are going in the right direction," he said.
Prince likes having a senior-heavy team to coach, but admits it is tougher on his senior class having a new coach in their final year than it is on him entering his first season and putting a new system in place.
"They've been in a program for four years, and they are getting a new coach and have to learn a new system, so they have to buy in right away," he said. "They don't have two years to learn, so that is tough on them, but having that leadership mentality they bring to practice everyday ... that is a big bonus for us.”
Speaking of the system being installed by Prince, how have the Indians picked it up?
"We are still doing some of the things they did last year, plus we are adding onto that. They pick things up really well," Prince said. "I'm pleased where we are at offensively right now. Our defensive system has been a struggle, but I'm happy where we are at offensively.
"We just have a long road to go defensively."
Offensively, the Indians will be the aggressors.
"We like to push the ball. We want to get the ball down the floor and score as quick as we can," Prince said. "By saying that … that doesn't mean we are taking quick shots or bad shots, but our goal is to push the ball and get into early offense.
"We are screening the ball a lot and just taking advantage of our athleticism."
Prince likes the fact his team does have some strengths by using their athleticism, along with their experience, as the Indians do have seven seniors, along with two juniors and a sophomore on the varsity squad.
"We have five guys coming back who have lettered, so they have been in the fire before, so that is big," he said. "I like the fact we have some kids who started last year.
"I go back to improving on defense because we don't want to play in 80-75 point games, we want to win 60-55 point games."
This area is all new to Prince as this is his first season in Hillsboro as a head coach, coming from some quality programs.
"I'm thrilled for us to have a chance to defend that title (the SCOL championship) because that will be our first goal every year, to win the league," Prince said. "For them to have a taste of that last year has to be a good thing for us because we'll be a No. 1 target for everybody, which I like.
"I've been a part of championship teams as a coach also, but it is kind of nice to have that target on your back because you have to bring your 'A-game' every night."
The play will be a bit different from last season as the Indians did lose Aric Carroll and Eli Hogsett from last year, two captains who brought the best out of their teammates.
"We are definitely guard-heavy with Jarrod, Chase and Christian," Prince said. "Devanté is a little under the weather .. he's hurt right now, but he'll be back, we're just not sure when. I like our guard play, we have some versatility.
"We are shallow in the post position because we don't have a lot of size. We are taking advantage of our athleticism in the post, which is what we'll try to do," Prince said. "We aren't big enough to cram the ball down people's throats and force it inside. We'll use our athleticism of our bigs to spread the floor and attack that way."
The coach and his players are ready to the season to start.
"I'm extremely excited, obviously, with this being my first year here and having a good group of guys returning from a championship year," Prince said. "The guys can't wait to get out there and play and show some of the things we've been working on and how they have gotten better.
"There is excitement all-around."[[In-content Ad]]