2016 Whiteoak Wildcats Preview: Will the Wildcats add more to the win column this season?
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Whiteoak Wildcats are looking to move in an improved direction this season, but they’ll have to do so with a lineup mixing some experience at the varsity level and players learning as the season goes.
Last year, the Wildcats finished 5-18 overall, and though in the past few seasons they’ve worked on getting back to some of their better times, the wins haven’t come. On the bright side, the Wildcats know what they need to do to have the improvement in the standings they want to gain this season.
“Our expectation this season is to put ourselves in position to win night in and night out,” WHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “We have to be more fundamentally sound on both ends of the floor for that success to happen and to meet our expectations.”
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The Wildcats this season have a mix of youth and experience on their roster with three seniors, five juniors and five sophomores. The program is coming off a season where they finished 5-18 overall, including a loss in the sectional semifinals to South Webster. Of their five wins last season, one of them was in the regular-season finale against Northwest.
Seniors for the Wildcats are Derrick Ison, Carter Stolz and Shawn Wissel. The junior class consists of Chase Carraher, Michael Crowe, Stephen Ross, Charley Skinner and Trever Yeager.
Wildcat sophomores for the 2016-17 season will be: Evan Brill, Atlee Carr, Traeten Hamilton, Zach Rand and Hunter Ruckel.
WHS is coming off a season where they lost their top scorer in Brandon Ashbaugh, an AP Div. IV All-District selection who averaged 14.5 points per game last season.
As for the offseason, the Wildcats have shown great effort in preparing for the upcoming season, including putting in work over the summer. For WHS, that’s important, because at times this year there could be a number of underclassmen on the court at the same time, McGraw said.
“Our preseason has been great,” McGraw said. “Our kids are competing and working hard, and as a coach, that is great to see during the preseason.
“We have one returning starter in Chase Carraher. Trever Yeager started a few games as well and contributed a lot last season. At any given time, we could have a freshman and four sophomores on the floor.”
The improvement will be a must to compete in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, and for this Wildcat squad, they’ll have to play as a team each and every game.
“I want to see us grow up quickly and play as a team,” McGraw said. “We have 13 on the varsity roster, and any one of them could play at any given time. The bench is going to be just as important as the starting five.
“As for playing in the SHAC, the conference will be competitive. We will need to be prepared night in and night out.
“I believe having some players back with experience last season has helped get prepared for this year,” McGraw said. “They know what is expected, and they know and understand what we want them to do offensively and defensively. This is a great group of young men. I enjoy being around them and coaching this group. I look forward to seeing what this year will bring.”
Last year, the Wildcats finished 5-18 overall, and though in the past few seasons they’ve worked on getting back to some of their better times, the wins haven’t come. On the bright side, the Wildcats know what they need to do to have the improvement in the standings they want to gain this season.
“Our expectation this season is to put ourselves in position to win night in and night out,” WHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “We have to be more fundamentally sound on both ends of the floor for that success to happen and to meet our expectations.”
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The Wildcats this season have a mix of youth and experience on their roster with three seniors, five juniors and five sophomores. The program is coming off a season where they finished 5-18 overall, including a loss in the sectional semifinals to South Webster. Of their five wins last season, one of them was in the regular-season finale against Northwest.
Seniors for the Wildcats are Derrick Ison, Carter Stolz and Shawn Wissel. The junior class consists of Chase Carraher, Michael Crowe, Stephen Ross, Charley Skinner and Trever Yeager.
Wildcat sophomores for the 2016-17 season will be: Evan Brill, Atlee Carr, Traeten Hamilton, Zach Rand and Hunter Ruckel.
WHS is coming off a season where they lost their top scorer in Brandon Ashbaugh, an AP Div. IV All-District selection who averaged 14.5 points per game last season.
As for the offseason, the Wildcats have shown great effort in preparing for the upcoming season, including putting in work over the summer. For WHS, that’s important, because at times this year there could be a number of underclassmen on the court at the same time, McGraw said.
“Our preseason has been great,” McGraw said. “Our kids are competing and working hard, and as a coach, that is great to see during the preseason.
“We have one returning starter in Chase Carraher. Trever Yeager started a few games as well and contributed a lot last season. At any given time, we could have a freshman and four sophomores on the floor.”
The improvement will be a must to compete in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, and for this Wildcat squad, they’ll have to play as a team each and every game.
“I want to see us grow up quickly and play as a team,” McGraw said. “We have 13 on the varsity roster, and any one of them could play at any given time. The bench is going to be just as important as the starting five.
“As for playing in the SHAC, the conference will be competitive. We will need to be prepared night in and night out.
“I believe having some players back with experience last season has helped get prepared for this year,” McGraw said. “They know what is expected, and they know and understand what we want them to do offensively and defensively. This is a great group of young men. I enjoy being around them and coaching this group. I look forward to seeing what this year will bring.”