Team Preview: Will youthful WHS program improve from last season?
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
There are changes aplenty involving the Whiteoak Wildcats boys basketball program, with a new head coach and a very young roster of players looking to build back a program that had its share of struggles last season.
Taking over the WHS program is first-year head coach Jeremy McGraw, replacing Tom Wessner, who resigned after being the head coach at WHS for the past six seasons.
"We've had three scrimmages (as of Nov. 21), and right now we just aren't very consistent," McGraw said. "We'll play good for one quarter, and the next quarter we'll give up 25 points because we aren't in the right places.
"Day in, day out, they work hard and have a great attitude. The team is still trying to learn what we want to do as a program and buy into everything. We really want them to learn what is expected."
Also, the Wildcats lost seniors from last season who did most of the scoring in Tyler Williams and Jason Jones. Williams averaged 10.7 points per game, while Jones averaged 5.9 ppg.
[[In-content Ad]]WHS is coming off a year where they went 1-18 on the year, losing 18 consecutive games to end the season. The lone win by the Wildcats last year came against Felicity-Franklin by a 55-42 score in a non-conference game.
Two seasons ago, the Wildcats were Southern Hills Athletic Conference Div. II champions.
But those two complete opposite seasons are in the rearview mirror, and now it is time for the Wildcats to set a foundation of sorts for future seasons under McGraw.
This season, the roster of the Wildcats will be a mix of all four grades. Seniors for the 2014-15 season are Grant Germann, Dillon Neal, Zack Taggett, Kyle Adams and Blake Hensley.
Juniors include Jacob Burns, Kyle Marler and Brandon Ashbaugh; and sophomores this season are Cody McClure, Dawson Eakins and Derrick Ison.
There are also five freshmen on the varsity roster, with those new players being Trevor Yeager, Chase Carraher, Michael Crowe, Trevor Martin and Stephen Ross.
McGraw spoke about the type of style of basketball he wants to see from his team and what he like to coach.
"We just need to see what kids we are working with, and whether we'll have some post players, guards who can shoot," he said. "It looks like we'll have to keep the scoring low and play defense. Honestly, we'll struggle to score, so playing defense is a big priority.
"We'll have to slow the game down, run through the offense and take care of the basketball.
“We have to handle pressure, but as far as a style of basketball, I'm willing to change each year and adapt to the players. If we get a team that can run, we'll run, or if we can get a team that can go inside, that's what we'll do."
A couple players to keep an eye on with this new-look Wildcat team are Ashbaugh and Marler.
"Those two are returning starters, and they work hard," McGraw said. "They know what's expected, and we need kids to follow in stride with them and jump on board.
"We'll have 16 guys dress, and at one point you might see five freshmen on the floor. Right now, they are pushing the upperclassmen."
With freshmen on the varsity squad, there are pros and cons to that type of situation.
"It is great experience for them, but unfortunately the down side to that is they aren't quite ready," McGraw said. "They are forced to play varsity, when they should be playing JV ball, and it hurts not having a freshman team within the program.
"Obviously, we are going to throw them to the wolves, and they are going to have to respond. There are no excuses for next year."
Carraher is a freshman WHS fans need to watch out for.
"We'll have to look to him to score for us at times and to do different things," McGraw said. "He's pretty athletic, quick and plays extremely hard for a freshman and won't back down."
McClure, a sophomore, is another player who could stand out for the youthful Wildcats.
"He's our starting point guard and will be asked to do a lot," the WHS head coach said. "He's going to have to guard the point guard of the opponent, and not only understand the offense, but take care of the basketball."
With the Wildcats learning on the go in a conference that has no letdown, the Wildcats will have to just play to the best of their abilities once the '14-15 season begins.
"That's our biggest thing this year is handling pressure," McGraw said. "We'll need to grind through the offense, but teams are probably going to push us to run and get out and press us. We have to be able to handle an up-tempo game."
Taking over the WHS program is first-year head coach Jeremy McGraw, replacing Tom Wessner, who resigned after being the head coach at WHS for the past six seasons.
"We've had three scrimmages (as of Nov. 21), and right now we just aren't very consistent," McGraw said. "We'll play good for one quarter, and the next quarter we'll give up 25 points because we aren't in the right places.
"Day in, day out, they work hard and have a great attitude. The team is still trying to learn what we want to do as a program and buy into everything. We really want them to learn what is expected."
Also, the Wildcats lost seniors from last season who did most of the scoring in Tyler Williams and Jason Jones. Williams averaged 10.7 points per game, while Jones averaged 5.9 ppg.
[[In-content Ad]]WHS is coming off a year where they went 1-18 on the year, losing 18 consecutive games to end the season. The lone win by the Wildcats last year came against Felicity-Franklin by a 55-42 score in a non-conference game.
Two seasons ago, the Wildcats were Southern Hills Athletic Conference Div. II champions.
But those two complete opposite seasons are in the rearview mirror, and now it is time for the Wildcats to set a foundation of sorts for future seasons under McGraw.
This season, the roster of the Wildcats will be a mix of all four grades. Seniors for the 2014-15 season are Grant Germann, Dillon Neal, Zack Taggett, Kyle Adams and Blake Hensley.
Juniors include Jacob Burns, Kyle Marler and Brandon Ashbaugh; and sophomores this season are Cody McClure, Dawson Eakins and Derrick Ison.
There are also five freshmen on the varsity roster, with those new players being Trevor Yeager, Chase Carraher, Michael Crowe, Trevor Martin and Stephen Ross.
McGraw spoke about the type of style of basketball he wants to see from his team and what he like to coach.
"We just need to see what kids we are working with, and whether we'll have some post players, guards who can shoot," he said. "It looks like we'll have to keep the scoring low and play defense. Honestly, we'll struggle to score, so playing defense is a big priority.
"We'll have to slow the game down, run through the offense and take care of the basketball.
“We have to handle pressure, but as far as a style of basketball, I'm willing to change each year and adapt to the players. If we get a team that can run, we'll run, or if we can get a team that can go inside, that's what we'll do."
A couple players to keep an eye on with this new-look Wildcat team are Ashbaugh and Marler.
"Those two are returning starters, and they work hard," McGraw said. "They know what's expected, and we need kids to follow in stride with them and jump on board.
"We'll have 16 guys dress, and at one point you might see five freshmen on the floor. Right now, they are pushing the upperclassmen."
With freshmen on the varsity squad, there are pros and cons to that type of situation.
"It is great experience for them, but unfortunately the down side to that is they aren't quite ready," McGraw said. "They are forced to play varsity, when they should be playing JV ball, and it hurts not having a freshman team within the program.
"Obviously, we are going to throw them to the wolves, and they are going to have to respond. There are no excuses for next year."
Carraher is a freshman WHS fans need to watch out for.
"We'll have to look to him to score for us at times and to do different things," McGraw said. "He's pretty athletic, quick and plays extremely hard for a freshman and won't back down."
McClure, a sophomore, is another player who could stand out for the youthful Wildcats.
"He's our starting point guard and will be asked to do a lot," the WHS head coach said. "He's going to have to guard the point guard of the opponent, and not only understand the offense, but take care of the basketball."
With the Wildcats learning on the go in a conference that has no letdown, the Wildcats will have to just play to the best of their abilities once the '14-15 season begins.
"That's our biggest thing this year is handling pressure," McGraw said. "We'll need to grind through the offense, but teams are probably going to push us to run and get out and press us. We have to be able to handle an up-tempo game."