Boys Basketball Previews: Hopes high as 2022-23 season tips off
Last year, Onsted won its first 22 games of the season, Tecumseh captured the SEC-White Division, Lenawee Christian got to the quarterfinal, and Adrian won 15 games.
Who will emerge this season in the county? Will it be Clinton, who has all five starters back, including do-everything swing player Grant Stockford? Or how about Britton Deerfield, who has one of the top shooters in the county back in Logan Shiels? How about Hudson, who is coming off a five-win season but has probably the next 1,000-point scorer in the county in Ambrose Horwath.
Any one of those teams and several more are eyeing big things in 2022-23.
“We should be a fun team to watch,” Clinton head coach Jeremy Chavez said. “We have ball handlers and shooters and would like to play up tempo basketball.”
Every school has an expanded schedule as the MHSAA is now permitting teams to play 22 games. Clinton and BD will play in a Clinton-hosted holiday tournament. Several teams got creative in making the schedule, with bonus games being played against new opponents and in new places. Madison will play a game at Little Cesear’s Arena.
Onsted coach Brad Maska is a fan of the added games, but not necessarily the shortened pre-season schedule.
“We have scheduled one of the toughest schedules we have had since I have been here,” he said. “The addition of two more games is great for the kids, however bumping our start date a week really puts a lot of pressure on the kids to be ready to go from the start.”
There are a couple of new coaches in the county. Morenci graduate Daiton Lemmon is the new head coach at his alma mater. Cory Cox has taken over the reins at Sand Creek and Scott McKelvey is now coaching Blissfield.
The season tips off Monday in Michigan.
Here’s a preview of Lenawee County’s boys basketball teams:
ADDISON
2021-22: 3-17.
Coach: Marv Cox, third year, 6-29.
Returning starters: Spencer Brown, Jaxen Sword, Dylan Sawdey, Nate Sines, Gunnar Demeuse.
Other returning players: Zachariah Stephens, Drew Spink.
Newcomers: Juniors Brodi Keegan, Gavin Gibson, T.J. Dexter, Evan Delezenne and Cole Huckabee; sophomore Jay Griwahn.
Outlook: Addison rotates a lot of players around and stays balanced on offense. Cox is in his third year and finally has experience and depth needed to compete in the tough Cascades Conference. Cutting down on turnovers is a key to the season. Sines (10.4) and Brown (10.1) both averaged in double figures last year in scoring.
Coach says: “We are hoping that the experience we have gained in the last two or three years will be beneficial to us this year. Returning all five starters from the end of last year's season is a great bonus that any coach would love to have.”
ADRIAN
2021-22: 15-8.
Coach: Jordan Kelly, 5th season, 39-46.
Returning starters: Stevie Elam, Amarion Ficklen, Sean Parker.
Other returning players: Tristan Hayes, Holden Davies.
Newcomers: Senior foreign exchange student Manny Potenza; sophomores Carson Dekeyser, Antonio Brown and Alex Perez.
Outlook: The Maples lost Joe Francis to graduation but his top running mate, Elam, is back. Elam averaged 14 points and five rebounds a game in a sensational freshman season. This year’s team is young but quick and athletic.
Coach says: “I am really excited about this year's team. It is a group of kids that work extremely hard and are up for any challenge. We are young, but I look forward to seeing where our team is at the end of the season.”
BLISSFIELD
2021-22: 9-12.
Head coach: Scott McKelvey.
Returning starters: None.
Returning players: Senior Elliott Strahan, Ethan Stines, Gabe Schnoor.
Newcomers: Senior Ty Cantrell; Juniors Kyle Henning, Brayden Fetzer, Chet Meyer, Ty Ganun; Sophomores Blake Wood, Mason Case, and Kassidy Lenz.
Outlook: McKelvey is back as a head coach after time at Adrian College and Tecumseh. His last head coaching job was at Lenawee Christian where he led the Cougars to long tournament runs multiple times. He has little experience to work with at Blissfield but is busy implementing his systems at both ends of the court.
Coach says: “We have a young team. This season will be a process to find out identity.”
BRITTON DEERFIELD
2021-22: 13-8.
Head coach: Darren Shiels, 14th season, 100-166.
Returning starters: Seniors Clayton Hauser and Tristan Johnson; junior Logan Shiels.
Newcomers: Juniors Colin Johnson, Brayden Shiels, Maddox Dudek, Leland Smith and Carson Johnson; Sophomore Ryan Good.
Outlook: Logan Shiels emerged as BD’s top scorer a season ago, averaging 17.8 points a game. He was 7 rebounds shy of averaging a double-double and made more than 40 3-pointers a year ago and can shoot from anywhere. “He is a hard worker and a good athlete who makes his teammates better,” coach Shiels said.
Coach says: “We are excited to see how we grow as a team and how much we can improve. We can reach our goals if we become great teammates and play for each other.”
CLINTON
2021-22: 13-10.
Head Coach Jeremy Chavez, 5th season, 35-47.
Returning starters: Seniors Grant Stockford (6-3), Landon Busz (5-10), Ryan Tschirhart (6-0), Jacob Gilson (6-2); sophomore Jalen Stelzer (6-2).
Other returning players: Seniors Keegan Huston and Carson Pixley.
Newcomers: Juniors Preston Cruz, Andy Fair and Calen Keith.
Outlook: There is a lot to like about this team, especially Stockford. “He’s our do-everything player,” Chavez says. “He leads us in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. He plays year-round and loves the game.”
Coach says: “We should be a fun team to watch. We have ball handlers and shooters and would like to play up tempo basketball.”
HUDSON
2021-22: 5-16.
Head coach: Lance Horwath, 5th season, 22-63.
Returning starters: Seniors Anthony Arredondo, Easten Strodtman and Ambrose Horwath.
Other returning players: Seniors Ty Morgan, Henry Arnett, Dan Wheeler and Nathan Boyd.
Newcomers: Senior Trayton Kolle; juniors Lucius Arnett, Alex Czeiszperger, K.J. Walker and Johnny Davis.
Outlook: Horwath is an excellent ball handler and shooter who gave up some 3-point shots last year to drive the ball to the hole. He enters 2022-23 just 14 points shy of 1,000 career points. Hudson should have more scorers this year, which will help the team.
Coach says: “We need to do all of the little things right and pay attention to details. If we do, we can be a very competitive team. I like our aggressiveness and toughness so far.”
LENAWEE CHRISTIAN
2021-22: 13-13.
Head coach: Matt Summer, 4th season, 34-30.
Returning starters: Tristin Beagle, Brandon Summer.
Other returning players: Tyler Salenbien, Connor Parisien, Nathan Daniels, Tim Favreau.
Newcomers: Sophomore Seth Davis, freshmen Jaxon Salenbien and Daniel Ccrupsky.
Outlook: Beagle and Summer both have a lot of experience. “We will lean on those two to bring some leadership to our group,” Coach Summer says. There will be younger kids counted on for minutes as well.
Coach Summer says: “Our guys are hungry, connected, and ready to work hard. We have a great group of guys that are driven and have a passion for the game. There is a mix of some veterans and some youth. We are excited for the opportunities this year for our program."
MADISON
2021-22: 11-11.
Head coach: Erik Thompson, 6th season, 47-55.
Returning starters: Seniors Austin Burciaga, Dominic Regalado and Mauricio Nieto.
Other returning players: Senior Michael Benson, Sophomore Antonio Nieto, Junior Jayden Holly.
Newcomers: Jayden Saad, Bryce Jordan, Mark Najar.
Outlook: Depth will be the key to the Trojans as there are several players with experience back. Seniors Burciaga, Regalado and Maurice Nieto all showed big-game ability at times last year and sophomore Antonio Nieto did too.
Coach says: “We should be able to put the ball in the hoop at a higher percentage this year compared to previous teams. We had a great summer and entered the season with great comradery and chemistry as a team. I am excited about this group of young men with their work ethic on the court and in the weight room during the off-season as well as so far this season.”
MORENCI
2021-22: 9-12.
Head coach: Daiton Lemmon, first year.
Returning starters: Seniors Landon Mansfield and Bryson Bachelder.
Other returning players: Senior Owen Blaker, Junior Shamus Alcock.
Newcomers: Seniors Jayden Ables and Damjan Zimbakov; juniors Cayden Cook and Kenden Cook.
Outlook: Bachelder averaged 15.2 points per game a year ago and is poised for a big season. He and Mansfield are three-year starters who will be counted on to bring the newcomers along early.
Coach says: “We are very excited about a new season and a chance to compete within the TCC and a longer non-conference schedule. The boys have brought great energy and really pushed each other to get better.”
ONSTED
2021-22: 22-1.
Head coach: Brad Maska, 16th year, 223-103.
Returning starters: Senior Bradlee VanBrunt; juniors Ayden Davis (6-10) and Connor Szul and sophomores Aidan Paquin and JT Hill.
Others to watch: Seniors Connor Pustay and Jacob Buchanan; juniors Quinn Hiram, Drew Wendt and Joey Denkins and freshman Rylan Henagan.
Outlook: Davis is a premier player in Class B but he’s not on an island – the Wildcats have a solid supporting cast around him. He averaged 19.8 points, 13.6 rebounds and blocked 161 shots a year ago.
Coach says: “We are excited to be competing in an LCAA conference that is always tough. There will be no nights off this year and that is what we are preparing for every day in practice. Our hopes are to battle for a league title and make a strong run in this year’s tournament.”
SAND CREEK
2021-22: 2-19.
Head coach: Cory Cox, first year.
Return starters: Rory Eack and Trevor Opel.
Other returning players: Seniors Anthony Garcia and Braylon Gartee.
Top newcomers: Junior Carson Preston; sophomores Aidan Walsh and Reid Hulett.
Outlook: Cox is the new head coach, but he’s not new to the program by any means. He’s a Sand Creek graduate who played under Charlie Risner and formerly coached at Lenawee Christian. He’s been an Aggie assistant recently. Eack is a good place to build around as he has the size and ability to score from anywhere on the court.
Coach says: “Being my first year as the head boys coach, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys. We have a lot of newcomers, and don’t have a lot of varsity experience. Yet, the willingness of our players to be coached and work hard, will be fun to watch their development over the course of the season.”
TECUMSEH
2021-22: 15-6.
Head coach: Jamison Webster, 4th season, 24-34.
Returning starters: Grant Mossburg, David Hunt, Gavin Chenevey, Ryder Zajac, Jobe Benschoter.
Other returners: Ryan Mossburg, Jaret Alcock, Drew Wiedyk.
Newcomers: Senior Brendan Cross; Juniors Diego Juarez, Max Danley, Ryan Barrie and Mason Tuberville.
Outlook: Zajac is a three-year starter who averaged 16.1 points a game last year. He can hit the 3, rebound and is among the top free throw shooters in the county. “He will be a guy we ask a lot out of but is a three-year starter for us that has been a big part in our development and growth as a program,” Webster said.
Coach says: “Excited to tip the season off and see where we are as a program and watch our growth as a team as the year goes on."