A look at the Collegiate Spartans basketball teams
SCHEDULE
December – 5, at Chaparral; 8, Hutchinson Trinity; 10, TBA (at Cheney); 13, Clearwater; 16, at Mulvane.
January – 3, at Andale; 6, at Rose Hill; 10, Wellington; 19-21, at El Dorado tournament (B); 20, Circle (G); 26-28, at El Dorado tournament (G); 27, Circle (B); 31, at Buhler.
February – 3, Augusta; 7, at Circle; 10, at Clearwater; 14, Mulvane; 17, Andale; 21, Rose Hill; 24, at Wellington.
BOYS
Coach: Mitch Fiegel, 28th season, 456-183
Last season: 22-3, Class 4A-II champion
Top players
Cody McNerney, 6-1, jr., G
Cooper Root, 6-3, sr., F
Keandre Ashley, 6-1, sr., G
Nate Kelly, 5-10, jr., G
Gabe Fisher, 6-4, so., F
Don’t expect a drop-off from Collegiate even after it graduated eight seniors from last season’s Class 4A-II championship team.
The lack of varsity experience is an obstacle, but not a concern for Fiegel. Winning has followed this group at every level and they expect that to continue this season when the sophomores and juniors fill expanded roles.
“They’ve been really good at the JV level and they had a great summer, but there is still that next step,” Fiegel said. “But I’m very confident that this group is going to be really successful before it’s all said and done.”
Collegiate will continue to run its platoon system, running waves of five-out, five-in substitutions.
Fiegel thinks this team will thrive because of players such as Root, Ashley, and Elijay Bradley, seniors who have waited for their shot to come. He calls these players “company men” and thinks their hunger will be the driving force of this team.
During the summer, Fiegel was in awe of how many offensive weapons will be at his disposal, as juniors Riley Dick, Michael Cuillo, Grant Deiter and Will Lammers will also contribute.
“But as we all know, if you’re going to put your offense first, then on the wrong night you’re going home early,” Fiegel said. “So my challenge is going to get them to buy into the defensive end and still be proud of the fact that they can put the ball in the hole.”
GIRLS
Coach: Jeff Skar, first season
Last season: 9-14
Top players
Kirby Krumsick, 6-0, sr., F
Maddie Reed, 5-5, so., G
Kennedy Brandenburg, 5-11, jr., F
A’Niah Bell, 5-6, jr., G
Abby Waddell, 6-0, so., F
Skar is a familiar face to the program, as he has been an assistant at Collegiate for the past seven seasons.
While he is keeping some things in tact, he has his own vision for what he wants his teams to look like.
“I want a team that is going to play tough, hard-nosed defense for 32 minutes a game and kids that are going to work their butts off on the boards,” Skar said.
Collegiate will certainly have the size to pull that off, as it has a trio of 5-foot-11 or 6-foot players in Krumsick, Brandenburg, and Waddell.
What makes that trio great is their versatility, Skar says. Krumsick has power around the basket, Brandenburg can step out and hit three-pointers, and Waddell has the potential to do a little of everything.
“I think if (Waddell) figures it out and gets down and guards people and gets a little nasty on the glass,” Skar said, “she has the chance to be a very special player.”
Replacing the majority of last season’s experience will be difficult, but Skar feels good about the team’s guard play with Reed and Bell back and hopes his familiarity with the program will help ease the transition in his first season.
“I think having that history with the older kids helps me because when I do have to get after them I know how they’re going to react,” Skar said. “I feel a lot better after our first week of practices. We’re a small team, but I really like the girls I do have out.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2016 at 8:37 PM with the headline "A look at the Collegiate Spartans basketball teams."