A look at the Augusta Orioles basketball teams
SCHEDULE
December – 2, Rose Hill; 9, Abilene; 13, at Winfield; 16, at Buhler; 20, Circle.
January – 6, at El Dorado; 10, McPherson; 13, Wellington; 17, at Andale (G); 17-21, at Baldwin tournament (B); 24, at Andale (B); 26-28, at El Dorado tournament (G); 31, Clearwater.
February – 3, at Collegiate; 7, at Mulvane; 10, Winfield; 14, Buhler; 17, at Circle; 21, El Dorado; 24, at McPherson.
BOYS
Coach: Jake Sims, first season
Last season: 10-11
Top players
Kade Trebbe, 5-8, sr., G
Jonny Clausing, 6-7, jr., C
Chance Whitehead, 6-0, jr., G
Clay Wesbrooks, 6-2, jr., F
After spending the past four seasons as an assistant at Goddard, Sims returns to his alma mater, where he was a key player on Augusta’s Class 4A championship team in 2002.
“I’m really excited about it,” Sims said. “Augusta has had a long-standing tradition of basketball success, and to be a part of that and try to recreate it is an exciting challenge.”
The Orioles will tap into a pool of multi-sport athletes, led by Clausing, an all-league performer last season who averaged 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds.
“He moves extremely well on the floor,” Sims said. “He’s instinctive, he’s got good hands and has the intangibles that a lot of 6-7 or 6-8 kids don’t necessarily have.”
Clausing, Trebbe and Wesbrooks have impressed their new coach with their consistency and versatility. With players like Whitehead, who shot 43 percent from three-point range last season, and seniors Zach Barclay, Jake Becker, Kenton Rocheford and Jayden Reynolds, the Orioles should have depth to match the system Sims wants to implement.
“We really want to try to utilize our athleticism,” Sims said. “I think we can go eight, nine or 10 deep. We want to play a fast-paced kind of style that takes advantage of opportunities in transition.”
GIRLS
Coach: Tracy Anderson, fifth season, 25-59
Last season: 9-13
Top players
Taylor Hinnenkamp, 5-2, sr., G
Kylie McDaniel, 5-9, jr., F
Jayden Marlnee, 5-9, so., F
Madison Wheeler, 5-2, jr., G
Augusta made incremental improvement in terms of victories last season despite playing seven state tournament qualifiers. With much of that success fueled by underclassmen, Anderson is optimistic.
“In the past, we’ve had to really manipulate our offense to eat up clock and put us in the perfect scoring position every time,” Anderson said. “This year, I feel like we’re going to have a lot more freedom. We’ve got some kids who can attack the basket.”
Anderson quickly discovered the potential in Marlnee, who averaged 12.1 points and 6 rebounds as a freshman to earn second-team all-league honors. While she provides a building block for the Orioles’ offense, Anderson also expects Hinnenkamp, a returning starter, to be an improved perimeter threat.
“We have people who can score from every position,” Anderson said. “I’m hoping with that if we can be a little more free-flowing, those kids will be able to step up if teams are able to shut down Jayden.”
With players like 6-foot-2 sophomore Abbee Rhodes, who averaged 6 points and 6.1 rebounds, Augusta will have some lineup flexibility.
“We have the option to go big or we can go small and play Jayden at the (post),” Anderson said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Scott Paske
This story was originally published November 20, 2016 at 4:19 PM with the headline "A look at the Augusta Orioles basketball teams."