High school basketball preview: Rose Hill Rockets (+video)
Schedule
December — 4, at Labette County; 8, Garden Plain; 11, vs. Emporia at Garden Plain; 12, vs. Hesston at Garden Plain; 18, Winfield.
January — 5, Buhler; 8, at El Dorado; 12, Augusta; 15, at McPherson; 18-23, at Halstead tournament (B); 22, Circle (G); 28-30, at Haven tournament (G); 29, Circle (B).
February — 2, at Clearwater; 4, Andale; 9, McPherson; 16, at Winfield; 19, at Buhler; 23, El Dorado; 25, at Augusta.
Boys
Coach: Joshua Shirley, first season
Last season: 4-18
Top players
Ross Nolan, 5-9, sr., G
Parker Austin, 5-7, sr., G
Brett Bonar, 6-0, sr., F
Taking over after a 4-18 season, Shirley is emphasizing fundamentals as the team’s primary focus. Shirley said his team is small compared to the other teams in AV-CTL III and being fundamentally sound will play a role in the team’s success.
With the return of seven seniors, three of which are returning starters, Shirley said he is pleased with the leadership they’ve displayed.
“We’re in the process of implementing new schemes on offense and defense and our seniors have been here working hard, leading by example,” Shirley said. “Everyone’s trying to adapt at this point; it’s a feeling out process.
“Our seniors have been here since the summer trying to learn our new defense. They’re great leaders.”
Shirley wants to slow things down on offense and put the focus on being a tough defensive unit. He’s been teaching his team how to box out on defense to make up for the lack of height.
He expect Austin, Nolan and Bonar to use their experience from last year to contribute right away. “They understand the speed of the game, playing varsity last year,” Shirley said.
Parker averaged 8 points and Bonar averaged 5, totals Shirley expects to improve as he continues to try to change the culture at Rose Hill.
“Our goal is to be the toughest team on the court,” he said. “Again, our lack of size makes it necessary for us to win all 50-50 balls we can.”
Girls
Coach: Greg Welch, first season
Last season: 7-16
Top players
Mackenzie Herman, 5-6, jr., G
Kayna Simoneau, 5-7, jr., F
Anna Van Driel, 5-10, jr., C
A wealth of experience should provide a smooth transition for a new coach. Led by juniors Van Driel, Herman and Simoneau, Rose Hill returns all five starters plus 3 reserve players from last season. Herman and Simoneau both averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds, while Van Driel led the team in rebounds (14) and points (9).
Welch said he is hoping his team will become well-balanced instead of relying on three players to score.
“Most of our girls have been playing varsity basketball since their freshman year,” Welch said. “Now they are upperclassmen; hopefully they can begin to experience some success.”
Welch is planning to use his team’s quickness and athleticism to run a fast-paced offense, scoring in transition and making up for a lack of size.
“This year we want to get out on the break and get to the basketball,” he said. “We’re lacking in size, we don’t have the size most teams may have, so we have to score because our lack of size.”
Other returners are Brogan Collins, Casue Linot, Janessa Mcmains, Sarah Sissel and Alaya Marksberry.
This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 10:09 AM with the headline "High school basketball preview: Rose Hill Rockets (+video)."