High school basketball preview: Augusta Orioles (+video)
Schedule
December – 4, at Goddard; 11, at Abilene; 15, Winfield; 18, Buhler.
January – 5, at El Dorado; 8, McPherson; 12, at Rose Hill; 15, at Andale; 19, Collegiate (G); 19-23, at Baldwin tournament (B); 26, Collegiate (B); 28-30, at El Dorado tournament (G).
February – 2, at Mulvane; 5, Wellington; 9, El Dorado; 12, at Winfield; 16, at Buhler; 19, Labette County; 23, at McPherson; 25, Rose Hill.
Boys
Coach: David Stephenson, ninth season
Last season: 9-12
Top players
Cole Howerton, 6-3, sr., F
Logan Weakley, 6-3, sr., F
Zach Barclay, 6-3, jr., G
Jonny Clausing, 6-7, so., F
Augusta brings back the majority of a team that was dangerous in spurts last season, but must find a way to replace its two leading scorers.
There doesn’t appear to be one or two ready to carry the scoring load, so coach David Stephenson is looking for each player to take on a little more responsibility this season.
“Really what this season is going to come down to is the new guys putting the ball in the hole,” Stephenson said. “We have guys that are definitely capable of it, but they have to step up and we have to get those new guys some confidence early on.”
Where Augusta will be different is that it will shift its offensive attack from the perimeter, where the offense has gravitated to for the past couple of seasons under Stephenson, to the low post.
Augusta can play a lineup with four players that are 6-foot-3, including point guard Barclay. The Orioles want to capitalize on the height of Howerton and Weakley and Stephenson is excited about the prospects of 6-7 sophomore Clausing.
The height won’t only affect the offense, but the defense will also be revamped this season.
“We’re going to have a chance of being pretty good defensively with how much length and athleticism we’re going to have,” Stephenson said. “We’re just going to have to really buy into that side of the ball. If we do, we’re going to cause a few problems with offenses.”
Girls
Coach: Tracy Anderson, fourth season
Last season: 4-16
Top players
Riley Zerr, 5-6, sr., G
Clarice Dalziel, 5-9, sr., F
Taylor Hinnenkamp, 5-2, jr., G
Kylie McDaniel, 5-9, so., G
Augusta is known for its softball program, which has won two straight Class 4A-I championships, but not for its girls basketball program, which hasn’t finish with a winning record since 2007.
Finding a way to convince those same athletes that make the school’s softball great to come out for basketball has been Anderson’s challenge. She’s starting to see progress this year.
“It’s been a process of trying to create a culture where the kids come out for basketball and stay out,” Anderson said. “I know softball is the top sport here, but I think our basketball team can be great, too.”
Due to low numbers, Anderson has been forced to rely heavily on seniors. In her first three seasons, Anderson has graduated the entire starting lineup each season.
This season will be different. While Zerr and Dalziel, two seniors, will serve as the team’s defensive stoppers, Augusta will lean on underclassmen to do much of its scoring.
“I think we are beginning to turn that corner a little bit,” Anderson said. “We have some good younger players that are coming up through the system and they have the skill level to push for some varsity playing time.”
Hinnenkamp will take care of the ball-handling responsibilities, while Anderson believes McDaniel has the skill set to become a force offensively.
While the team will shift its foundation to the upcoming talent, Anderson still thinks the success of this season will come down to the two seniors, Zerr and Dalziel.
“They’re the group that started with me when I came here and they know what I expect,” Anderson said. “They’re both extremely hard-working young women and they’re going to pave the way for what we’re looking to do. They epitomize what I want this program to be about and that’s what I love about them.”
Taylor Eldridge
This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 10:39 AM with the headline "High school basketball preview: Augusta Orioles (+video)."