The Scoop - November 28, 2016
Posted by Heather Rutz on Nov 30, 2016
Boys basketball teams are in transition this year.
The landscape of boys basketball is in for significant change this season, as many local high school teams are looking to fill big shoes.
Several teams, including Lima Senior High School and Lima Central Catholic, watched leaders and scorers graduate. Those two teams especially lost seniors who are now playing at Div. I universities, coaches said Monday at the Rotary annual boys basketball preview.
“Basically, all our ball handling is gone,” LCC Coach Frank Kill said. “It’s a new challenge; I’m just helping them get better every game.”
With his own son playing for the University of Michigan now, and other seniors gone, Lima Senior Coach Quincey Simpson is also rebuilding, and this preseason battling injuries to many of the team’s starters, he said.
Two other local teams, Spencerville and Perry, look for big things this season. Both teams play in the North West Conference and both had playoff runs last year.
“We’re just trying to be the best we can be every year,” said Spencerville Coach Kevin Sensabuaugh, in his 15th year coaching. “I think we have a chance to be really good.”
Perry Coach Matt Tabler said his team took opponents by surprise last year, but that won’t be the case this year. “We won’t surprise anyone this year,” he said. “But we’ll be prepared. We want to use the season to prepare for the tournament.”
The boys basketball season opens this weekend with the annual Tip Off Classic, hosted by Elida. Shawnee, Bath, and LCC also play in the tournament.
In other Rotary business Monday:
- President Dave Frost reminded the club that the earlybird deadline for a reduced rate at the Rotary Convention in Atlanta is Dec. 15.
- Elvis tickets and Christmas raffle tickets are available at Monday meetings.