Boys basketball notebook: Many teams, players hitting their stride as season winds down

As the season for area boys basketball teams advances into the final stretch, many coaches say they are encouraged with where their teams are at as well as how some of their players have progressed.

Rebounding, balance remain keys for Ottawa

Ottawa coach Mark Cooper said he felt rebounding and balance on the floor and in the scorebook would all be a key to success prior to the season.

“For most of the season we have rebounded the ball at a good rate. We’ve had some issues lately, but overall it has been a positive,” Cooper said. “Continuing to play inside-out is an area we need to continue to address. We are a better offensive team when we have balance in how we score.”

Cooper said he likes the progress junior forward Owens Sanders has made from a year ago.

“He has been able to score on all three levels offensively and has made good decisions to keep himself out of foul trouble too,” Cooper said.

Woodland thriving on defense, hoping for better consistency

The Warriors have been pretty good on the defensive end this season, and coach Connor Kaminke hopes that will continue along with better all-around consistency.

“We have bought into setting the tone through our defense each night, which has led to allowing just 46 points per game,” Kaminke said. “That effort has allowed us to compete in almost every game this season. Even in our losses, there were some positives to build off of. One area we need to continue to grow in is our consistency. Showing up each and every night ready to give our best mental and physical effort, working towards our ultimate goal of playing our best basketball heading into the postseason.”

Kaminke also said he’s really happy with the play from Nick Plesko, Connor Dodge and Nolan Price.

“All three players have taken a jump from last season filling some voids of players we lost to graduation — not only with their play, but their leadership abilities as well.”

Newark sticks together, reaps rewards

The Norsemen dropped three of their first four games this season, but coach Kyle Anderson said everyone kept pushing forward.

“I’m most happy with how we handled adversity this year and how selfless the team is,” Anderson said. “We started the year rough but stayed together and stayed focused and have continued to improve. They all put the team first and have bought into whatever role helps the team win.”

Anderson, especially, has praise for his seniors Payton Wills and Dylan Long.

“Our seniors have stepped up big and led the way for us,” Anderson said. “Payton provides the energy and effort our team needs, anchors the backside of our defense and has become a real scoring threat inside and outside. Dylan Long has grown into one of the best players in the area, becoming much improved defensively and is incredibly tough to stop on the offensive end with his length and skill.”

Serena finding ways to win, players have stepped up

Huskers coach Dain Twait said his squad, while it “may be ugly at times,” is finding ways to record victories and hopes to see better consistency and better play against physicality.

Twait said he’s been pleased with the play of Beau Raikes, Payton Twait, Cash Raikes, Matt Farrell and Blake Hjerpe.

“Beau knew he needed to be the man and has stepped up, but needs to stay out of foul trouble,” Coach Twait said. “Payton continues to get better and better, Cash has become a solid scorer, Matt is a great defender, and Blake has played great as an undersized big man for us.”

Somonauk looking to carry over energy into second half

Bobcats coach Curt Alsvig said he has a group this season that always comes to practice with “energy and eagerness to get better.” He’s hoping his squad can find ways to maintain that energy in the final 16 minutes of games the rest of the season.

“We have to find a way to put full games together,” Alsvig said. “We have been very competitive in the first half of games and struggle to come out of halftime with the same energy.”

Alsvig is also pleased with the play of Brock Sexton. “He has been a solid and consistent point guard for us,” Alsvig said. “His basketball IQ is very high and he‘s a leader on the court for us.”

Sandwich enjoying turnaround after slow start

Indians first-year coach Matthew Chalfin said he couldn’t be happier with his teams “resilience and attitude” this season, and hopes to see better consistent shooting the ball and a little more discipline on the defensive end for the remainder of the year.

“We had a slow start to the season (1-7), but the team never put their heads down or started pointing fingers,” Chalfin said. “The boys could have made excuses with injuries, sickness and a new head coach but they keep battling every night and are getting better in the process.”

Dom Rome, who is averaging 15 points and eight rebounds a game, has really stepped up, according to Chalfin.

“I’ve been more impressed with Dom’s leadership on the court and in practice,” Chalfin said. “He is consistently the hardest-working player we have.”

Flanagan-Cornell valuing the ball, looking for more on defensive end

Falcons coach Brian Yoder said senior guards Seth Jones and Connor Reed have “done an excellent job of not turning the ball over and giving our team a chance to score”, while “Logan Ruddy has been consistent each night scoring and rebounding the basketball, but we need to have a couple more guys step up each night in order to give ourselves a chance to win games. If we want to make any run at a regional title, we will have to improve our defensive intensity and communication.”

Yoder said he hopes to continue to get the efforts from Jones and Rudra Patel that he’s seen throughout the season.

“They both play hard on both ends of the floor and really provide great leadership for our team and younger players,” Yoder said. “They do many of the little things that most people don’t notice.”