2023-24 Preview: Area boys basketball teams have high expectations
BATTLE CREEK - Defending district champs, league champs. All looking to repeat. Throw in several teams that were .500 or below last year with a chance at a winning season this year.
Many area boys basketball teams have high hopes for the 2023-24 season.
The boys basketball season has tipped off. With most teams having games this first week, they all want to hit the court running. What will follow will make for a full season for boys hoop fans to enjoy, with districts the week of Feb. 26 and the state finals set for the Breslin Center on the campus of Michigan State University on March 16.
Here the Enquirer takes a look at the area boys basketball teams for the 2023-24 season:
Athens
Coach: Job Hall (1st season)
2022-23: 1-21
Top returners: Addison Stanton, Heath Tigges
Outlook: "We are coming off a down year, but we are looking forward to seeing what this year holds. We are expecting a good season. This team has put in the work they need to be able to play with anyone," Hall said.
Bellevue
Coach: Joe Costello (14th season)
2022-23: 20-2
Top returners: Caleb Betz (sr.), Connor Odette (sr.), Brady Payne (sr.), Nate Payne (jr.)
Outlook: Bellevue has won 20 or more games in six straight season, except for the COVID season when the Broncos played just 17 games. Bellevue is coming off its seventh straight league title and has won 39 straight league games. The Broncos have four returning players from the main rotation of a year ago, including second-team all-league player Caleb Betz. Bellevue's top returning player would have been 6-foot-5 Chase Graham, the team's leading scorer from a year ago, but he suffered a season-ending injury the first week of practice.
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Bronson
Coach: Damien Loveless
2022-23: 13-10
Top returners: Kam Brackett (jr.)
Outlook: Bronson will lean on top returning player Kam Brackett, who had 12.8 points per game, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds a game as a sophomore as the Vikings were 13-10 overall, losing in the district semifinals.
"We are looking to bounce back after being upset in districts last year. We had a good turnout in the summer with a bunch of returners that are looking to get better," Loveless said.
Climax-Scotts
Coach: Kenny Sattler (7th season)
2022-23: 11-9
Top returners: Miles Shannon, Billy Felton, Chase VanMiddlesworth, Luke Lawrence
Outlook: Climax-Scotts will be led by one of the most dynamic big men in the area in 6-foot-7 Miles Shannon, a four-year starter, who averaged a double-double a year ago with 14 points per game and 10 rebounds. The Panthers have some experienced players to put around Shannon, including returners Billy Felton, Chase VanMiddlesworth and Luke Lawrence.
"We are looking to grow, be selfless and play as hard as possible with discipline. This year, we are going to be tested every game, and this team will work every day to improve for each other," Sattler said.
Coldwater
Coach: Aaron Bucklin (6th season)
2022-23: 14-9
Top returners: Ayden Dirschell (jr.), Zach Coffing (sr.), Niko Downs (jr.), Gavin Taylor (so.)
Outlook: Coldwater is coming off back-to-back league titles in the Interstate 8 Conference, but lost a bulk of the roster from those teams over the last two seasons. Ayden Dirschell was the only sophomore on the I-8 all-conference team a year ago and returns as the Cardinals top player at 11 points per game and 7.1 rebounds.
"Coldwater will come into the 2023-2024 season with some uncertainty and a lot of underclassmen being asked to contribute early on," Bucklin said.
Colon
Coach: Steve Vinson (5th season)
2022-23: 18-8
Top returners: Dalton Williams (so.), Maverick Downs (sr.), Dominic Mock (jr.)
Outlook: Colon has won three straight district championships, advancing to the regional finals a year ago during an 18-8 season. The Magi lost its top two scorers and rebounders off of that team, however, as it will look for some new leadership this season. Sophomore Dalton Williams averaged 10.3 points per game as a freshman and will be the go-to player this season. Role player Maverick Downs is hoping for a big senior year with expanded minutes.
Delton Kellogg
Coach: Jim Hogoboom (4th season)
2022-23: 9-14
Top returners: Tyler Howland (so.), Torren Mapes (sr.), Victor Gonzalez (sr.), Grant McArthur (jr.)
Outlook: Tyler Howland had an impact season as a freshman with double-digit scoring and will look to lead a young Delton Kellogg team this year. Three-year starter Torren Mapes brings the Panthers good experience, as well as senior Victor Gonzalez.
"Installing a completely new system and it remains to be seen if we can handle that much change from both a player and coach perspective. Going to try things that I have resisted for decades. Should be fun. Will force us to need minutes from more guys," Hogoboom said.
Galesburg-Augusta
Coach: Brian Dolph (4th season)
2022-23: 17-5
Top returners: Jeremiah Mann, John Klimp, James Phillips, Tegan Lockmiller, Adam Hubbard, Fred Slater
Outlook: Galesburg-Augusta is coming off its first conference championship in school history, but lost several seniors to graduation, including three four-year starters, that helped set the mark for most wins in school history with 17. G-A is returning six players from last year's team including starter John Klimp.
"G-A will again be a deep and balanced team, but will have to raise its level of play if we expect to have an opportunity to repeat as SAC Central champions and make a run in the postseason," Dolph said.
Gull Lake
Coach: Luke Walker (2nd season)
2022-23: 6-16
Top returners: Kai Watts (sr.), Ryker Corstange (sr.), Carter Stockman (jr.), Gavin Markucki (so.), Omni McKinley (jr.)
Outlook: Gull Lake is looking to get back to .500 and beyond in the challenging SMAC East Division with a senior-led backcourt that includes multiple-sport standout Ryker Corstange and Kai Watts, who had over 300 points a year ago and finished No. 25 on the all-time single season scoring list at Gull Lake.
"We are excited about returning players and are looking to pick up where we left off at the end of last season with some big wins. There are a lot of tough and talented kids to get excited about in the program," Walker said.
Homer
Coach: Ryan Mulnix (1st season)
2022-23: 15-8
Top returners: Tyson Garrett (sr.), Kayden George (sr.), Logan Nelson (sr.), Parker Chamberlain (sr.), Brady Garrett (so.)
Outlook: Homer will have a first-year head coach in Ryan Mulnix, who previously was the head varsity coach at Parma Western for eight seasons. Homer will be playing its first season in the Cascades Conference. Tyson Garrett returns as a starter and one of the leading scorers from last year's 15-win team with 16 points per game and 3.1 steals a contest.
Marshall
Coach: Anthony Miller (5th season)
2022-23: 19-6
Top returners: Elliotte Dodds (sr.), Zavion Russ (sr.), Austin Burns (jr.), Austin Miller (jr.), Landon Lewis (sr.)
Outlook: Marshall earned a share of the Interstate 8 Conference title and won a district crown as the Redhawks went 19-6 a year ago. However, Marshall lost its leading scorer off of that team and will need to find some points from a group that served as role players a year ago. Returning starters Austin Burns, honorable mention in the I-8 a year ago, and Austin Miller lead a strong junior class that were a key part of last year's team as sophomores. Senior Elliotte Dodds brings needed experience as a three-year varsity player as Marshall will only have two seniors total on the roster.
"As always, we have set our expectations high as we expect to finish towards the top of the league again this season competing for another league title," Anthony Miller said.
Olivet
Coach: Brian Lincoln (1st season)
2022-23: 21-2
Top returners: Bo Lincoln (sr.), Bryce Wine (sr.), Tayven Feldpausch (sr.)
Outlook: Olivet is moving to a new league in the Lansing area, which will have the Eagles playing a more challenging schedule after going undefeated in conference play a year ago. Olivet will have plenty of weapons to help take on that new slate with the return of All-State point guard Bo Lincoln and all-conference guard Bryce Wine. Olivet also brings back four-year varsity player Tayven Feldpausch and three-year varsity member Lucas Hopkins.
"We are excited for our new adventures in our new league. We are very lucky to have three experienced guards to help make this transition," Lincoln said.
Quincy
Coach: Scott Rodesiler (12th season)
2022-23: 10-12
Top returners: Grant Carter (sr.), Brandon Miner (jr.)
Outlook: The 2023-2024 edition of the Quincy Orioles will be a youthful team, with Grant Carter and Nash Fitton as the only returning seniors. The roster will be made up of a strong core of juniors, as well as possibly a sophomore and a freshman.
"The success of the team will be based on how quickly the underclassmen can adjust to varsity basketball's more physical and faster pace of game play," Rodesiler said.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek Enquirer season preview for area boys basketball
