Basketball Preview 2016

Redskins Hire Rossi To Lead Girls’ Team

By MIKE MATHISON WINTERSVILLE — It’s all new for the Indian Creek girls’ basketball team and new head coach Jackie Rossi. “We have a kit if quick players, we need to utilize that strength. How we’re going to utilize that strength — we’re not really sure yet. “We have a couple of tall kids, too, but I would say we’re more guard-dominated.” The Redskins will be led by seniors Kaitlyn Whitaker, Madison Smith and Hallie Schmitt. Whitaker and Smith are three-year letter winners and Schmitt has two letters. “It’s nice to have those seniors. ...

Identity Remains The Same at Indian Creek

By MIKE MATHISON WINTERSVILLE — You know what you’re getting when you step on the basketball court against the Indian Creek boys and longtime coach Joe Dunlevy. This year will be no different. The only difference will be the faces playing tight man defense and taking charges. Leading the way is senior Greg Wade, a four-year letterman and three-year starter. He will be alongside fellow senior Austin Freshwater, a three-year letterman and two-year starter, and juniors Andy Waggoner and Nick Crawford, who lettered and were part-time starters last season. The ...

Hodgkiss in Charge at Toronto

By MIKE MATHISON TORONTO — First-year girls’ basketball coach Rusty Hodgkiss has 20 out for his Toronto Red Knights program. “We’re trying to create some excitement around the basketball program here, and we have a great group to do that with,” he said. “The kids have great attitudes and a lot of positive energy. We’re working really, really, hard every day.” The Red Knights are a youthful bunch, but have three seniors in Jazalynn Glenn, Serena Burkey and Crystal Ford, along with five juniors in Gina Fogle, Jenna Leasure, Sydney Taggart, Samantha Swearingen ...

Leary to Lead Oak Glen Girls

By MIKE MATHISON NEW MANCHESTER – The Oak Glen girls’ basketball team returns five seniors, but also has a new head coach. Veteran John Leary takes over for Ryan Wells, who is now an assistant with the boys team. The Golden Bears finished 12-11 a year ago after losing to North Marion in sectional play. “We have a mixture of veteran returners and young kids,” Leary said, who coached the Toronto boys team the last five seasons. “We should be pretty solid squad but young kids are going to need to step up quickly to provide us with depth.” The five ...

Things Won’t Change for Bears

By MIKE MATHISON NEW MANCHESTER — Things won’t change much for the Oak Glen boys’ basketball team this year. Run, defense, jumpers, movement and 3-pointers. “We are looking forward to an exciting year,” coach Jerry Everly said. “Our players put in a successful summer and fall getting ready for the season and hopefully it will pay off.” Returning are several players who saw varsity action last year in Jeff Rice, Chris Kokoski, Marques McHaffie, Shane Theiss, Logan Taylor and Noah Feicht. Oak Glen lost two seniors to graduation. “That ...

Everything New for Tucker, Knights

By MIKE MATHISON TORONTO — The Toronto boys’ basketball team will have a new look this year. New coach, attitude, look and approach. “The boys realize we are going to be patient with them in this transition of programs as they are learning a completely different style of basketball and they are adjusting very well,” first-year coach Sean Tucker said. “We look for a lot of roles this year coming off the bench. The great thing about this team is it doesn’t matter who starts because they all have great roles coming off the bench.” The Red Knights, who were ...