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Basketball: 'Horns ready for another run
Published 12/4/2008 in Special Sections : Area High Schools
By BRETT MARSHALL
It's basketball season and that means one thing for the Holcomb boys' team -- preparing for the long season and possible return trip to the Class 3A state tournament in March.
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Brad Nading/Telegram — Holcomb High School's C.J. Brau, right, goes up for two points in the lane over Southwestern Heights Cory Ryan, left, and Lenny Baeza with 46.6 seconds left in the game to give the Longhorns a six point lead during a Hi Plains League semi final game at Garden Community College's Perryman Athletic Complex last season.
The road to the state starts Friday in a Hi-Plains League encounter with Elkhart and head coach Scott Stegman's squad is fully loaded once again.
The Longhorns completed a 22-4 record last season, going through the HPL unblemished (they've now won 30 straight league games) and capped off the season with a third-place finish in the state tourney at Hutchinson.
Stegman has four starters from that squad, including all-league performers seniors Zevin Roth (6-3 guard/center) and Jordan Wilcox (6-0 point guard). In addition, C.J. Brau (6-0 senior guard) was an honorable mention all-league pick.
The fourth returning starter is 6-0 junior Mitchell Gaede, who Stegman describes as a smart ball handler and passer. Brau is the top returning scorer, he averaged 12.7 points a while Wilcox was right behind at 12 points. Roth scored eight points and pulled down four rebounds.
"Going to state last year and placing third should give us the confidence and the experience we need to have a successful season," Stegman said. "Having four returning starters should also prove to be an important factor in our season."
In addition to those starters, Stegman has returning lettermen in 6-2 senior center Leroy Tafoya, 6-1 junior Jacob VanCampen and 6-4 senior guard/center Matt Heydman. Tafoya averaged just under seven points a game coming off the bench last year.
"We have many potential starters," Stegman said. "It will be a challenge to find the correct mix of players for the right time of the game."
Following their season opener with Elkhart, the Longhorns will compete in the Scott City Invitational Dec. 11-13.
Lady 'Horns hope to continue improving
With three returning starters, including unanimous all-Hi-Plains League performer Breanna Gottschalk, Holcomb is looking for improvement over last season's 9-13 record and a 5-5 finish in the HPL.
"Hopefully, the year of experience will help," third-year coach Kelley Snodgrass said. "With strong leadership and athletic youth we should compete well in the Hi-Plains League."
Gottschalk quickly established herself as a force in the tough HPL a year ago despite being just a freshman. The 5-10 sophomore is an outstanding shooter and an all-around player with few weaknesses in her overall game.
"We do have the three returning starters but we still have a great deal of youth and lack of experience at the varsity level," Snodgrass said. "We also don't have much height. We're going to need our part-time varsity and junior varsity players to step up and play at the varsity level this year for us to be successful."
Joining Gottschalk as a returning starter is 5-8 senior Shelby Bennett. Amy Stegman, a 5-6 sophomore and daughter of boys' coach Scott Stegman, is back at her point guard position.
"Amy is a good defender and a good shooter," Snodgrass said.
Other top prospects for Holcomb include 5-5 senior point guard Tiffney Wolf, 5-5 junior guard Ashley Baier, 5-5 sophomore guard Danielle Asmus, 5-10 sophomore Heidi Boyles at center and 5-9 sophomore Zoe Shelden at a forward/center position.
"Playing hard on defense, rebounding and finding more scoring threats are the areas that we need to focus on," Snodgrass said.
Holcomb Longhorns
Class: 3A
Boys Coach: Scott Stegman (6th year)
2007-08 Record: 22-4 (10-0 in HPL; 3rd in State 3A)
Returning Starters: Jordan Wilcox (6-0 Sr., G), C.J. Brau (6-0 Sr., G), Zevin Roth (6-3 Sr., C), Mitchell Gaede (6-0 Jr., G).
Other returning lettermen: Leroy Tafoya (6-2 Sr., C), Jacob Van Campen (6-1 Jr., C), Matt Heydman (6-4 Sr., G/C).
Girls Coach: Kelley Snodgrass (3rd year)
2007-08 Record: 9-13 (5-5 in Hi-Plains League)
Returning Starters: Shelby Bennett (5-8 Sr., F), Breanna Gottschalk (5-10 So., G/C), Amy Stegman (5-6 So., G).
Other returning letterwinners: Tiffney Wolf (5-5 Sr., G), Ashley Baier (5-5 Jr., G), Danielle Asmus (5-5 So., G), Heidi Boyles (5-10 So., G/C), Zoe Shelden (5-9 So., C).
SCHEDULE (Home Games in ALL CAPS):
Dec. 5-ELKHART; Dec. 11-13-at Scott City Invitational; Jan. 6-LAKIN; Jan. 9-COLBY; Jan. 13-at Satanta; Jan. 16-at Stanton Co.; Jan. 22-24-at Dodge City Tournament of Champions (Boys), Jan. 19-24-at Hi-Plains League tournament (Girls); Jan. 27-SCOTT CITY; Jan. 30-at Sublette; Feb. 3-at Jetmore; Feb. 6-at Wichita Co.; Feb. 13-SW HEIGHTS; Feb. 17-at Hugoton; Feb. 20-CIMARRON; Feb. 24-ULYSSES; Feb. 27-at Syracuse.
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