EVERYTHING EVERGREENS (FOX SPORTS WAUSAU-WSAU) – I have no expectations — good or bad — for this year's D.C. Everest boys basketball team. It's hard to know what to expect, except for a promised change in playing style.
First year coach Rocky Boudin has promised an up-tempo offense, which will be a marked change from past seasons. Under former coach Cory Heckel the Evergreens were a disciplined, half-court team. I always felt that Heckel got more out of his teams that the individual talents of his players. Even in years where he had a collection of average athletes he could still manage to get his share of wins. But that did come as at a price: Everest got almost no easy baskets. Transition scoring was almost nonexistent. Every point had to be churned out in hand-to-hand combat. Even while playing 17-minute halves, Everest played games in the 30s.
Playing at a faster pace and making a conscious effort to move the ball down the floor quickly may have a few advantages for this year's team. I can think of four. 1: Everest won't have a lot of height this season; beating your opponent down the floor can negate their height advantage. 2: Everest may be able to win some games on tempo alone. Most Wisconsin Valley Conference teams also prefer to play half-court basketball. They may not be able to keep up with a team that runs for the entire game. 3: A more open offense makes better use of Riley Petersen, Everest's best player. Petersen is very capable off the dribble and in-transition. He became a ball-distributor too often in half-court sets. His skills will be showcased this season. 4: Never underestimate the value of player buy-in. Players like playing a more open, running style. Everest's players, especially the seniors, will appreciate the change.
Petersen is the only returning starter from last year's team, but there are three other seniors — Dylan Ellenbecker, Matt Jagodzinski, and Jared Halambeck — who are all good athletes. Ellenbecker was one of the first players off the bench last season, and saw his playing time steadily increase down the stretch last year. Jogodzinski and Halamback both have speed.
There are two other players who will be x-factors in the upcoming season. Zach Pecha (6-7) is the only tall player on the Everest roster. He suited up for all varsity games last season but saw very little playing time. Any rebounding help the Evergreens can get from him will be badly needed. And Zion Turner, the best JV player as a freshman last season, has a lot of natural talent and will contribute as a varsity player this year.
SPASH will be the best team in the Valley again this year. Wausau West has a core group of very good athletes. But just like last year there may not be a lot of difference between the other six teams in the league. The Evergreens will be an unpredictable, new-look team that opponents will have to solve on-the-fly. They're probably not any better or worse than most of the teams they'll play this year.
Chris Conley
11.14.16
