By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Hermitage Hornets have their eyes on winning a district championship this season.
The Hornets return three of five starters from a team that went 22-7 overall and 6-1 for a second-place finish in the Polk County League last season. They advanced to their district championship game before falling to Weaubleau 54-50.
“I think we’ll be as good as last year, if not better,” coach Joe Nicholson said.
The Hornets lost a total of five lettermen from last season.
Two of the Hornets’ key losses include starting forward Cory Nicholson, who was a first-team All-District and All-PCL pick and is playing basketball for William Penn University in the NAIA. Also at William Penn is forward Robert Ideker, the Hornets’ sixth man, who is playing baseball.
Other losses include guard Ivan Long, forward Josh Howard and center Brent Aubuchon.
Long was the Hornets’ top defender, Howard was the “best team player” and Aubuchon was a four-year varsity player for Hermitage.
The Hornets return a veteran group of lettermen, including starters Austin Hostettler, Dylan Meyer and Jeff Salmon.
Hostettler, a 6-foot-2 senior and the Hornets’ player of the year last season, will be counted on heavily this year. The team captain was a standout in the post and on defense. He was a first-team All-District and second-team All-PCL selection last season.
Meyer, a 6-1 senior, surpassed the 1,000-point mark last season, and is a threat from the 3-point line. He also added an Honorable Mention All-District and second-team All-PCL selection to his resume.
Salmon, a 6-0 senior, came on for the Hornets last season earning second-team All-District and All-PCL honors. Salmon will be counted on to handle the ball and run the offense this season.
Darek Reeves is a 5-9 senior who Nicholson describes as a “great defensive player.” Nicholson said Reeves could fill the role vacated by Long.
The remaining returnees are all juniors: Leif Griffin, 6-5; Jesse Strousse, 6-0; Alex Aubuchon, 5-10 and Easton Sabala 5-7.
Keep an eye out for Aubuchon, Nicholson said. Aubuchon should see significant playing time based on his talent and knowledge of the game. If he can remain healthy, “watch out,” Nicholson said.
“We have played the same system the last four years,” Nicholson said. “This is my fourth year at Hermitage and the first year that everybody on the roster will be familiar with the system.
“Defensively, we will play a hard-nosed, full-court man-to-man press. Offensively, we play up-tempo and will fast break as much as we possibly can. If teams try to slow us down, we’ll be in great shape in the half-court.
“We’ll be hard to stop offensively, even if we have to set up.”
If teams try to slow down the Hornets, they have capable 3-point shooters in Meyer, Salmon, Reeves and Sabala, plus the inside presence of Hostettler, Meyer and Aubuchon, who can post up.
A couple of freshmen will look to break into the lineup this season. Mathew Horn, 5-9, can play any position and Alex Hamilton, 5-10, is improving every day.
“When all is said and done, it will look a lot like last year,” Nicholson said. “Our record might be better because a lot of teams lost a lot of good players from last season.
“If we play like we’re capable, we should win districts. Stepping up are our juniors that will be able to give a lot of varsity experience.”
Hermitage opens the season at home against Russellville, a team it played for the first time last year, before heading to the Humansville Tournament.
