By Allen VanNess
Coming off a 15-12 season, the Marshfield Blue Jays must overcome their youth and inexperience this season if they want to compete for a district title in 2016-2017. Fortunately for the Blue Jays, however, they are equipped to do just that.
With the departures of all-district, all-conference guards Wyatt Findley and Dallas Crider, along with the inside presence of Devin Letterman, the Blue Jays lose a lot of talent they relied on last season. Findley’s sharpshooting will be sorely missed, as he made 169 3-pointers in his career, while Crider’s quickness and ability to create opportunities will also be missed. Letterman gave the Blue Jays toughness on the inside and was never afraid to go up against the bigger, physical players.
Two starters return this season that can do a number of different things to help the team win.
Senior Jarrett Paoni returns after averaging 9.2 points per game last season. Fellow senior Britt Hill, who also started every game last year, also returns after average 6.0 points per game in the 2015-2016 campaign.
“Jarrett is a two-year starter that has grown over the course of a year as a leader and player,” said Marshfield head coach Damon Seiger. “He has the ability to knock down big shots as well as be a defensive stopper when needed. Britt is coming off a very good summer and will be looked to provide an offensive spark as well as increased athletic ability will help him defend various positions on the defensive end.”
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Along with Paoni and Hill, seniors Tristen Rouse and Bo Atkison also return and Seiger expects each of them to make an impact for the Blue Jays as well.
“Tristen is a big, strong physical post that can finish around the basket and will provide us with a presence,” Seiger said. “Bo was an undersized post man a year ago at the JV level but will attempt to make the transition to more of a guard role this year for us.”
Juniors returning for Marshfield include Jason Whittington and Chevy Koehler. Whittington moves up from junior varsity and looks to use his athleticism and quickness to defend at the varsity level, while Koehler, a 6’3” post player, gives the Blue Jays more depth and size. Seiger expects him to be a scoring presence on the inside.
Along with the four juniors and seniors, the sophomores may be what helps take this team to the next level. Triston Letterman, Austin Porter, Trenton Kanengieter and Jacob Vilines all expect to see serious playing time for the young Blue Jays.
Letterman and Kanengieter both look to use their size to provide help with the inside game, while Porter and Vilines hope to get the offense going with their shooting abilities.
In the end, the Blue Jays will have to overcome their inexperience if they want to be in the thick of things in their conference and district.
“I believe our overall health and ability to grow and mature as a basketball team will define who we are in late February as it typically does most years,” said Seiger. “We will have to overcome our youth and inexperience at the varsity level to attain our desired goals but believe our young men have the ability to compete at a high level in spite of that.”
The Marshfield Blue Jays begin their season on Nov. 19 with they travel to Rolla to play the Salem Tigers.
