By Chad Plein
New Covenant Academy is looking for a bounce-back season in 2020-21.
“We don’t talk much about outside expectations, which can come from a variety of different places,” Warriors head coach Ryan Worley said, “but instead focus on our own daily growth and togetherness.”
Leading NCA’s charge to finish above .500 this year will be two-year starter Nathan Good. The senior is known as a natural leader who makes his teammates better in practice and in the games.
“(Good) has worked very hard this off-season in the weight room and gives us a guy who can step out and shoot the three or finish at the basket, as well as having great floor vision,” Worley said.
Alongside Good, Tanner Engel is looking for a superb sophomore campaign. As a freshman, Engel earned Honorable Mention All-Conference, and like Good has hit the weights.
“He has the ability to score the ball at all three levels and has a natural ability to make the guys around him better,” Worley said. “It will be fun to see his growth and maturity this season as he moves into being a second year varsity player.”
Engel’s classmate, Nathan Altena is also expected to have a sensational sophomore season. One of Altena’s perks heading into the season is his off-season growth; now standing 6-foot-5.
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“He has a true shooter’s mentality in that he is always hunting for his shot while having a good understanding of what a ‘good shot’ is within our offense,” Worley said. “He has worked hard on becoming a more well-rounded scorer by adding the ability to put the ball on the deck and finish in the paint or at the rim.”
A trio of juniors have also impressed Worley in the preseason. Noah Dawley has the ability to knock down open shots and is a tough defender. Brady Heseman has a knack of finding the ball whether he’s shooting or rebounding. Tyler Crum has great athleticism that’s hard to ignore and has put in the time to improve his skills.
Worley also has two newcomers he expects to make an immediate impact for the Warriors.
Junior Caden Dunn transferred from Republic last year at semester and was ineligible for the Warriors in 2019-20. He hasn’t played since his freshman year but has the skills to score on multiple levels and is a good passer.
“How quickly he acclimates himself to the varsity level defensively will be the key for his role with this team as well as this team to reach their full potential,” Worley said. “He has a natural ability to make plays on the offensive end which will be a nice addition to our other guys.”
The other newcomer is freshman Jackson McRoberts who moved in from Mississippi. He’s fitting in well at NCA coming off playing for the Warriors soccer team this fall who made it to the Class 1 state semifinal.
“He will provide us with athleticism and an additional scorer,” Worley said. “He is a very good shooter and has a natural ability to score the ball. His role will increase as the season progresses and as he begins to develop a role with this group but his natural abilities and athleticism will be a nice addition to this team.”
New Covenant’s success will be in ‘not beating ourselves’ Worley says. He wants his warriors to play like warriors on the court, but also respect every possession both offensively and defensively.
“We hope to limit our turnovers, not take bad shots, win the hustle battles, rebound defensively and be very good defensively in transition. If we can do those things to the best of our abilities and then go out and play with a great effort then we feel like the results will fall where they will at the end of the game.”
New Covenant opens the season with Spokane at home on Nov. 20.
