By Chris Parker
Southwest boys basketball returns three starters from last season’s 17-win team. The 17 wins were the most for the program since the 2011-12 season.
The two graduated players were both all-conference selections meaning some new players will need to step up.
Senior Brandon Brooks will be a team leader coming off a season where he averaged 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
“Named Captain for the Trojans last season. He does whatever is needed and is capable of playing multiple positions on offense and defense. He has improved greatly in his ability to score and has gotten much stronger in the offseason,” said Southwest head coach Rusty Roe.
Brendyn Paulsen is the team’s lone returning all-conference player. He earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore after he put up 11 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
“He ended the season as Southwest’s second-leading scorer,” Roe said. “He led the Trojans in rebounding and had the best three-point percentage on the team. He has continued to expand his game inside and outside in the offseason. We will look to him for a great amount of leadership this season.”
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Zak Corwin (junior), Lucas Paulsen (senior), Coy Shrum (senior) and Charlie Pippin (junior) round out the returning lettermen.
Roe on Cowin: “Perhaps the best all-around athlete on the floor at many times. He has a great jump shot and has good range. Zak is a very gritty player on the defensive end and ends up with more rebounds than many post players.”
Roe on Paulsen: “Very strong athlete and probably the hardest worker we have. There is no quit in him; his motor never stops. With a great improved three-point shot Lucas “Bubba”, will be a much needed and great threat for Southwest this year.”
Roe on Shrum: “He has been a backup the past couple of years at point guard. With our point guard graduating however, Coy has some big shoes to fill. He did an outstanding job this summer and ultimately won the starting point guard spot. He does what is needed and doesn’t try to do selfish things; any kid with that mindset will play.”
Roe on Pippin: “After seeing increased varsity time last season, Charlie Pippin really came into his own this summer. He is a big man who enjoys playing under the basket and being a big man. That’s a great thing to have in a basketball world where it seems every big man wants to be a guard and play without contact and only on the perimeter. Charlie enjoys doing work in the “trenches” and the contact that comes with it.”
Corwin led that group in scoring at 8.5 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Paulsen added in 5.8 ppg.
Sophomore Kasen Holder and junior Caleb Ayer will be newcomers to the varsity rotation.
Roe on Holder: “Played limited minutes last year as a freshman. He has a great skill set and a very high ceiling for basketball. If he continues to improve as expected, then he will be known on every scouting report by the end of this year.”
Roe on Ayer: “After playing only JV during his sophomore season; Caleb has earned a full-time spot on the Trojans varsity team after his summer performances. He has really stepped up big for us to fill in some gaps we were going to have after losing two great guards to graduation. Not only is Caleb capable of stepping into a varsity role, but he will be productive and an asset for us when he is on the floor. Tough nose kid who gets the most out of his minutes.”
Southwest opens the season on Nov. 18 at Exeter.
“I am looking forward to coaching these young men this season,” Roe said. “They enjoy each other, and they enjoy basketball. As a coach it is always rewarding when you can push your athletes in practice, and they respond. That’s this group we have at Southwest this year. From top to bottom that is our mentality. We have big goals for ourselves, and it should be a fun process trying to achieve those goals.”
