By Anthony Mock
MaxPreps.com
In just his fourth year as head boys basketball coach at Brownsburg, Josh Kendrick brought home the program’s first ever state title. The Bulldogs overcame a slew of powerhouses en route to the pinnacle, including then-4A Nos. 1, 3 and 5.
Brownsburg, unranked at the beginning of last year’s postseason, rode a plethora of height and interior strength to the state crown. Despite the loss of six seniors from that team, the Bulldogs are prepared to make another run this year.
“We’re definitely not defending anything, we’re just trying to win another,” Kendrick said. “It’s the first time that we’ve ever been in this situation, so we’re just looking to win each game and not worry about what (opposing teams) do.”
It is the idea of controlling its own fate that Kendrick has tried to instill in this year’s squad. There is quite a bit of experience coming back, but there is also a substantial difference in size.
The Bulldogs controlled the paint on offense and defense with four major contributors ranging from 6-foot-4 to 6-8. This season, a smaller, faster lineup will take the court, bringing with it a change in philosophy.
“We’re going to pressure the basketball and try to score off turnovers. We have to do a good job defending (the perimeter) because we don’t have those big guys down low anymore,” Kendrick said. “(The players) realize that it’s not the same team. It’s going to be a long process, but they’re getting better every day.”
With the loss of a dominating front-court presence, the strength of the team resides in a very effective and experienced backcourt, both positions manned by returning starters.
Senior J.D Cosby is a quick point guard who tallied most of the Bulldogs’ 301 assists last season. Cosby was also the third leading scorer on the team, averaging 5.8 points per game.
Fellow senior Austin Fish will play shooting guard. Fish is a sharpshooter who made 35 percent of his three-point attempts last year and averaged nearly five points per game.
Neither guard had to shoulder too much of the load last year, as the Bulldogs’ top two scorers averaged nearly 20 points per game a piece. This year, however, they will be called upon to lead a young team, a challenge that Kendrick thinks they are more than equipped to handle.
The forward positions will most likely be manned by sophomore Torrey Nibbs and senior Jacob Stevens. Nibbs averaged over 20 minutes a game last year and shot 42 percent from the field. Stevens is a 6-3 forward who saw limited action last season, but is expected to contribute down low.
The center position will be an important one for the Bulldogs, manned by 6-10 junior Enique Mason. Mason was used sparingly last year, but shot 48 percent from the field.
Mason has improved his game on both ends of the court and has earned the starting nod, an important step in recapturing the state title. Still, Kendrick knows that solid play across the board is the way for the Bulldogs to garner wins this season.
“We have a lot of balance,” Kendrick said. “We’re not expecting to win with just a couple of guys putting up 20 points a game. We’re going to have to have everyone, 1-8, play at a high level.”
Brownsburg opens its schedule on Wednesday at No. 9 Carmel, the first of three road games in a row.
Can Washington Repeat?
In his three years at Washington High School, head coach Gene Miiller has racked up 61 wins to only 12 losses. Last season, Miiller guided the Hatchets to a 23-2 record and the school’s fifth 3A state title.
The run through last year’s tournament was no surprise, as Washington boasted twin towers in 7-footer Tyler Zeller (now at North Carolina) and 6-11 Seth Coy.
This season, the dominant front court is gone. But a talented backcourt and deep bench return and that has the Hatchets looking towards a sixth title.
“We’re young, but we’ve got a lot of experience, especially at guard,” Miiller said. “We’ll be pretty good this year, and pretty fast, too.”
The lumbering style of last year vanished with the graduation of Washington’s post players. Instead, the Hatchets will run an up-tempo offense that takes advantage of several good players.
Returning starters Cody Osmond and Sam Gines will play point and shooting guard, respectively. Junior Ethan Huntsinger, last year’s sixth man, will play small forward, while the other forward position will be a toss-up between seniors Jance Johnson and Wade Collins, sophomore Matt Babrick and junior Robert Myles.
“We like to push the ball on offense,” Miller said. “We feel that we’ve got a lot of depth, and we’re going to use that to wear our opponents down.”
Perhaps the most difficult transition into a starting role will be that of center Cody Zeller, younger brother of Tyler. The 6-8 sophomore has big shoes to fill, but has the confidence of his teammates and coaching staff.
“He might need to get a little bit stronger, a little bit more aggressive, and more polished, but he had the skills to be a really special player,” Miller said.
Washington will need Zeller to develop quickly. Two of the Hatchets’ first three games are against 1A opponents, but they will play five of their first eight games on the road.
Washington opens it season at home against Barr-Reeve on Wednesday.