GRC West Boys Basketball 2023-24 Season Preview

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

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Princeton is the coaches’ pick to win the GRC West Boys Basketball Championship for the 2023-24 season.  The Tigers received four first-place votes in their inaugural season in the GRC West.  St. Joseph Christian received two first-place votes and was picked to finish second.  Worth County also received two first-place votes and was picked to finish third.  North Andrew received the last first-place vote.

Princeton

Princeton Tigers finished 16-9 and 4-3 in the GRC East last season.  They will move to the GRC West as the favorites to win the conference this season.  Last season, they faced 5 of the 8 GRC West teams with a  record of 6-1.  The Tigers must replace Jaden Finney (10.2 ppg), but the team's core will return.

The top two leading scorers, Senior Talan Holt (20.4 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District, KMZU Dream Team) and Junior Clay Evans (15.8 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, KMZU Dream Team), return along with Senior Kelby Thomas (4.9 ppg), Junior Cooper Boxley (3.0 ppg), Junior Noel Schreffler (3.0 ppg), and Junior Tyler Coffman (2.4 ppg).

The Tigers have some incoming freshmen who have the opportunity to be significant contributors in: Hunter Lowrey, Kash Holt, Lincoln Berndt, and Chase Evans.  Along with the talent in the class, they also have some height.

Coach Damon Collins said, “With bringing several players back, including our leading scorers, I expect our team to be very competitive this season. I think we will have a chance to play for championships in our tournaments as well as compete for the GRC West title.”  He added, “We would just like to thank our fans for supporting our student-athletes through the good times and the bad. We look forward to competing and growing as a team this season.”

St. Joseph Christian

St. Joseph Christian finished 5-2 in the conference but struggled down the stretch, losing their last nine games to finish 11-15 overall last season.  However, they return the core of their team this season, hoping to improve on last season’s mark.  Returning starters for the Lions are Juniors Nick Orscheln (13.1 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference), Johnston Stewart (13.3 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference), Cy Carlson (14.1 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference), Hayden Riley (9.7 ppg) and Vail Fruechting (7.4 ppg).  Also returning will be Levi Miller (4.6 ppg), Peyton Hausman (2.1 ppg), and Logan Hubble (0.7 ppg).

Coach Neal Hook said, “We are typically the same team as last season with the hopes that a year of experience will help us to be more competitive.”

Worth County

Tyler New was the focal point for Worth County last season, scoring over 50% of the team's points.  While New is expected to continue to be the leader, they will mix in a talented class of freshmen.  Along with returning players, Worth County is expected to be a much deeper team that can challenge for the GRC West title this season.  Entering his senior season, Tyler will be coming off of a season where he scored 24.6 ppg and earned 1^st Team All-Conference and All-District honors.

Coming off a 9-17 season and 3-4 in conference, the Tigers hope the newcomers can contribute immediately.  They will be replacing Levi Cassavaugh (5.6 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), Tanner Ridge (6.0 ppg), and Jon Galanakis (2.6 ppg). 

Returning players include Junior Karson Briner, Junior Cannon Fletcher, Sophomore Brayden Stevens, and Sophomore Brayden Combs.  They will be joined by a very talented freshman class, including Hayden Stevens, Cole Ruby, Caleb New, Bo Collins, and Ethan Linniger.

Coach Les New said, “Worth County boys will be a much deeper team. Tyler New averaged 24 points a game last year.  We will be adding three freshman guards, Hayden Sanders, Cole Ruby, and Caleb New, who can shoot the 3-ball; also adding two freshman posts, Bo Collins and Ethan Lininger, who will help Karson Briner with Rebounding and post defense.  Brayden Stevens was hurt all last year as a freshman but will bring ball handling and athleticism to our defense.  Cannon Fletcher gives us length on defense and another shooter.  Brayden Combs, our 6th man last year as a Freshman, brings experience. 

Pattonsburg

The Pattonsburg Panthers had scoring threats throughout their lineup, with their starting five scoring over 60 points per game.  This season, the Panthers will have to replace two players, Sam Coin (12.1 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District) and Maesen Weller (6.3 ppg).  But they return a very talented trio of Seniors in Gage Iddings (19.5 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, District Player of the Year), Daltyn Sperry (14.4 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference,  All-District), and Landon Woodward (9.1 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference).

The Panthers are expected to be deeper this season, with the following players getting significantly more playing time than last season:  Drayson McCrary, Duke Hoover, Nash Hoover, Gavin Humphrey, and Collin Mason.

Coach Bill Pottorff said, “I expect us to continue to play hard for a full 32 minutes of basketball.  We have been working on our defense to become more sound.  I think this group could have just as good a record as last year, but we will have to be deeper as a team.”

North Andrew

North Andrew won the GRC West last season with a 7-0 record and finished 17-8 overall.  If they are going to repeat this season, they will have to replace eight seniors led by leading scorer Hayden Ecker (15.8 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District) along with Gunner Lawrence (11.3 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District), Collin Patterson (4.5 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), Jacob Chittum (2.0 ppg), Andrew Goff, Aiden Miller, Koven Ehrhardt, Wyatt Pinion.  In addition, the Cardinals lost Blaise Patterson (1.8 ppg) to a season-ending injury during football season.

This left the Cardinals with only two players with significant varsity minutes from last season in Junior Braxon Linville (13.2 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference) and Senior Trey McDaniel (5.8 ppg).  Junior Avrey Miller, Sophomore Hunter Lee, and Sophomore Mason Nester all played great at the JV level last season and will be expected to step in and compete at the varsity level this year.

Coach Wade Bryson said, “Our expectations are always to compete to the best of our ability. We graduated a lot of leadership, production, size, and athleticism. Losing Blaise for the season hurts a lot, so it will take some time for us to redefine who we are and what we do as a team. We had a great summer, and we look to build off that.  By February, we expect to be a team that could have a chance against anyone.

King City

King City will have to replace more scoring than any team in the conference.  Sophomore Ryder Sample is the only player with any significant varsity playing time last season who is returning.  He averaged 3.0 points per game, playing 13 minutes.  Gone are seven seniors – Hunter Moss (9.3 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), Samuel Derks (9.7 ppg), Landan Jackson (5.9 ppg), Ty Mooney (5.1 ppg), Chase Moss (4.9 ppg), Hunter Hass (4.0 ppg), and Mason Kauffman (0.5 ppg) along with Blakely Eaton (8.8 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference, All-District) who transferred.

With Sample being the only player with significant varsity time, the Wildkats will rely on a host of newcomers.  They include Senior Brady Armfield, Sophomore Graham Medsker, Sophomore Josiah Shellhorn, Sophomore Tucker Mollus, Sophomore Brody Wall, Sophomore Cooper Mooney, Freshman Jonny Garlock, Freshman Coltin Potter, and Freshman Cayden Wainscott.

Coach Lane Schuman said, “It would be very difficult for me to make a confident prediction on what our record will look like at the end of this upcoming season. With very little returning varsity experience and an average age of approximately 15 years old to start the season, we can expect a lot of growing pains and learning experiences throughout the year. These young guys have all had a great deal of individual and team success at every point of their basketball careers leading up to this point. Now, it is on us to establish our identity and grow into that over the next few years. I expect us to come out and be competitive throughout the season.”

North Harrison

While North Harrison struggled in the conference last season, they were able to win seven games, including going 2-1 in both the South Harrison and Gilman City Tournaments.  They look to improve on that win total this year as they return most of their team and add some additional talent.

Tyson Gibson (8.9 ppg) graduated, but the Shamrock’s leading scorer, Senior Keygun Johnson (14.1 ppg, 2^nd Team All-Conference), is returning along with Sophomore Ethan Henson (5.0 ppg) and Senior Jerry Kilpatrick (7.1 ppg).  Junior Owan Roberson and Freshman Wyatt Maize are newcomers expected to play a significant role.

New coach Justin Joiner said, “To keep building off last year. The kids made a lot of progress over the summer. We return everyone except Tyson Gibson. Owan Roberson is eligible this season, and we have three incoming freshmen.  The kids have been working hard these 1st two weeks. I'm excited to get the season started.”

Stanberry

After finishing 2^nd in the state the season before, Stanberry struggled last season, winning just four games overall.  They took another hit when their leading scorer, Senior Colby McQuinn (16.7 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference, All-District), suffered a season-ending injury during football season.  They will also have to replace their second-leading scorer, Adam Jensen (9.6 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), who graduated.  Taking on the task of leading the Bulldogs this year will be Junior Colby McQueen (7.3 ppg, Honorable Mention All-Conference), Junior Calvin Smithson (3.1 ppg), and Senior Kolton Dias (2.1 ppg).

Newcomers expected to get significant playing time are Jordyn Wright, Decker Heyde, and Jaren Stoll.

Coach Nick Groomer said, “We planned on competing in the top half of the conference before Colby got hurt.  We are trying to be competitive every time we play.”

Albany

For Albany, replacing the conference’s leading scorer will not be easy.  Kemper Cline (28.2 ppg, 1^st Team All-Conference) will leave a big hole for the Warriors this season.  Also gone from the Warriors will be Sam Stamper (3.3 ppg) and Troy Popplewell (2.1 ppg), who was injured much of last season.

Returning for Albany will be Senior Timothy Poppa (7.9 ppg), Senior Kole Emerson (3.5 ppg), Junior Seth Miller (0.6 ppg), Junior Chase Cline (3.8 ppg), and Sophomore Daulton Worrell (1.4 ppg).  All five of them started at some point last season.

Newcomers and players expected to see more time are Junior Keghan Schaefer, Junior Kyle Emerson, Sophomore Jace Palmer, Sophomore Shae Miller, and Freshman Jarrett Smith.

Coach Jeffrey Epperly said, “We will miss Kemper Cline's presence on the defensive end as well as his ability to create on the offensive end.  We look forward to playing a more team-oriented style of basketball as we search for and develop leaders on and off the court.”