After graduating three key seniors last season, McAuley Catholic boys basketball will be looking to its returning players to take on a bigger role in order to find success in 2021-22.
“We lost a lot statistically from last season due to graduation and we have some guys who lack varsity experience,” McAuley coach Tony Witt said. “We gained valuable experience this summer, but we still have some unknowns. It is going to take some time to develop a rotation and for guys to accept their role. This is a hard-working, coachable, tight-knit group that is very motivated. We are going to get better every day and hopefully be playing our best basketball in February. I am extremely excited to see what this group can do.”
The Warriors are looking to replace graduates Daniel Wagner, Thomas Black and Matthew Dohmen, who accounted for 78 percent of the team’s scoring last season and 77 percent of the team’s rebounding for a squad that advanced to the district title game a year ago.
Among the returning lettermen expected to play a more important role this season is sophomore guard Rocco Bazzano-Joseph, junior guard Joe Staton and senior forward Jeffery Horinek. Bazzano-Joseph was the sixth man last year, averaging 4.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, while Staton started 24 games and averaged 2.2 points and Horinek started 20 games and averaged 2.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
“Jeffery is a solid post defender and rebounder,” Witt said. “We will need him to take on a bigger role this year on both ends of the floor. … Joe is a crafty guard who loves to play defense. He has a high basketball IQ and is a natural born leader. … (Rocco) played significant minutes in every game (last season) and is our returning leading scorer. He is a good shooter and has worked on being a scorer.”
Other returning lettermen include junior G/F Kable Reichardt, senior G Kevin Tran, senior G Jacob Bracich and sophomore G/F Bradley Wagner. Also joining the varsity squad this year is senior F Declan Berkstresser, junior G Noah Black and freshman G Michael Parrigon.
“We need multiple guys to step up and provide for us this year,” Witt said. “And we have guys who are capable of doing that, but will it be the same guy’s night in and night out? It is going to take some time for us to figure some things out. Our roles are going to shift a bit, but once we get that figured out as well as a stable rotation, I expect us to start making some positive strides.”
The biggest keys to success this season will be how well the Warriors compete on the defensive end and then follow that up with a rebound. While it is expected that the offense will need some time to get the rotations figured out, Witt was adamant that the effort on the defensive end will be what decides the outcome of most games.
“Competing consistently, especially on the defensive end and rebounding,” Witt said. “We can’t have a great defensive possession and then not rebound. We can’t have bad quarters or wait to start playing until the second half. … We will have to come out every night playing our best to win games. For us to reach our full potential, we will have to be solid defensively. We must collectively guard the ball without fouling and finish off possessions by limiting teams to one shot. Offensively, it is essential for us to value the basketball and give ourselves opportunities to score, but it is crucial for us to keep people from scoring.”
McAuley opens the season with a road matchup against Liberal on Nov. 23 before taking part in the Gem City Classic from Nov. 29-Dec. 4. The Warriors open at home against Pierce City on Dec. 7.
