Redskins eye ECOL, tournament run
COSHOCTON – Flying under the radar has paid off for the Coshocton High School boys’ basketball team and hopes are that some of that success rubs off on the 2013-14 squad as well.
Last year, the Redskins formulated a very nice tournament run, overcoming a sub-500 record to finish with a 10-15 mark to capture a sectional championship before falling in the district semifinal.
Dominated by a deep, talented junior class, there is only one senior on the team in wing player Josh Hilgenberg. At 6-foot-1, he represents the most height on the team and is one of seven returning lettermen.
Other returning lettermen from the junior class include 5-9 Damon Miller, 5-8 Sam Magness, 5-8 Jim Magness, 5-10 Patrick Brouse and 5-8 Jim Magness. Also back is 6-1 sophomore guard Connor Roahrig.
Also returning from the junior class are 5-8 Gavin Gray, 5-10 Dylan Brown and 5-10 Logan Walters.
“We will have to overcome youth, but the kids have varsity experience,” said Hilgenberg. “The lack of size will hurt us but we should have adequate guard play as that is where most of the returning lettermen are playing.”
With excellent quickness hopefully making up for the lack of size and inside presence, Coshocton will rely on an up-tempo offensive game and relentless pressure defense.
“We will have to control the tempo to be successful,” Hilgenberg said. “We will try to pick our times when we can press and run.”
The Redskins opened their challenging season with a pair of road games at East Knox on Nov. 29 and Hiland on Nov. 30. The home opener will be Friday, Dec. 6, against Zanesville Rosecrans.
Coshocton also hopes to contend for the East Central Ohio League Gray Division title, but Claymont seems to have the inside track while it appears that there will be parity between the Redskins, Meadowbrook, Marietta, Zanesville Rosecrans and an improved River View squad.
In the Scarlett Division, Zanesville, Dover and New Philadelphia are expected to be at the top of the heap.
In addition to the ECOL grind, non-league contestants include Marion Harding, Fairfield Christian, Columbus Africentric, Licking Valley, Maysville, Philo and Conotton Valley.
Assisting Hilgenberg are David Shutt as varsity assistant, Jeremy Ady with the junior varsity and Rick Jamison at the freshman level. Andrew Davis will coach the eighth grade and Judd Baker the seventh.
This marks Hilgenberg’s 11th season at Coshocton and his 23rd overall.
“I like the way the season has started,” Hilgenberg said. “The kids have had good effort and focus. This is a team that will get better as the season goes along.”
Category: High School, Sports
