Beacon-News boys basketball previews

CLASS 1A

Hinckley-Big Rock Royals

Coach: Bill Sambrookes

League: Little Ten Conference

Last year: 7-20

Top returners: Jacob Madden (6-0, sr. G), Corbin Landmeier (5-10, sr. G)

Top newcomers: Justin Salazar (6-0, sr. C/F); sophs Bill Weissinger, Jared Madden, Bernie Conley, Michael Bayler, Zach Michels, Mitch Ruh

Outlook: Royals will be young and small with no player taller than 6-foot. "They have the ability to sneak up on some teams," said Sambrookes, who expects Newark to dominate the Little Ten Conference. "But I think second place is wide open."

Indian Creek Timberwolves

Coach: Joe Piekarz

League: Little Ten Conference

Last year: 19-11

Top returners: Seth Sanderson (6-4, sr. F), Cal Hermann (6-0, sr. G), Alex Bremner (5-11, sr. G), Josh Johnson (6-1, sr. F)

Top newcomers: Shaquille Crayton (6-1, jr. F), Andrew Hall (6-7, jr. C), Matt Reynolds (5-10, sr. G).

Outlook: One league coach's is on the money when he cautions against overlooking the Timberwolves, saying they have "one of the LTC's best players in versatile Seth Sanderson along with sharpshooter Alex Bremner returning."

Mooseheart Ramblers

Coach: Ron Ahrens

League: Northeastern Athletic Conference

Last year: 16-11

Top returners: Levi Chavez (6-2, sr. F), Noel Yarngo (5-8, jr. G)

Top newcomers: Daniel Tucker (5-10, jr. G), Larry Lech (6-2, sr. F), Vernon Owens (5-10, sr. G/F)

Outlook: Chavez, who was the sixth man for the second half of the season last year, is the lone experienced returnee for the Ramblers, who will be small. Graduates Munir Smith and Jonell Crump will be hard to replace as Mooseheart begins its second year in the Northeastern Athletic Conference in the newly renovated stadium-fieldhouse complex. Ahrens says Rockford Christian will be the class of the league, with Westminster Christian likely the only team able to hang with the defending champs. The school will host a sectional tournament in the new facility.

Somonauk Bobcats

Coach: Ron Hunt

League: Little Ten Conference

Last year: 12-17

Top returners: Cody Passero (6-3, jr. C/F), Justin Fox (6-3, jr. C), Dylan Wesoloski (6-2, sr. C), Tyler Garrey (6-0, sr. C/F), Graham Garrey (6-0, sr. G/F)

Top newcomers: Jacke Grenemeier (6-3, sr. C), Jake Krischel (6-3, jr. G/F), Jake Morsch (6-2, jr. C), Colin Stahl (5-9, jr. G), Nick Gudmunson (5-10, jr. G), Cody Blue (6-0, jr. C/F).

Outlook: Look for another of Hunt's always-scrappy teams, featuring decent size and ready to get up and down the floor. Bobcats will mix it up and likely be among the league's best.

CLASS 2A

Plano Reapers

Coach: Brett Moore

League: Interstate Eight

Last year: 14-14

Top returners: Devin Haws (5-10, jr. G), Jamie Martinez (5-10, sr. G), Walter King (5-11, jr. W), Vance Schmidt (5-10, sr. G)

Top newcomers: Jose Martinez (5-9, jr. G), Alex Ramirez (6-0, sr. F), Will Brown (6-0, jr. F), Andrew DeBolt (6-3, jr. G/F)

Outlook: The Reapers are hurt by the loss of junior Joseph Jones for the season with a broken leg in football. He was one of the most athletic players in the league last year as a sophomore. Plano will be small and try to spread the floor to make it tougher to defend them. Wicked schedule with Newark, Lisle, Yorkville, Seneca and Herscher to start the season.

CLASS 3A

IMSA Titans

Coach: Renard Miller

League: Northeastern Athletic Conference

Last year: 6-15

Top returners: Nick Virgil (6-2, sr. G), Sam Contreras (6-6, sr. C), James Rea (6-2, jr. G)

Top newcomers: Not available

Outlook: Titans look to move up from the middle of the pack in their second year of play in the new conference

Kaneland Knights

Coach: Brian Johnson

League: Northern Illinois Big 12 East

Last year: 17-10

Top returners: Chaon Denlinger (6-3, sr. G/F), Tyler Callaghan (6-5, sr. F/C)

Top newcomers: Not available

Outlook: Johnson will count on veterans Denlinger and Callaghan to pick up the slack from the loss of Division I recruit Dave Dudzinski to graduation. He thinks the league will "be competitive with every team having a chance to win on any given night."

Sandwich Indians

Coach: Scott Bantz

League: Interstate Eight

Last year: 10-17

Top returnees: Justin Wegener (6-3, sr. G/F), Nick Brown (6-1, sr. F), Ryan Hook (5-10, sr. G), Matt Chalfin (6-0, sr. F), P.J. Crotty (5-9, jr. G).

Top newcomers: Ryan Valentine (5-10, jr. G), Zane Thompson 6-3, jr. F), Derick Risley (6-0, jr. F)

Outlook: Wegener, coming off a strong junior season, should step up and lead this team as it battles to finish over .500 and place in the top half of the league that figures to have Herscher and Dwight emerge as favorites.

Yorkville Foxes

Coach: Jerry Farber

League: Northern Illinois Big 12 East

Last year: 11-17

Top returners: Kyle Dhuse (6-0, sr. G), Derek Pizczek (5-10, jr. G), Derek Fitzpatrick (6-0, sr. G), Jordan Jones (6-4, sr. C)

Top newcomers: Josh Williams (6-6, jr. F), Ryan Herron (6-6, sr. F), Brandon Holmes (6-0, jr. G).

Outlook: It's a new league but pretty much the same old, same old for Farber as he enters his final season, with plenty of familiar faces in Sycamore, DeKalb, Kaneland, Morris and Rochelle. Foxes, with a good core of experienced players returning and good size coming in, should contend.

CLASS 4A

Batavia Bulldogs

Coach: Jim Roberts

League: Upstate Eight River Conference

Last year: 18-9

Top returners: Elliott Vaughn (6-6, sr. F/C), Jesse Coffey (6-3, sr. G), Cole Gardner (6-5, jr. C), Mike Clopton (6-3, sr. F), Brady Strittmatter (6-4, sr. F)

Top newcomers: Zach Strittmatter (6-5, soph. G/F), Mike Rueffer (6-2½, soph. G/F), Noel Gaspari (5-11, jr. G), Mike Jorgensen (6-2, jr. G).

Outlook: Strong group of returnees should boost Bulldogs' chances in their first year in the new league. Look for them to join arch-rival Geneva in challenging St. Charles North for the top spot.

Geneva Vikings

Coach: Phil Ralston

League: Upstate Eight River Conference

Last year: 19-10

Top returners: Dan Trimble (6-8, sr., G/F), Will Doeckel (6-2, sr. G), Brad Bernhard (6-4, sr. F), Dan Hince (6-0, sr. G).

Top newcomers: Brendan Leahy (6-5, jr. G/F)

Outlook: Vikings face new challenge, moving into UEC with arch-rival Batavia after breakup of the Western Sun. Ralston believes his team can challenge St. Charles North and Batavia for the title and looks to returning starters Trimble and Doeckel to lead the way. "I believe (Trimble) is one of the top three-point shooters in the state and Doeckle is stronger and a better shooter than last year," Ralston said. "(Bernhard) missed most of last season with injury. He's big and physical and able to hit jump shots."

Oswego Panthers

Coach: Kevin Schnable

League: Southwest Prairie Conference

Last year: 24-7

Top returners: Ryan West (6-3, jr. G), Elliott McGaughy (6-2, soph. G), Miles Simelton (5-10, soph. PG)

Top newcomers: Jack Kwiatkowski (6-4, soph. F), Jamaal Richardson (5-11, soph., G), Josh Oros (6-5, soph., C)

Outlook: Panthers make the jump to 4A and go young with five sophomores among the top six players. "We will be small but fast and will have to play that way at both ends," said Schnable, who will spread the floor and have a trio of guards capable of driving to the basket and scoring or kicking it out to the others for 3-point looks. "Defensively, we will pressure and make things happen."

Oswego East Wolves

Coach: Jason Buckley

League: Southwest Prairie Conference

Last year: 24-5

Top returners: Wesley Brooks (5-10, sr. PG), Sean Gant (6-2, sr. F), Marcus Jones (6-1, sr. F)

Top newcomers: C.J. Vaughn (6-0, soph. G), Jermaine Campbell (6-2, jr. F)

Outlook: The Wolves will miss the inside presence of post player Austin Keys, who transferred to Waubonsie Valley. They will also look to make up for the scoring and leadership lost with the graduation of Jay Harris (Valparaiso). Brooks averaged 14 points per game last year and will be even more important this year, as both a distributor and a scorer.

Waubonsie Valley Warriors

Coach: Steve Weemer.

League: Upstate Eight Valley Conference.

Last year: 9-18.

Top returners: Jakobi Johnson (6-0, sr. G), Tyler Edmondson (6-7, sr. F).

Top newcomers: Austin Keys (6-5, sr. F), Xavier Bilas (5-11, sr. PG), Jared Brownridge (6-0, soph. W).

Outlook: Transfers Keys (Oswego East) and Bilas (Chicago Michelle-Clark) should team with three-year varsity player Johnson and Edmondson to give Weemer a good nucleus that could make a turnaround. "To me, it's always gonna be Neuqua Valley (as the league favorite) until somebody knocks them off, even though I know Todd (Sutton) doesn't like to hear that," Weemer said.

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