Stars short on experience

Ryan Biegel knew his team would be short on varsity experience, just not quite as short as they are.

Just two lettermen were set to return to this year's South Adams High School boys basketball team - Nick Teeter and Heath Moser. But a knee injury suffered during the football season will keep Moser out for most, and maybe all, of the year.

So, Teeter stands alone.

"Nick's been doing a great job in practice," said Biegel, pointing to his senior point guard as someone who will lead the Starfires' group of varsity newcomers by example. "So far, I couldn't ask any more from him. I'm very proud of what he's done."

Teeter was the top offensive player for South Adams last season, having led the squad with 16 points per game and 73 assists. He also hit 49 3-pointers, shot 75 percent from the foul line and came up with 31 steals.

The question for Biegel is what the team will look like around Teeter, and that question is still in the process of being answered.

Among the candidates for playing time are seniors Chase Ingle, Jesse Bollenbacher and Tyler Taing, juniors Taylor Smith, Nick Munger, Trevor White, Dustin Wanner and Taylor LeFever, and sophomores Ben Meshberger, Scott Hoeppner and Mark Muselman.

Ingle saw the most varsity playing time of that bunch last season, playing a total of 39 minutes in 13 games. He scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.

Wanner saw action in 12 games followed by Smith (11), Munger (nine) and Taing (seven).

"We are going to have first-year varsity players who are sprinkled in around (Teeter)," said Biegel, who said communication, accountability, effort, unselfishness and hard work will be keys to who fills in his rotation. "It's going to be a dogfight for the next four days (of practice).

"It may take us four or five games to figure out what we've really got, what kind of rotation we're going to have."

Most of the newcomers are guards, and Biegel said he looks for Ingle, Smith and Wanner to help Teeter with the scoring load. Taing, Munger and the 6-foot-7-inch Meshberger are his three main options in the post.

Biegel said his team will try to run a quick offense, and force the issue on the defensive end.

"We always like to pick up the pace," he said. "We're looking at different things offensively and defensively. We may try to be a little more aggressive defensively, do a little more pressing than we have in the past.

"We're going to get after it defensive."

South Adams is coming off back-to-back losing seasons, including a 9-13 mark last year. In 2008 the Starfires went 3-5 in games decided by five points or fewer, and lost a pair of overtime games during an early six-game losing streak.

Biegel wants to see his team turn around those close-game numbers this season, and he noted that taking care of the basketball will be a key.

"I think we've got a team that is capable of doing that," said Biegel. "Hopefully if we're up and it's a close game we'll be able to control our own destiny."

The Starfires are focusing on a solid Allen County Athletic Conference finish as well as getting their record back above the .500 mark.

"A successful season would be finishing in the upper half of our conference," said Biegel. "I would say Leo is the favorite by far, and then everyone else is kind of battling for spots under them.

"I've been pretty happy with practice so far and the effort. We have a lot of competition, and I think that's been great for us. I hope that continues."[[In-content Ad]]