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BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: New cast hoping to lift Risco back on top of new district
RISCO -- Their streak of consecutive district titles in Class 1, District 1 took a hit last season. Now the Risco Tigers will look to get back on top of a new district but they'll rely on a new cast to do so.
The Tigers were moved to Class 1, District 2 along with Oran and Advance after winning four of the last five district championships in District 1.
Risco said goodbye to three players that were partially responsible for continuing the Tigers' recent title stretch. Gone is the school's second all-time career scorer in Jordon Pavy who led Risco with 25.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and three steals a game. Also gone are Brandon Bixler (16.2 points, seven rebounds) and Josh Earnheart (13.1 points, 5.5 assists), who combined made up most of what the Tigers' strengths were a season ago.
"You don't really replace a player like Jordon Pavy," Risco head coach Brandon Blankenship said. "Players like that do not come around that often. It's tough losing all-conference players like Brandon Bixler and Josh Earnheart too."
Risco finished last season with an 18-9 record and its first Tri-County Conference tournament win in its fifth consecutive try. The Tigers return two seniors from that squad in Cody Young (6-0) and Luke Simmons (5-8).
Young averaged 8.3 points and just under 10 rebounds. Blankenship expects Young to take over most of Risco's scoring load.
"Cody is just a tough kid who plays all-out on both ends of the floor," Blankenship said. "We will look for him to be a scoring threat this season and also key our defense as well. Could be a potential double-double guy."
Simmons (5-8), takes over the point guard role after averaging 4.8 points and 2.5 assists last season.
"Luke is another hard-nosed player who works extremely hard on both ends of the floor," said Blankenship. "He will be a key component on both ends of the floor. We are looking for Luke to be our primary outside scoring threat and primary ball handler this year."
Sophomore Drew Fortner, who saw limited varsity minutes as a freshman late last year, will be expected to man the paint area and provide a defensive presence under the basket with his 6-4 frame.
"He has grown a couple inches over the summer and we are looking to Drew to be one of our main scoring threats inside this year," said Blankenship. "He also has the ability to step out and knock down the outside shot as well. Drew will also be a weapon on the defensive end with his shot blocking ability."
Ethan Young (6-0) rounds out the Tigers' returners and will add depth and help for Fortner inside.
"Ethan has developed a nice mid-range jumper to go with his tough work ethic and physical play," said Blankenship. "He will give us added toughness and size and production from the post area and will also be looked upon to defend the other team's best player inside."
Sophomores Tony Greene (5-8), Ethan Pipkin (5-10) and Katie Halford (5-7) will also be looked upon to eat up minutes as well freshman Morgan Ludwig (6-0) who led Risco's junior high team to a conference championship last season. Newcomer Dakota Gray (5-7) is also in the mix.
Risco will field a team of nine players and will not be able to provide a full junior varsity team but will play one half when available. Despite its low numbers and relative inexperience, Blankenship hopes the players that have game-time experience steps into more prominent roles while his up-and-comers learn on the fly.
"The good thing is that our players now played with and against those guys in practice last year and they know the type of hard work and dedication that it takes to be successful," he said. "We have begun a nice tradition here at Risco the past several years and this year's team will fall right in line with that type of hard work, all-out, mentality."