Vandercook Lake will need shared contributions to duplicate success from last winter
By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Jackson – With the graduation of Will Rodriguez, the Vandercook Lake boys basketball team officially graduated its top offensive player.
And that is where piecing the puzzle together begins for Paul Varner as the 2015-16 season sits right around the corner.
Sam Ray, one two regular starters back in the mix, begins the season as the leading scoring from last winter.
He averaged roughly five points per game.
“It’s a new team with a new set of goals,” Varner said. “It starts with consistent scoring, and we need it from a collection of guys.”
Rodriguez averaged roughly 16 points per game to go with seven rebounds and four assists.
“I think everyone’s responsibilities have changed so much,” Varner added. “And that’s going to take some time to get comfortable and figure out. We know that.”
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, because the Jayhawks certainly return some athletic talent.
After all, this was a team that went 16-7 last year and reached the district finals before falling to Hanover-Horton, as the Comets made their journey to the Breslin Center.
Seven varsity veterans are back in the mix, including a few who spent time in the starting lineup with Ray.
So, when the season begins Monday night against Springport, there will undoubtedly be a premium put on the defensive side of things.
The Jayhawks scored more than 55 points per game a year ago, but more importantly, gave up only about 45 per contest.
That will have to be the case again this winter.
“Defense will be key, especially early on,” Varner said. “It’s something we always hang our hat on. This is a group that can do that. We’re not a huge-pressing team, but we will be one that turns up the pressure and tries to force others into mistakes.”
Varner said he was more-than confident that this is a group, given time, that will find its footing and can put together a very good season.
After all, it’s one that has a good handful of football players that rewrote the program record book this fall.
“We’re super athletic. It may take some time, but there’s a mentality, like you saw in football, where you get a team that goes out and expects to win,” Varner said. “That’s the point we want to get this group to.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him atmjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.