Preview: Maize South Mavericks

MEET THE TEAM

Kip Schultz has seen how Maize South's football team has risen to power in the fall. He's an assistant coach and also has Brent Pfeifer, who is the football head coach, on his staff during the winter. Maize South has preached family and togetherness and the wins have followed.
That hasn't been the case for the basketball team, as it has won nine games in its first three years of existence. This could be the culmination year though and Schultz is expecting it to be, as he said the team's goal is to post a .500 record.
While that might not seem like lofty expectations, it would be a huge step in the right direction for Maize South. The cause for optimism is that although the Mavericks only return one starter, they will send out their most athletic team by far. Schultz thinks that alone should result in more wins.
It all starts with 6-foot-9 prospect Brett Barney, a junior that is already receiving interest from a few Division-I programs. He should be the vocal point of Maize South's new high-low post offense. Barney has a soft touch from the perimeter with range that extends to the 3-point line. Schultz wants to plant him at the free-throw line and feed him the ball and let the offense work around him.
Maize South is stocked with more height to compliment Barney in the post. Austin Bally, Logan Mormando, Kade Kordownoy and Josh Lewis should all give Maize South a decided advantage down low rebounding and on defense. But they are inexperienced and might take a bit of seasoning to come together like Schultz wants.
The team's biggest question mark is who will run the offense. The Mavericks don't seem to have a solid candidate yet, although sophomore Jack Domnick has become the leading choice. But like his peers, Domnick hasn't played at the varsity level and there will be an adjustment period for him and the rest of the Mavericks. Scoring might not come easy in the beginning, so Maize South will have to find ways to grind out victories with its defense.
To take the next step and become a .500 team, Maize South will have to prove its offense has improved. 15 times last season it failed to score over 50 points. That mark must improve for the Mavericks to find much success in a division that is loaded with talent. There is an opportunity, but Maize South will have to earn it with a mostly inexperienced squad to reach their desired goals.

MEET THE CAST

BRETT BARNEY | POST | 6'9" | JUNIOR
A smooth guard trapped in a 6-foot-9 frame. He prefers to play around the perimeter and use his height to his advantage. He has a soft touch and can step out and hit the 3-ball, which makes him nearly an impossible guard. He will have to take ownership of the team and become a more aggressive scorer for Maize South to succeed.
AUSTIN BALLY | POST | 6'5" | JUNIOR
A bright spot that returns with varsity experience, Bally should be the perfect compliment to Barney down in the blocks. He's an overachiever with a motor that can create extra possesions for Maize South with his hustle plays.
KELLEN FILBY | WING | 6'0" | JUNIOR
Another player with some varsity experience that will likely slide into a starting role this year. Schultz calls him the best shooter on the team and will have to step up into a more profilic scoring role this season.
LOGAN MORMANDO | POST | 6'3" | SOPHOMORE
He's young, but talented and should see major minutes on varsity this season for the Mavericks. Fits the system perfectly and will grab rebounds and provide solid defense with his athletic 6-3 frame.
JOSH LEWIS | POST | 6'1" | SENIOR
A linebacker in the fall and he plays like one of the basketball court. He plays bigger than 6-1 and can bang down low for baskets and also can be a solid rebounder and defender.
KADE KORDOWNOY | POST | 6'3" | SOPHOMORE
Another sophomore that should see big minutes this season. He's a finesse player that can do a little bit of everything for the Mavericks and could see minutes anywhere on the wing or in the post this season.
JACK DOMNICK | POINT | 5'6" | SOPHOMORE
Without anyone else to lead the offense, the point duties fall to the diminutive sophomore. He sees the floor well for a young player and has the potential to make plays, but must stay under control and not get sped up at the varsity level.

FROM COACH SCHULTZ

"The concern for me isn't that this team doesn't know how to win. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried if we can put the throttle down when we've got somebody on the ropes and leave no doubt about the win. We just have to find that right combination to put it together. Once we find that, then I think putting wins together will come." 

THE PREDICTION

Finishing .500 will be a challenge in this division. It's loaded with Eisenhower and both of the Andover's, but there is a drop-off after that and there's no reason why the Mavericks can't be that fourth team. They have a stud in Barney and depending on how his junior season goes, Maize South has the potential to be a team no one wants to see in sub-state. They're athletic and have a lot of size, so if they can put it together they can become a real problem for teams to defend. Scoring points is what it's going to come down. I think Maize South won't have enough to beat any of the elite teams, but it will have enough to beat the bottom teams and to finish fourth in the division and win over 8 games.