Despite being the smallest division in the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League, Division 4 has been known to be the most competitive. The Buchanan brothers have established winning programs at Andale and Wellington; Clearwater is on the rise; and Collegiate is in the middle of a dynasty. Augusta brings a winning pedigree after dropping down and Circle has been competitive in year's past and is headed in the right direction under coach Jason Stucky.
This season has all the ingredients of another hyper-competitive year in Division 4. Can Collegiate win yet another league title? Can Clearwater or Andale take the Spartans down? Will the defense at Wellington, the speed at Augusta and new system at Circle be enough to surprise this season?
Here is everything you need know entering the 2012-2013 season for Division 4 of the AV-CTL.
1. Collegiate Spartans (Full Team Preview)
When
your program has won five state titles, you're judged year-in and
year-out on whether or not you can win a state title. This team has a
chance. Class 4A appears loaded this season, but there's no reason why
Collegiate can't make it to Salina. I think Kemmer will become an elite
scorer this season and the Spartans finish with no more than two losses
in the regular season.
2. Clearwater Indians (Full Team Preview)
It
could be argued Clearwater feasted on a soft schedule last season. You
wouldn't be wrong, but this is a talented team with one of the best
trio's around in Becker, Frickey and Reibenspies. I expect the Indians
to take the next step in Clevenger's third season and improve on last
season's win total somewhere around 15-16 wins.
3. Andale Indians (Full Team Preview)
The
defense alone under Buchanan, a defensive disciple, makes Andale a lock
for a winning season. The Indians should clean up on the weaker Ark
Valley teams, but might not have enough offense to compete with the
elite teams. I'm calling for at least 12 wins and probably upwards of
that in the regular season and another strong push for a berth to the
Class 4A tournament.
4. Augusta Orioles (Full Team Preview)
The
size issue will be too much to overcome for this team to contend with
the best, but Augusta should carve out a niche as a tough out. It's
tough to read how this team will do, but there are enough winnable games
on the schedule for the Orioles to finish with their fourth consecutive
winning season - but it will be right around the .500 mark.
5. Wellington Crusaders (Full Team Preview)
Wellington once again figures to be solid defensively, but how its depth works with its offense will tell how far this team will go. Good performances in the Kingman and Chaparral tournaments will help make a push for .500, but playing in a division with three quality teams will likely cap the Crusaders' ceiling around there.
6. Circle Thunderbirds (Full Team Preview)
Circle
wasn't as far away from a .500 season as it looked last year. Things
are headed in the right direction under Stucky, but he needs more time
to establish his system and get things in order before the Thunderbirds
are ready to compete. He gives Circle instant credibility though and I
wouldn't be surprised if they squeak one or two they shouldn't and
escape the bottom of the league standings.
MEET THE TEAM
Replacing a coach like Burt Helmer wasn't going to be easy, but Circle probably picked up the best coach available in Stucky, who had immense success at Andover before his untimely departure in 2010. He has a track record of winning and should continue to make the T-Birds a competitive program, although in a different way.
Under Helmer, Circle slowed the pace of the game to a crawl and tried to grind out victories in low-scoring affairs. Last season Circle won only four games, but lost an incredible eight games by five points or less.
Adjusting to Stucky's philosophy, which will call for a faster-paced game and the installation of a high-low offense, will take time because he was hired late in the off-season and didn't get a chance to work with his players before the year.
The offense, at least early on, will run through 6-5 senior Stewart Dennison, who is the only returning starter. Stucky wants the offense to work from the inside-out and is extremely high on Dennison's potential in the high post. Circle has enough depth to play 10 in the rotation, but the team will likely end up relying on three seniors - Dennison, Dominic Lara, and Seth Blaha - and junior Paul Richard.
Circle wasn't as bad as its record last season, but it will be difficult to improve this season under a new system and lack of varsity experience. Stucky is a more than capable coach to turn it around quickly, but doing it in the first season might be a bit too much to ask for.
MEET THE CAST
STEWART DENNISON | POST | 6'5" | SENIOR
High on potential, Dennison's skill set will be given every opportunity to be unlocked this season in Stucky's high-low system that will allow to become the vocal point of the offense.
PAUL RICHARD | POST | 6'3" | JUNIOR
Athletic enough to get by playing on the wing, Richard also possesses the toughness to bang inside and scrap for loose balls and rebounds. A junior that will be asked to step up and relieve the pressure off of Dennison.
SETH BLAHA | WING | 6'2" | SENIOR
Another versatile player that can play on the wing or in the post, Blaha will be one of the team's established leaders this season that should also provide a scoring punch.
DOMINIC LARA | GENERAL | 5'10" | SENIOR
One of the only guards on the roster with any experience and as a senior will be given the keys to run Stucky's uptempo offense, which should play to his quickness.
EMMITT LECHNER | WING | 6'1" | SENIOR
The team's do-everything senior, he won't likely get much of the recognition but his blue-collar work will be invaluable to a team desperately in need of consistency.
FROM COACH STUCKY
"We have to make shots. It really is that simple. Last year I don't think they had a lot of confidence in scoring. I think the new offense is going to open some things up and they'll be finding themselves in scoring opportunities maybe they're not used to. If we can get a couple of guys that can find their stroke and their shooting confidence, then we're going to be in a lot of games."
THE PREDICTION
Circle wasn't as far away from a .500 season as it looked last year. Things are headed in the right direction under Stucky, but he needs more time to establish his system and get things in order before the Thunderbirds are ready to compete. He gives Circle instant credibility though and I wouldn't be surprised if they squeak one or two they shouldn't and escape the bottom of the league standings.
