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
The machine that Fiegel has built at Collegiate has pumped out some of the best results from the past six seasons: 3 state championships, a 3rd place, 6 league titles, and a combined record of 133-17 (88.7%). Expect the Spartans to tack on one more year to that incredible stretch, as they return two of the best players in the league in Riley Kemmer and Markus Phox.
To make it on varsity as a senior, Fiegel has made it clear you must play good enough to play a large role. This season he kept six, which is a good sign of things to come. That type of depth will allow the Spartans to rekindle their maniacal style of pressing and subbing that Fiegel says is like "playing Chinese table tennis on the basketball court."
The major difference this season is Collegiate will have two of its best anchors ever in Kemmer and Phox. Phox, a coach's son, is a four-year letterman and the perfect point guard in Fiegel's system; willing to create for others and high on basketball IQ. And Kemmer, if you listen to Fiegel, is poised for one of the best scoring seasons in Collegiate history. Kemmer, a 6-foot-8 do-everything player, prefers to play around the perimeter, where he can use his size to lift off uncontested 3-pointers, but became a better rebounder last season and can score in a variety of ways.
The X-Factor might be senior guard Taj Holt, who might have the most pure offensive talent but has the tendency to create his own shot. If he can harness his ability within Fiegel's team concept, then Holt and the Spartans have the chance to be contend for their sixth state championship and first in Class 4A.
Fiegel is one of the best in the state at getting his kids to buy into his system and that is to dominate defensively. Last season the Spartans held their opponents to an average of 40 points and that might even dip this year. Collegiate is loaded with 6-foot-and-up players and the length of Kemmer (6-8) and Elliott Mann (6-6) adds a new dimension.
On paper, this team has everything it needs to be a state championship team. Fiegel has the track record of maximizing on the potential of his teams and even though there isn't many proven commodities outside of Kemmer and Phox, the system Collegiate runs will make it the favorite of every game on the schedule. This could be another special season.
MEET THE CAST
RILEY KEMMER | POST | 6'8" | SENIOR
One of the most potent offensive players in the state, Kemmer can score with his height in the post but prefers to float around the perimeter and has a deft shooting touch. He was honorable mention all-state last year and will make a strong bid for being 1st or 2nd team this year as Collegiate's offensive centerpiece.
MARKUS PHOX | GENERAL | 6'1" | SENIOR
It's not hard to tell Phox is a coach's son watching him play. The definition of a pure point guard, Phox has a knack for finding the right balance between creating plays for himself and plays for others.
LANDON ROOT | POST | 6'2" | JUNIOR
A transfer from Kapaun, Root is a guy every team needs; he's a trench guy willing to do the dirty work of chasing rebounds and picking up charges. He is a top-notch rebounder that should score close to double-digits from put-backs alone.
TAJ HOLT | WING | 6'1" | SENIOR
A injury cut his season short last year, but now healthy Holt is looking for a breakout season. There's no questioning he has the ability to score, but his willingness to defend will decide how much he plays for the team-oriented Spartans.
SAM BROWN | WING | 6'2" | SENIOR
A versatile player, Brown can play either guard spots and even the small forward. Another glue guy that won't be counted on for much offense, but can defend and knock down the open shot if he has to.
ELLIOTT MANN | POST | 6'6" | SENIOR
He started to flourish at the end of the last season and Fiegel thinks that will carry over to this season, as Mann should have a breakout year. His length is disruptive on defense and the lefty has a soft touch around the basket.
VAFA BEHZADPOUR | WING | 6'1" | SENIOR
One of Fiegel's favorites because of his ability to defend around the perimeter. Mostly a slasher, but has spent a lot of time in the off-season working on his shot and is a respectable from beyond the arc now.
BRODEY DICK | POST | 6'3" | JUNIOR
Transferred from Andover, but an injury will likely sideline him until at least January. How he comes back from that will likely determine his role this season, but at the very least will play a part in the rotation and add depth.
JACK COPHER | WING | 6'2" | SOPHOMORE
A talented youngster whose athleticism will force Fiegel to play him minutes on varsity this season. He's still growing into his role, but his upside is too high not to find out what he can do.
CAMRON CHUGG | GENERAL | 5'9" | SOPHOMORE
He's tiny but he makes up for his lack of size through toughness. He's smart with the basketball and will be trusted with the ball whenever Phox needs a breather.
FROM COACH FIEGEL
"If you break it down individually, it doesn't seem to work out with this team. But when you put them all together, they're really good. I think everybody is going to be okay with their role. These guys just want to win. I think our whole is going to be more than the sum of our parts because of our unselfishness."
THE PREDICTION
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.
