Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 128, Number 49, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 8 December 2005 — Page 7

Senior-laden Panthers look to shoot high this year

By Anthony Godson Editor As he enters his 17th season as North Wood head coach, Dan Gunn brings back a team which lost only two seniors, but those two aren't easy replacements. Everyone except for Wes BeMiller and Trevor Shields return for the Panthers this season, but the two were, floor leaders on last year's 15-6 team. "They are intelligent players, and always when you lose someone like Trevor and Wes, there are holes that need to be filled," Gunn said. With a guard-heavy roster, Gunn will have plenty of options to fill those holes, but the first to come to mind are seniors Zac Lechlitner and Ryne Ligfitfoot. Both seniors have been a part of the varsity squad since their freshmen seasons, with Lightfoot starting since that time. "Lightfoot and Lechlitner come with a lot of playing time," Gunn said. Along with a lot of playing time, Lightfoot also comes into this season with a lot of points on his resume. Lightfoot is currently the second all-time scorer in North Wood history with 1,123 points, 429 points behind 1995 North Wood graduate Andy Hirschy. "I think Ryne is as good as there is around," Gunn said about his senior, who graces the cover the new.lndiana High School media guide. "I'd like to see him make the (Indiana) allstar team." If Lightfoot is going to accomplish any individual goals, team goals will have to come first, and with six returning seniors,

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, DAT PHOTO Returning letter winners for the Panthers are: (Front, left to right) Ben Bemiller, Kyle Yoder, Zach Troyer, (Back, left to right) Zac Lechlitner and Ryne Lightfoot.

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, DAT PHOTO The North Wood varsity basketball team. Front: (l-r) Paul Schmucker, Ben Bemiller, Zach Troyer, Kyle Yoder, Nate Brown, Ryne Lightfoot, Skyler Titus and Neil Trinkley. Back: (l-r) Jon Goodson (manager), Dustin Bussard, Brock Armington,'Zac Lechlitner, Phil Lechlitner (assistant coach), Dan Gunn (head coach), Devon Scobee (Jv coach), Kent Schaffer, Kelly Adams, J.J. Anglemyer, Scott Hepler (manager) and Tyler Sanders (manager).

goals should be achievable. Along with Lechlitner and Lightfoot, Brock Armington, Ben Bemiller Paul Schmucker and Kyle Yoder will carry the senior torch during the 20052006 season. "All the seniors depend on each other," Gunn said. On last season's team, it was BeMiller who worked as the primary ball handler on the floor. This season, it may be Lechlitner serving as the floor general, but Gunn can also see Armington sharing time at the position! "(Lechlitner) will be the point guard most of the time, but Brock Armington could also play point guard," Gunn said. "In that case, we could move Zac into the No. 2 spot and

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make Lightfoot a wing man. There's a lot of different options we could use." Gunn will be full of options this year, as all but two of his players stand between the 6-0 and 6-3. "All of the guys are about the same size except for Kyle Yoder and (junior) Nate Brown," Gunn said. Aside from the two centers, Gunn will have all sorts of options on the offensive end. He can go with one big man in the post, with four perimeter players or he can have two bigs on the floor with three perimeters out there as well. In the mix of similarly sized players are juniors Kelly Adams, Justin Anglemyer, Kent Schaffer and Zach Troyer, along with seniors Schmucker and Bemiller. "Paul Schmucker was on the junior varsity last year as a junior," Gunn said. North Wood will also be looking for contributions from senior Neil Trinkley. "He's a strong individual," Gunn said of Trinkley. "He's got good quickness, and good hands. I think he'll help us." Bemiller and Troyer both showed flashes of offensive explosiveness last season, something that could translate into more playing time for the both of them. "I'd look for Bemiller and Troyer both to be possible starters," Gunn said. "That's for sure." Along with Troyer's outside shot, Gunn has also noticed the junior bulking up. "Zach is a lot stronger," he said. "To rebound, that is a necessary thing." From prior players achievements, Gunn isn't going to let someone's lack of height contribute to an excuse for not rebounding. "That's what made Trevor so

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good," Gunn said about the graduated 5-11 Shields. "For his size, he was an excellent rebounder for us." Another possible rebounder for the Panthers may be Schaffer. Schaffer, a runningback and defensive end on the football team, has seen limited basketball practice as the football team had a successful postseason run. A player that has been with Gunn during the early goings of basketball practices, has been Adams. "Kelly is quick, and he may share a wing position," Gunn said about the junior. While the guards and small forwards dominate the roster, the success of the team may hinge on the success of the 6-4 Yoder and 6-6 Brown. Yoder will enter his senior year as the starting center, and Gunn believes that a little self confidence will go a long way for him. "Kyle is going to start at center and he brings a lot of experience," the coach said. "He has-a nice shot, he just needs-to learn to use it at the right time. He'§ also one of the best at getting into the post and defending thfr ,J block." Yoder may be starting, but the 220-pound Brown, who also plays tight end on the football team, will be contribute big minutes. "Nate Brown will find he'll be sharing the position with Kyle," Gunn said. "The one thing about this group, is that there is a little more depth." At any point, almost any one could be the offensive threat on the floor for the Panthers, but Gunn also wants every player to take pride in their defense. A staple at North Wood. "We practice it every day," Gunn said about his ball hounding defense. "We try to press and go after the ball. Often

Advance News • Thursday. December 8. 2005 •

times, we start our practices with it." Most of the time, good pressure defense leads to turnovers and rebounds off quick shots. In that case, Gunn wants his players to find the right player at the right time. "Team unselfishness is really a necessity to be successful," Gunn said. "We don't have great size, but we have good basketball skills." North Wood finished 4-3 in the Northern Lakes Conference last season, and winning the conference this year is definitely an obtainable goal. "I think I'd be happy competing . for a conference championship," Gunn said. To do that, North Wood must first contend with the likes of Northridge, .Concord, Wawasee and others. "Elkhart Memorial has a nice group back," Gunn said when speaking about the NLC. "I'd probably tag Warsaw as a top NLC team." Warsaw defeated North Wood twice last season, one coming in an overtime loss at The Pit, and the other being a double overtime win at Warsaw. "And we had a chance to win them both," Gunn said with a grin. If North Wood does claim an NLC championship, its attention would then turn to its sectional, which is one of the toughest in the state. "With Lakeland, Northridge

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and Wawasee, it's always a dog fight," Gunn said. Varsity Roster Seniors: Brock Armington, Ben Bemilter, Zac Lechlitner, Ryne Lightfoot, Paul Schmucker Neil Trinkley and Kyle Yoder. Juniors: Kelly Adams, J.J. Anglemyer, Nate Brown, Kent Schaffer and Zach Troyer. Sophomore: Dustin Bussard. Freshman: Skyler Titus. Schedule Home games in Bold. All games begin at 6:15 p.m., unless noted. DECEMBER 12/2— Triton (W); 12/8 Westview, 6 p.m.; 12/10 — Fairfield; 12/13—Jimtown; 12/17—Plymouth; 12/21—JV NLC Tourney @ Concord, 5:30 p.m.; 12/28 —Goshen Holiday Tourney, TBA; 12/29 —Goshen Holiday Tourney, TBA; 12/30 — Goshen Holiday Tourney, TBA. JANUARY 1/7 —Wawasee; 1/10 — Elkhart Central; 1/13 — Northridge; 1/17—Lakeland; 1/20— Goshen; 1/27—Warsaw; 1/31—West Noble. FEBRUARY 2/4 —Concord; 2/9 —Elkhart Memorial; 2/14 —John Glenn, 6 p.m.; 2/17 — Bremen; 2/21 — Penn; 2/24— Whitko; 2/28— Sectional, TBA. MARCH 3/3— Sectional, TBA; 3/4 Sectional, TBA; 3/11 —Regional, TBA; 3/18 —Semi-State; 3/25 — State @ Conseco' Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.

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