FREDERICKTOWN — The young Fredericktown High School boys basketball team will get a good idea of what it’s made of on Saturday when it visits the Highland Scots.
It promises to be an entertaining, hard-fought battle with a boisterous crowd in Sparta to open the 2008-09 season. After last year’s playoff run, the expectation level is high for the senior-laden Scots.
“We know it’s going to be a great game,” said Highland coach Mike Hoyng. “The rivalry is always there. We’ve had a great football and basketball rivalry between our schools.”
This will be a big test for the Freddies, who want to show that they were able to overcome last year’s graduation losses.
“The Scots are a pretty good team,” said Fredericktown coach Kirk Manns. “The five guys they started a year ago are probably the same five guys that they’ll start on Saturday night, so they are an experienced group. They’re big and strong and they’ve got some kids who can shoot it. It’s going to be a good challenge.”
“I see little difference in who is playing,” said Hoyng, “Last year, we had a lot of young guys and they had a lot of old guys and we had a good game against them. This year, I’m looking for the same thing, just reversed.”
The Freddies are still working on their own dynamic with new faces.
“We’re just worried about ourselves at this point,” said Manns. “No matter who we are playing, our kids are still searching for an identity. We’re still searching to define roles. Early in the season, we’re just worried about getting better everyday.”
“Kirk does such a great job and he’s been there for a while so you pretty much know what they’re going to do offensively and defensively,” said Hoyng. “Even though they have a bunch of new players, we’re going to prepare the same way we do every year for them.”
The East Knox Bulldogs will host Mansfield Temple Christian on Friday in a game that will tell much about the depth of the Bulldogs.
“I want to see how the kids respond,” said first-year coach Don McDaniel, who has lost key players Luke Branstool, Will Lane and Brandon McLaughlin for the opener due to injuries. “I’m just looking for the other kids to pick it up and play hard and we will see what we can do.”
McDaniel’s winning formula is a simple one.
“I want to see hard-nosed defense and hustle,” said McDaniel. “I haven’t seen Temple Christian, but we are going to play tough (Mid-Buckeye Conference) basketball. We’re focused on what we’re doing and not what they’re doing.”
The rest of Friday’s slate of boys games includes Lexington visiting Mount Vernon, Northridge hosting Gilead Christian, Clear Fork traveling to Crestview and Centerburg at Northmor. On Saturday, Loudonville hosts Hillsdale, Cardington will visit Utica, Johnstown travels to Eastmoor Academy and Danville visits Mount Gilead.
