STORY BY MAKENNA ALLEN
It’s t-minus two weeks until both the Fort Hays State University men’s and women’s basketball seasons kick off. Though the women’s team plays in Division I exhibitions Oct. 28 and Nov. 1 at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, respectively, the official season for both teams begins the second weekend in November. On Friday, Nov. 9, the women take on Southwest Minnesota State at home. That same day, the men match up against the University of Sioux Falls in Marshall, Minnesota during the NSIC-MIAA Challenge.
With this date fast approaching, both teams have begun official practices. These practices have seen the addition of a few new members as both squads have 11 returning players. The women’s team will incorporate three new freshmen while the men bring in one freshman and two transfers.
For women’s Head Coach Tony Hobson, this returning talent has allowed for a smooth start to the pre-season.
“I think we got off to a good start this year because we have so many returners,” said Hobson. “We’ve got the 11 players returning so any time you have that many people coming back that have been here a year, or two years, or sometimes even three years, you tend to get off to a little quicker start because they know some of the stuff you’re doing. Compared to other years, we’re probably a little farther ahead.”
Though Hobson has made few changes to his practices, the story is different for the men’s team. Head Coach Mark Johnson plans to use the loss of last season’s leading scorer, senior Hadley Gillum, to slightly alter the team’s offense.
“We played everything to Hadley Gillum and Brady (Werth) so we were more inside oriented,” said Johnson. “We still need to get the ball inside to Brady and our other big guys but we’ve opened up the floor a little bit and are trying to change a little bit of what we’re doing offensively and let our guards have more space this year.”
With this modified offense, Johnson looks to forward Werth and Marcus Cooper as the season’s key players. Last season, Werth trailed only Gillum as he finished the 2017-2018 season with 342 points, averaging 12.7 points per game. Cooper followed Werth with 267 points. However, the head coach also feels his team’s new players add a new depth to the roster.
“I feel like we have more options this year, more pieces to work with and guys that might be able to bring some things to the table for us,” said Johnson.
He cites 6’7” forward Freddy Bitondo, a Division I transfer, as the team’s new source of athleticism. The transfer from Sam Houston State University and Montreal, Canada native played in 28 games and started once for SHSU last season.
Another transfer player, guard Devin Davis joins the mix. Davis joins the Tigers from Allen Hancock College and hails from Vallejo, California where he earned All-Western State First Team Honors.
Forward Gilbert Peters is the only true freshman member of the men’s team this season. During his high school career in Montezuma, Kansas, Peters was a first-team All-State selection from The Topeka Capital-Journal. Gilbert averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in addition to leading his team to its fourth state championship this past March.
“Gilbert Peters from South Gray is a big kid 6’7’’, about 265. He really thinks he can become a very good player, like all freshmen,” said Johnson. “It’s just his first couple of weeks here. He’s trying to figure it out but he’s doing a good job.”
The men’s team isn’t the only program to incorporate new freshmen into its mix as Hobson and the women’s team welcome three new players as well. This year, guards Hailey Walker from Gilbert, Arizona, Cydney Bergmann from Concordia, Kansas, and Kinly Grubb from Odessa, Missouri will all take to the court. Hobson believes that these players will introduce new talent to the team when it comes to defense and rebounds.
“They’re all freshmen and they’re all really good athletes. I think the one that will probably see the most action at least early will be Hailey Walker, a freshman from Gilbert, Arizona. She’s a point guard/off guard so she’ll get some time early mainly because we need another point guard,” said Hobson. “We only had one so the opportunity’s there.”
Even as these new players begin to integrate into the team, Hobson looks to the consistency of returning talent as a portion of the team’s success. He expects the team’s lone seniors — point guard Carly Heim, and last season’s leading scorer, Tatyana Legette — to take the team to victory.
Last season, Legette led the Tigers with 434 points over the course of the season. She averaged 13.2 points and 8 rebounds per game. Heim trailed close behind Legette, averaging 11.8 points per contest.
Even as these crucial players return for the 2018-2019 season, Hobson feels that overall, the team is strong because of all of its 11 returners.
“I really like our depth and think that’s going to be a strong point for our team,” said Hobson.
As practice continues, both teams will continue to integrate the old and new in hopes of creating programs that will build upon the teams’ successes of last season. Only time will reveal the progress of this integration. Stay tuned. Basketball season draws near.