Bench play crucial to Panthers’ hopes

PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth boys basketball team savors the challenge of trying to keep the program’s outstanding success in recent years going this season.

How well the bench develops will be a major key to the hopes of the two-time defending Eastern Wisconsin Conference champions. The Panthers have good core of players back from the 2008-09 squad that finished 18-3 overall and shared the EWC crown with Waupun at 13-1.

“We have experience back and are physically strong. We’re still trying to find our bench rotation, which is a work in process,” said Panther head coach Scott Richards who’s in his ninth season at the helm.

“After our first five, all of the players are pretty even. I’m looking for people to step up.

“I know we’re going to be competitive. I think we’ll be right up there in the conference,” Richards said. “I’m upbeat overall.”

“Our expectations are always high and we welcome that challenge. Because of our success [in recent years], teams will get up for us more.”

The Panthers return a pair of All-EWC second-team players in senior point guard Jon Criter and senior forward Ian Murray. Criter led PHS in field-goal shooting with 50.0 percent, assists, 79 (3.8 average per game) and free-throw accuracy, 83.7 percent last season.

Criter was the Panthers’ top scorer from last season among the returning players with an 11.3 average per contest. Murray paced PHS in rebounding with an 8.1 average and scored 9.7 points per game.

Criter and Murray are the team’s only starters who are back. They were reserves on the Panthers’ state tournament team in 2008.

PHS has seven returning letter winners – Criter, Murray, senior forward Pat Leick, senior guards Greg Rhude and Adam Entringer, senior center Spencer Strong and junior guard Mitch Unger.

Rhude was the Panthers’ sixth man last season – averaging 5.0 points and 1.1 assists per game.

“Criter, Murray, Rhude, Unger and Strong [Plymouth’s starting lineup] are pretty solid and they seem to know their roles,” Richards observed.

“Criter, Rhude and Murray will have to lead us. Hopefully, the others will learn and grow. “Criter is solid on both ends and is a good post player. He’s a point guard but can post up inside. “Murray is one of the best rebounders in the conference.

“Rhude is a good shooter and off-the-ball defender,” the coach said.

“We’re hoping Strong will provide a presence in the post on offense and defense. He is physically stronger than last season.

“Unger is a sold ball handler and a good, consistent shooter,” Richards pointed out.

The Panthers showed bright spots and areas they need improvement during Saturday’s four-team scrimmage at Sheboygan North. PHS played North, Oostburg and Waukesha Catholic Memorial.

“We did pretty well. We moved the ball well,” Richards said. “We have to be able to shoot the ball better and need to work on positioning on defense.”

Richards pointed out other keys to achieving success this season.

“We need to play good defense, rebound the ball and prevent transition baskets,” he said. “Our bench has to come through.

Richards noted other strengths.

“We’re physically strong. I think we’ll be a good rebounding team,” he said. “Our inside game should be pretty good.

“We have experience at guard. The kids know our system better. It’s a real coachable team.”

He said shooting and having average quickness are the main weaknesses going into the season.

Richards thinks Waupun is the favorite to win the EWC championship. The Warriors return three starters, led by senior guard Austin Armga who was the EWC’s “Player of the Year.” Armga and teammate Cory Nickel, a senior, were all-league first-team picks last season.

“The conference is always solid. Waupun, Kiel, us and Sheboygan Falls are probably the top teams,” Richards said.

Kiel returns senior Brandon Gries, an All-EWC first-teamer last season.

“You’re going to have to bring you’re A game each night. We definitely feel that we will contend for the conference title.”

The coach mentioned the team’s top goals. “We want to compete for the conference title, have a winning record and go deep in the postseason,” he said.

Richards said the team is motivated to go farther in the playoffs than last season when No. 1-seeded Plymouth was upset by No. 2-seeded Mayville in the Division 2 regional semifinals, 58-51. PHS was ranked No. 5 in the state coming into the game.

The Panthers have a very strong schedule that includes traditional power Randolph, which won five state titles in the past nine years.

“It’s a very challenging schedule but it will help us in the long run,” Richards said. The Panthers open their season Saturday with a nonconference game at West Bend West. The varsity game will tip off at approximately 7:15 p.m. after the junior varsity contest that starts at 5:45.
PLYMOUTH BOYS
BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Varsity/JV/Freshman
Nov. 28 – at West Bend West
Dec. 3 – at Kiel
Dec. 5 – Menomonee Falls, here
Dec. 11 – Kewaskum, here
Dec. 12 – at Kiel (varsity reserves)
Dec. 17 – Sheboygan Falls, here
Dec. 22 – at Campbellsport
Dec. 28 – at Thomas More Tourney
Dec. 29 – at Thomas More Tourney
Jan. 2 – Randolph, here
Jan. 8 – at Two Rivers
Jan. 14 – at New Holstein
Jan. 19 – at Manitowoc
Jan. 22 – Waupun, here
Jan. 28 – Kiel, here
Feb. 2 – Campbellsport, here
Feb. 5 – at Kewaskum
Feb. 6 – West Bend East, here
Feb. 9 – at Green Bay Southwest
Feb. 11 – at Sheboygan Falls
Feb. 16 – Two Rivers, here
Feb. 19 – New Holstein, here
Feb. 26 – at Waupun