By Bob Blubaugh
Times Staff Writer

About half of South Carroll’s varsity boys basketball team missed the entire first week of practice because they were in the middle of the high school football regional playoffs.

Given that the Cavaliers lost six of their top eight players from last year’s regional champion team, one might think coach Doug Goff was upset about the SC football team’s run.

Not really.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Goff said. “The longer they go, the less [practice] time you have, but you can’t replace that winning. Learning how to compete in the playoffs, learning how to dig down and be tough, that’s more important than two or three practices.”

Goff likes the fact that many of his players bring a football mentality to his basketball team, saying “I want tough guys who will battle and scrap.”

It looks like he has them, particularly in the post, with Joe Wright — whom Goff calls a power forward/linebacker — and Alex Terpening set to move into major roles.

In an apparently wide-open county season with seven of eight first-team Times all-countians graduated and only two of seven second-teamers back, the perception seems to be that South Carroll has the most returning.

That’s not entirely accurate. While junior Ryan McTavish is back after finishing fourth in the county in scoring at 13.8 points per game, as is point guard Dan Mullen, the rest of the SC rotation has little experience. Still, Goff is optimistic his Cavs can make a run at regional and county titles.

“It will take a couple games to get guys varsity ready [but] I think we’ll be OK,” he said. “I definitely like our chances by midseason.”

Century

The reigning county-champion Knights went 22-3 a year ago and reached the 2A state semifinals. But that means little right now with all five starters gone and a bevy of inexperienced players learning their way under coach George Wunder.

After having Player of the Year Matt Duerr in the middle for three seasons, the Knights are among the smallest teams in the county. Their 10-man roster lists eight guards.

Wunder plans to build around seniors Jason Layer and Tyler Reid, who both saw valuable minutes last season. Senior point guard Lucas Grace, junior wings Dan Virbickis and Brandon Soderstrom, and sophomore Evan Fritsche should play key roles. Wunder said via e-mail that it’s been fun watching his young players work hard and improve.

Francis Scott Key

The Eagles struggled to 2-19 a year ago, but this season should be better as the Eagles put an athletic team on the floor.

“Our biggest strength is our speed, our ability to get up and down the court,” coach Ryan Kimble said, via e-mail. “We expect to be much-improved.”

FSK has returning starters in Irv Jeffress, an athletic, 6-1 wing who has developed into a leader and a shutdown defender, and junior point guard Tyler Zimmerman.

Senior Mike Miller, at 6-6, is as tall as any player in the county. Collin Mills is an athletic 6-3 senior at power forward.

Kimble said all of his players worked hard in the offseason to improve, but no one more so than 6-1 guard Jimmy Brown.

Liberty

Lions coach Steve Johnson has second-team all-countian Trey Parsons (13.4 points per game) back in the post and, at 6-6, Parsons is one of five Liberty players who are at least 6-4. One of them, 6-4 junior Steve Seeley, should join Parsons in the starting lineup while fellow junior Simon Redow should be the shooting guard. Those two led a strong junior varsity team a year ago.

After going 13-10 last year, Johnson has adjusted his philosophy to take advantage of the size.

“The last three years we had a guard-oriented team. This year, with our big guys, we’ll look inside more,” he said. “We have to shoot the ball from the outside and we need to outrebound everybody [to be successful].”

Manchester Valley

After successful coaching stints at Westminster, North Carroll and Winters Mill, Bernie Koontz is the Mavericks’ first coach. As with all of first-year Manchester Valley’s teams, this season is mainly about learning.

“We’re putting together a good foundation,” said Koontz, who said his young team is adjusting to the pace of the varsity game.

Size and strength could also be an issue with no seniors and only two juniors on the squad, none taller than 6-3 forward Mike Long. Terry Shindle will also play in the post. Greg Bonner should run the point with Chad Nazelrod, Marty Windish and Sam Evans also seeing a lot of time in a three-guard set. Koontz hopes to build toward a 1A West playoff run.

North Carroll

The Panthers have had a nice run over the past few years, going 17-7 a year ago under first-year coach Chris Vaughn, but had major graduation losses. Six players return. They have little game experience, but an optimistic Vaughn likes the experience they do have.

“The team we had last year was the best our school has ever had,” he said. “So the players we have back practiced against the best players the school has ever had.”

Vaughn says his team is athletic and expects to get into transition as much as possible. Senior Brian Kron is set at point guard and big things are expected of 6-4 senior Danny Hoffman. Vaughn plans to play everybody, particularly as Charlie Clark recovers from a football injury.

South Carroll

Despite losing six seniors from last year’s 17-8 team that came up just two points short in the Class 1A state semifinals, goals have not been lowered.

“Now every kid in the program sees it as a possibility,” coach Doug Goff said, referring to winning titles. “That’s why you do it, to get there and then keep expectations high.”

Returning first-team all-countian Ryan McTavish moves out to the wing and figures to be the big scorer as Dan Mullen runs the show and Alex Terpening and Joe Wright bang inside. Senior Jason Sumpter gives Goff another point guard on the floor. And watch out for 6-5 freshman Gavin McTavish, who won’t start right away but figures to get more and more minutes.

Westminster

The Owls hit rock bottom a year ago, going 2-21. But they have a new coach in Stephen Byrnes and they return seven players who got a good dose of varsity experience.

“The kids are hard workers and eager to learn,” Byrnes said. “We’re looking for significant improvement.”

The Owls had a setback when 6-3 senior Dwight Matthews broke his wrist, but they have a trio of point guards in Logan Starr (3.0 assists per game), Drew Dorsey and Trevor Anzmann, and scoring threats in Alex Childs and Christian Pitts. They have 6-3 sophomore Nick Rhoten back in the post, but generally they’re small and will try to run.

Byrnes said he plans to go 10 or 11 players deep.

Winters Mill

Last season was a steep fall for the Falcons, who went from Class 2A state champions to 6-17, but it wasn’t unexpected after losing their entire starting lineup. After four straight county titles under coach David Herman, last year was a rebuilding season. But thanks to that, the Falcons may be the county’s most experienced team.

Second-team all-countian David Blackwell (11.9 points per game) returns for his senior year on the wing while juniors Brian Martin (6-5) and Craig Bowen (6-4) give the Falcons good size up front.

Evan Horn is back at point guard with fellow sophomore Troy Parker at shooting guard.

“We’re still a little bit young, but I like this group,” Herman said. “The county’s wide open.

“I’m optimistic.”

Reach staff writer Bob blubaugh at 410-857-7895 or bob.blubaugh@carrollcountytimes.com.