Northern Tier Sports Report

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NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: TROY HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2023-2024 SEASON (2023-11-30)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It’s rare for teams to win a district title and then return basically the same team, but the Troy boys’ basketball team is in that envious position this season. The 2023 District IV, Class AA champions lost just one starter from last year’s group, and look primed to make another big run this year.

“I felt like, in the short period of time we had together last year, our effort and our team play, and our attitude was good,” said Troy coach Bob Woodward. “So each year is a whole new identity - that’s what we’re hoping to find, who we are. The kids are just coming off of fall sports, and we’re awful proud of them. It’s a tough adjustment, it takes a while, and so, right now, we’re just trying to work on the basics and get in shape.”

Woodward is excited to be in year two at the helm.

“These kids are great people,” said the veteran coach. “They’re a pleasure to be around. Hopefully, the time we had this summer together our goal was to play as hard as we could, and guys did a great job showing up. We’re looking forward to it.”

Their only real loss is Justice Chimics (9.1 points per game), as they return Evan Woodward (12.8 PPG), Jack Burbage (12.2 PPG), Colin Loveland (9.2 PPG), Lance Heasley (7.5 PPG), Lincoln Chimics (6.4 PPG), and defensive ace Jackson Taylor.

“It’s nice right now,” Evan Woodward said about the familiarity. “A little extra chemistry we won’t have to build off the start. Hopefully, we can use that to our advantage.”

All of those players saw action in last year’s playoff run, and it doesn’t just breed familiarity, it also breeds trust.

“Being able to trust everyone that we have, and have anyone in there, and they can make a play,” Woodward said.

Last year’s break out player was Burbage, the undersized center who flirted with triple-doubles at times during the season.

“I’ve just got to work harder for it,” Burbage said about being one of the smaller centers in the league. “It just makes me stand out more, it gives you more of a challenge.”

Taylor is the tip of the spear of the Trojan defense, and expects to be so again this season.

“I just want to bring the intensity,” he said. “In everything I do bring intensity and play as hard as I can.”

Coach Woodward is hoping that last year’s magic will carry over this season, with Troy being a team that presses team in submission and spreads the ball offensively.

“I think our team’s better if we don’t have one or two guys that are scoring all the buckets,” he said. “And, hopefully, our defense can create offense. These guys are willing to share the ball, and I think, maybe, we won some games that we shouldn’t have last year because of the team play that they came after it with.”

They look built for a pressing team, with plenty of length and quickness up and down the line-up.

“We hope that is always the case,” coach Woodward said. “But, again, I’m not sure of our identity. If we have good effort and attitude and team play I’m hoping that we’ll be able to defend really well, and make it a full length of the court (game).”

While everybody knows about their district title, the players are thinking about the fact that they didn’t win the NTL title a year ago.

“We finished fourth last year,” Taylor grimaced. “We’re just going to try and do better this year.”

On paper they appear to be the favorites to claim the Division-I championship, but they know these games aren’t played on paper.

“Honestly, I like it,” Burbage said about having that chip on their shoulder. “We can come out and just improve from last year, and just look better.”

ROSTER (Grade)

Lance Heasley (12)

Colin Loveland (12)

Jackson Taylor (12)

Trevon Teribury (12)

Gordon Weaver (11)

Evan Woodward (11)

Jack Burbage (11)

Dylan Liberati (11)

Joseph Frye (11)

Lincoln Chimics (11)

Charles Oldroyd (11)