By Bud Milroy
Sports Correspondent
It’s a young Catholic Central High School boys basketball team this year – and head coach Eric Henderson expects that to be a little bit of a problem early on.
“Honestly, we’ll take a few lumps early as the season starts out, but I believe by tournament time, we’ll have a chance to be a pretty tough ballclub,” said Henderson. “I’m really excited about this team. We have some real nice talent.
“They have a great attitude and lost of energy.”
Returning starters Spencer Wilker (sophomore) and Tegan Miles (junior) will lead the young squad. Seniors Mark Bittmann and Jeremy Kuta – both of whom saw significant playing time last year – will be counted on to make even bigger contributions this season.
Also expected to contribute will be seniors Zak Rios and Brandon Hoffmann.
Rejoining the squad this season will be Cal Kempken, who sat out last year with an injury sustained during the football season. Kempken will add some muscle inside for the Hilltoppers.
Also back is junior Bailey Wright, who split time between junior varsity and varsity last season. Fellow juniors Jake Surges and Danny Sippel, along with sophomore Gavin Foote, will also see action.
Freshman forward Ben Heiligenthal could also figure into the ’Topper plans.
Wilker is the team’s leading returning scorer with 8.7 points per game, while Miles made great strides last season and then during the offseason.
The Hilltoppers got no breaks in the early portion of its season, falling 58-40 to St. Cat’s Saturday night in Burlington, and then 40-36 to The Prairie School Tuesday night.
In the St. Cat’s game, CCHS led 18-12 after the first quarter before the Angels pulled even by the half. St. Cat’s then came out in the third quarter and took it to the ’Toppers.
Wilker led the Hilltoppers with 16 points, while Wright added eight points and four assists. Miles had a team-best 11 rebounds.
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