The Wayne boys varsity basketball team has a tough act to follow after the loss of eight seniors from last year's District championship squad.
The 2008 District champions went 21-3 overall, defeating Cincinnati Elder for the title.
Second-year head coach Travis Trice has assembled a 12-player varsity team that consists of eight returning lettermen.
"Everything right now is falling on those seniors and sophomores we have," said Trice.
The Warriors open the regular season Tuesday at home against Lebanon at 7:30 p.m.
Wayne went 9-1 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference central division last season, splitting the home-and-away series with rival Centerville. This season, the Elks are the favorites to capture the GWOC central.
Springfield North and South recently combined to form an improved team that should challenge for the division.
Northmont, a district finalist last season, joined the central division from the north.
"We know it's going to be one of the better conferences in the state from top to bottom," said Trice. "We have every bit of confidence in the guys that we have. We look forward to that challenge and we enjoy that role. We're going to take things one game at a time. When it's all said and done, we plan to be standing there with the conference championship.
The varsity roster comprises eight seniors and four sophomores.
"We don't have the depth that we had last year," said Trice, "but we can get positive minutes from a lot of different guys. Last year, we had the ability to press the entire game. I don't think we're at least at that point yet. We're probably a good, solid eight guys deep. We'll rely on more of our halfcourt defense. We'll look to trap and pick up the pressure on different opportunities. We'll really push the ball up the floor on the offensive end, and just work on our basketball IQ throughout the game offensively."
Trice said sophomores Markus Crider and Travis Trice II, who have gotten college scholarship offers, had "tremendous summers." They're being recruited by virtually every Big Ten school, as well as the ACC and PAC 10."Among prospective schools are Dayton, Wright State, Cleveland State and University of Akron.
Travis Trice II will start at point guard, but the coach said he also "scores the ball so well, and he'll also slide to (shooting guard)."
The coach added that Trice has grown four inches over the summer and has gained strength.
"He definitely can handle those point guard duties," said the coach.
Crider's 6-foot-6 frame will enable him to handle the ball "an awful lot for us," said Trice. "He is a person that's a matchup nightmare, with being able to post up and shoot the ball from the perimeter, handle the ball and find open guys, and we're going to use that to our advantage."
Trice called Crider a "do-it-all" player who can play every position on the court.
"I look for tremendous things out of him this year," said Trice of Crider.
Senior forward Justin Scheibenzuber played well in scrimmages, according to Trice.
"He shot the ball well," said Trice. "His role for us is to get to the open spot and knock down open shots, box out on defense and help us rebound, and get the ball down the floor."
Senior guard Devin Bartlett, who moved from Dayton Christian, has lived in Huber Heights throughout his high school career, but is attending Wayne his senior year. Trice said Bartlett has been a pleasant surprise for the team.
"He is super quick, puts good defensive pressure on the ball, and shoots the ball well," said Trice of Bartlett. "He's very crafty and gets to the basket when he wants to, and he's going to fit in absolutely perfectly to what we're trying to do."
Trice said senior forward Mark Pierce has had "a great start to the season, and I look for him to give us some very positive minutes inside, especially defensively."
Senior guard Brandon Williams will compete for significant minutes at point guard, using his quickness and defensive ability.
"He really turns up the tempo for us," said Trice of Williams. "He's going to be a very positive addition, also, to what we're trying to do with pushing the ball up the floor."
Senior Spencer Mims shoots left-handed, making it awkward to defend the 6-foot-5 forward.
Trice said senior guard Jordan Bazile has overcome struggles to become a positive impact on the program.
"This is a kid that has really turned his life around so far at this point," said Trice. "He's not been eligible through his high school career for an entire season. I'm just excited for him. He's worked hard. He's had a good attitude. On top of that, he's really put the ball in the basket. Look for some big-time point totals throughout the year from him."
Senior Lamar Mallory, a 6-foot-7 forward, played his first varsity season for Wayne last year. Wayne will continue to use Mallory's strength under the basket and mix his scoring ability both inside and from the perimeter.
"Lamar has the ability to handle the ball," said Trice.
Senior Dominique Fowler, another returning letterman, will start the season at the post spot.
Trice said he expects Mallory, Crider and Fowler to be tough matchups for "anybody we face this year."
Sophomores Braxton Miller and Tre Moore, according to Trice, have been "quite a bit behind" as Miller recovers from a broken leg from football season and Moore returns from recent illness.
"He's working on trying to get his basketball legs back," said Trice of Moore. "We know that he can play and that he can score the ball and he's a good defensive player."
Miller will contribute off the bench when he becomes physically and mentally 100 percent.
"We're not quite sure about when we're going to get him back," said Trice. "We're hoping to get him back soon. He's extremely quick and extremely strong, especially defensively. With what we're doing offensively, it suits him to put the ball on the floor and work on getting to the basket, which is a strong part of his game. He would fit in absolutely perfectly with what we're doing, and we're in no rush to get him rushed back."
Schedule highlights start with a home game against Future Prep Academy (from North Carolina) on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Wayne returns to the Flyin' to the Hoop tournament this year at Trent Arena, Jan. against Findlay Prep (Nevada).
Other big-draw games will be the State Farm Shootout Saturday, Jan. 31, part of a 10-team tournament in Bowling Green, Ky. Wayne will play Bowling Green High School.
Wayne will face hoops powerhouse Dayton Dunbar Sunday, Feb. 15 at UD Arena before concluding the season at home against Beavercreek the following Friday.
The coaching staff consists of varsity assistant Isaiah Williams, coached the eighth grade boys team at Weisenborn Middle School, assistant coaches Sean Turner, Roger Downing Sr. and Bobby Pritchett, junior varsity coach Thomas Stephens, JV assistant Tyrone Cole, freshman head coach Roger Downing Sr., and freshman assistant Roger Downing Jr.
Wayne played teams including Toledo Libbey, Columbus Whetstone, and Canton Timken in Friday's scrimmages, and Ottawa Glendorf, Trotwood, Woodward, and Western Hills Saturday.
"We have done extremely well in all of those scrimmages," said Trice.
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