The Montcalm boys basketball team will have a little bit of everything when it hits the floor this year.
The Generals will have some veterans returning, but they will also have their fair share of youth and inexperience.
“We are replacing a lot of scoring from last year in Noah White, but we have some returning players,” Montcalm head coach Adam Havens said. “It will definitely be a process with the youth we have along with the experience that is back.”
In addition to losing White to graduation, Montcalm also lost its point guard even before the basketball season started.
Logan Carver was our running back in football and broke his leg. He may return in late January hopefully to play a little before the postseason,” Havens said. “It will depend on the doctors and how the physical therapy goes. He is doing well as far as his mobility and a little bit of weight bearing goes, but it was such a tough break.”
The bulk of the scoring role, especially early, will likely fall on junior Tristen Cline who is a returning starter for the Generals.
“We know that Tristen will score for us,” Havens said. “It is a new role for him. He had to fill that lead scorer type of role last year for a couple of games when we had some injuries. Now moving forward he will take that on as more of a predominant role. I feel like he can carry that role and do well.”
Cline played more of a shooting guard last year, but will Carver out, he will have to run the show for the Generals.
“Tristen has also been hampered by some football injuries. Hopefully he will be back to full strength by the start of the season,” Havens said. “He is athletic. Football has really helped his frame and he has worked hard to improve his body. Tristen plays the game with a great mind and is unselfish. He does so much for us other than score points, so he will be a big asset for us.”
Getting the pieces to fit in the puzzle around Cline will be the secret to success.
“Finding those other pieces and how we all kind of fit together will be the key,” Havens said. “They haven’t played much basketball together as a group, but they have developed good chemistry during the preseason and they have started to mold into what I feel like can be a pretty successful team.”
Trent Nunn, Tyler Stephenson and Isaac Moore played some varsity minutes in reserve roles last year.
“We are going to rely on those guys to help bring the younger players along, especially early in the year,” Havens said.
Montcalm did receive a boost with the return of senior big man Justin Paccitto.
“Justin was in our program in middle school and just transferred back,” Havens said. “He will give us some size and rebounding on the front line.”
Jayden Price will be the shooting guard, but Havens said he will work other players in as well on the wing. Price is a stretch player that can work inside-out for the Generals.
“He is a big, physical kid and has played in that stretch role before. He has done a little bit of everything for us in the three years that he has played,” Havens said. “He will definitely have a bigger role offensively after being more of a defensive guy and a rebounder last year.”
Havens also has a solid freshman group that has played a lot of basketball together. One of those freshman that could make an impact as the year goes along is Donovan Reed.
“He is about 6-foot-2 and an athletic kid. Donovan runs the floor well and finish around the rim,” Havens said. As he develops he could be that kid that gives opponents tough times as far as a matchup goes.”
Putting all of the pieces together will take some time, but Havens feels his team can eventually be a handful.
“With the right attitudes and the right work ethic, by middle of the season we could really surprise some people with our versatility,” Havens said.
