The Montcalm boys basketball team hits the court this year looking to fill a few spots left by graduation. The good news for the Generals is they will have some solid components to build around.
“We lost a couple players in Jayden Price, Justin Pacitto and Trent Nunn. They had a lot of minutes for us,” head coach Adam Havens said. “We do have Donovan Reed back and he had a big year as a freshman. Tristen Cline couldn’t finish the year last year, but was our leading returning scorer coming into last year. He led us in scoring the first few games.”
Reed also led the Generals in scoring and rebounding last year as a freshman post player.
“Donovan is an undersized post player at 6-foot-1,” Havens said. “He has a unique skill set though. He can play a stretch-four and can create some mismatches and can defend inside. He jumps well and has good instincts to rebound the ball.”
Cline will be the point guard early on, even though he is better suited as a shooting guard according to his coach.
The amount of minutes Cline spends at the point this year will depend in large part to the development of freshman Dylan Thomason.
“Dylan is a natural point guard. As we get later into the year, I look for him to take over that point guard role,” Havens said. “It will be a learning process for him. He had a good summer, which helps, and he has a really good feel for the game.”
Tyler Hagerman saw some minutes last year and developed into a solid player later in the year, as did junior Landin Clower.
“Landin didn’t play basketball his freshman year and by late in the year we were really looking to him. He is a tall kid with long arms that plays good defense. He can create a few mismatches. If he gets hot from the 3-point line, he can run off several in a row. He had a solid game against Greenbrier West and is another piece that we think will take a step forward this year.”
Clower’s younger brother Logan is also playing this year. Havens states he is taller than Landin and by mid-year he expects him to really be a factor giving the Generals quality minutes off of the bench.
Depth will also be a positive for Montcalm who opens the season Dec. 10 at Twin Valley, Va.
“I think we can play at least 11 on the varsity roster. Early on we may have some struggles with game speed for the young ones,” Havens said. “We have the one senior and some younger kids that have had game minutes that can help bring the young ones along.”
Havens is hoping if his squad develops like he thinks, they could make a strong postseason run as well.
“We have talked about it and preached stay the course. We have to believe in each other and stick to our values. Work on getting better every day,” Havens said. “That will make the difference. We play a decent schedule and that will be beneficial. The way it sets up, do the best you can and hope for a good draw in the region. Win two games and you are there.”
