by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington boys basketball team had one of is most trying years in the Brian Buchanan era in 2012-13 going 5-15 and bowing out in the first round of sub-state. But the Crusaders are hoping their athleticism that was evident on the football field, will help Wellington on the hardwood this winter.

Wellington opens its season on Thursday when it travels to the Kingman Basketball Tournament Classic to battle Haven.

It will be a long time coming. The boys have been practicing for more than three weeks now and they are tired of scrimmaging. A game against an opponent, any opponent, will be a welcome relief.

The problem is, Wellington will be getting its first taste of competitive ball while Haven will be playing its third contest of the year. Most teams started last Friday. Couple that with a late start in the Kingman tournament and Wellington is catching up on game time experience. 

But once the Haven tipoff starts, Wellington will be in game overload. The Crusaders will embark on five games in eight nights!

The personnel:

Wellington has one returning starter from last year’s team. Trevor Nance, a 6-5 junior, scored 8 points per game and two rebounds a game during his sophomore year.

Buchanan, in his 11th year, has some speed on the team. Nance connected with Colin Reichenberger (6-1, jr.) on the gridiron quite often. Look for the two players to share the same chemistry in the gymnasium.

Also starting is Connor Phelps, a 6-1, sophomore, who is quite simply a good athlete. Austin Dunn, a 6-2, junior, will also see significant playing time.

Parker Daugherty, a 5-11, sr.; Payton Baker, a 5-9, senior; and Wesley Gilmore, a 5-11, sophomore are three players who will work into the starting rotation.

2013-14 Wellington High School basketball team.

The style of ball:

Buchanan anticipates the team will be playing a high voltage offense and tenacious defense. Also the team has diversity on the starting five. Nance will most certainly play some post, but look for him to shoot high as well and beyond the three-point arch.

Wellington’s strength: The team has outstanding team speed and athleticism.

Wellington’s weakness: The team has little depth.

The league: The perpetual problem Wellington has is its schedule. It’s darn tough.

Andale returns two starters and two experienced players from a 22-3 team that had the most wins in school history. Wichita Collegiate will always be good and includes two towering players in Brodey Dick and Landon Root. Look for the two teams to compete for the league title.

Clearwater is led by John Becker, who scored 15.6 points per game and is slated to finish third. Augusta and Circle will field competitive squads.

VYPE Magazine prediction:

1. Andale

2. Collegiate

3. Clearwater

4. Augusta

5. Wellington

6. Circle.

The regional: Wellington may have an opportunity to make some noise in the Class 4A Div. 1 regional in Rose Hill. It isn’t a daunting regional with four teams playing. Winfield will be the favorite – predicted to finish third in the Ark Valley- Chisholm Trail League Div. III. But Rose Hill and Mulvane are picked to finish fifth and sixth. Wellington needs just two wins to get to state now that Class 4A has been split in two.

Odds and ends: Remember all those Friday games we had at home last season? Well, turnaround is fair play. Wellington only has one home Friday night basketball season this year. Andale comes home on Friday, Feb. 14, which will also be our homecoming.

“We were getting tired of fighting over what date to have homecoming, so we reduced our Fridays to one,” Buchanan joked at Crusader Club.

Kingman Tournament schedule:

Thursday: Wellington vs. Haven – 8 p.m.

Friday: Wellington vs. Medicine Lodge, 4:40 p.m.

Saturday: Finals: Times TBA.

The remaining schedule: 

* League Game

The roster: