Crusader preview: Wellington boys basketball team has depth and experience
2021-22 Wellington High School boys basketball team. (Click to enlarge)
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington boys basketball team has the kind of depth and experience that could make this a turnaround season for the program.
Wellington finished 6-13 in 2020-21 and placed sixth in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV. That didn’t make for a lot of great headlines.
But the Crusaders have three very solid starters back, and multiple guys capable of getting into the starting lineup.
“It is a great problem to have,” said Joe Newman, fourth-year head Wellington boys basketball coach. “This group and the upcoming classes have the potential to string together some great seasons. It will be a challenge, but I’m excited about this season and our future.”
The Crusaders open their season tonight when they host Mulvane. They will then host El Dorado on Monday and travel to Cheney on Tuesday in the first two games of the Cheney Tournament. We should know a lot more about the team after that very busy five-day stretch.
Here is a synopsis of what this team has in front of it:
Key players to watch:
•Banks Hinshaw, a 6-2 junior, had a break-out season last year averaging 11.3 ppg. He made 44 treys on the season and broke the WHS individual record by hitting eight 3’s against Winfield.
R.J. Clift, 6-2 senior, has sky-high potential.
“He’s a high-energy guy with tremendous athletic ability and length,” Newman said. “He makes things happen with his effort.”
•Jack Wright will be Wellington’s primary ball-handler.
“He has a knack for pushing the ball up the floor and finding the open guy,” Newman said. “If he can find his shooting touch this season he could very well be an all-league player.”
Other varsity players include seniors: Korbin Jones, Deitrek Gill, Logan Swingle and Rylan Biles; and Juniors: Malachi Rogers, Montel Tate, Cope Henry, and Keaton Hartman.
Number of players: 30. Starters lost from last season: Tanner Meyer and Berkeley Wright.
WHS varsity basketball lineup (Click to enlarge).
What are your strengths? “We have depth and multiple guys who have been in the program for three to four years,” Newman said. “They understand what we want to accomplish on both ends of the floor. We want to run, we want to get the ball to the basket and shoot the 3 when it’s open.”
What are your weaknesses? “We have a long, athletic team, but we have no one over 6-3,” Newman said. “It’s not a unique problem for us. We’ve been here before and will have to play big and be aggressive on the boards and protect the paint. We must also find a way to replace Tanner Meyer’s ability to score. Outside of Hinshaw, no one averaged double figures last season. We’ll need multiple guys to step up and knock down open looks.”
The competition: The league is as wide open as it has ever been, Newman said. Rose Hill, last year’s league champion, returns multiple starters, the leagues leading scorer, and added some transfers. Andale returns their entire varsity squad and 99 percent of their scoring. Collegiate will be tough as always. Mulvane is coming off its best season in school history but also lost the league MVP. They have plenty of talent returning and will look to continue their success. Clearwater graduated many of its key guys, but senior big man, Brett Gibbs, who’s a load on the block, returns.
Do you have anything else to add? “We lost eight games last season by single digits,” Newman said. “Those games typically came down to three possessions during the course of the game. We must find a way to win those three possessions.”
Newman continues:
“Overall, this is a talented, experienced, and as deep of a team as I’ve had in my four years here. Our success, or lack thereof, will come down to can we make the open shot, win the rebounding battle, and limit turnovers. Additionally, since 1970 the WHS boys basketball team has had eight winning seasons. Our last was the 2014-15 season under Brian Buchanan. This group and the upcoming classes have the potential to string together some great seasons. It will be a challenge, but I’m excited about this season and our future.”
