Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Season preview: Coyotes return plenty of experience for 2014-15

The Potter-Dix boys basketball team has plenty of experience in 2014-15, although coach Chad Miller said some of those will see new roles this season.

The Coyotes return three starters and eight additional lettermen from last year's team that finished with a 10-12 overall record.

The three returning starters are a trio of seniors in Cameron Purcell, Jake Johnson and Trevor Harms. Purcell, a 6-foot guard, averaged 6.6 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 2 assists per game a season ago. He also shot 61 percent from the free throw line and 34 percent from behind the arc as a junior.

Johnson, a 6-foot forward, averaged 7 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game last season. He also shot 44 percent from the floor.

Harms, a 6-foot, 6-inch center, averaged 7 rebounds per game and 2.2 blocks per game a year ago. He also shot 49 percent from the floor.

Additional returning lettermen include senior forward Cooper Hicks, senior guard/forward Trace Sharman, juniors Kelsey Rozelle, Sam Bogert, Coby Hicks, Keverett Rusk and Austin Lewis, and sophomore Noah Nelson.

Cooper Hicks averaged 1.5 rebounds per game last season, while Sharman averaged 4.3 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game and 1.3 steals per game as a junior. Rozelle averaged 3.1 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game and 1.1 steals per game last season.

Miller expects his returnees to play key leadership roles this season.

"(I expect) leadership and an exemplary attitude that others can feed off of," he said.

Newcomers to the team include junior Cole Christensen, sophomore Edward Barnes and freshmen Dylan Nielsen and J.T. Herboldsheimer. Christensen was injured all of last season.

Miller has high expectations for his newcomers this season.

"Cole Christensen could play a vital role for us has he is coming off a season ending injury last year," Miller said. "He got some key minutes for us two seasons ago as a freshman, and once he feels 100 percent, I can expect us to rely on his talents more as the season progresses.

"Edward Barnes is another teammate that could see an increased role as the season goes on. If he pushes himself in practice day after day and makes a conscious decision to commit himself to the process, I definitely see him making a positive impact for us."

Quickness should be one of the Coyotes' strengths this season.

"Our team should be fairly quick this season and hopefully this can help us in creating more turnovers on defense," Miller said.

Although Potter-Dix has many returning players from last season, Miller said many will see different roles this year.

"Most of our players will be playing different roles within our team's dynamic this year, and it could take some time for everyone to understand those roles completely," he said.

"We play a tough schedule and will need to respect the talents of all of our opponents," Miller added. "With many of us playing roles that we are inexperienced in, it might take us some time to find the cohesiveness that will be needed to reach all of our goals this season."

Looking at his team offensively, the fourth-year head coach thinks his team will have better shot selection this season.

"I see our team having better ball movement and a better understanding of what a good shot is," he said. "These skills will have a great impact on our team's on court success this season."

A defensive improvement should be the ability to force more turnovers, Miller said.

"I feel that we should have more intensity on the defensive end and that if we can create more turnovers that we will be very competitive," he said.

The Coyotes open the season Friday with a 3 p.m. home contest against Sedgwick County.

"Coach (Ryan) Mumm and myself are very excited and privileged about our opportunity to work with the young student athletes here at Potter-Dix," Miller said. "We are looking forward to the challenges of preparing them week in and week out for success on and off the court. We have confidence that our players will come every day with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and improve as the season progresses."