Scouting: Burlington Central and Hampshire
Burlington Central
Coach: Chris Payne (sixth season, 84-55)
Conference: Big Northern East
2007-08 record: 22-7 (9-1 BNC East Division)
Top returning players: Seniors Dan Berg (6-3 F/G), Mike Doty (6-1 F), Mark Mastio (5-7 G), Jeff Rau (6-0 F); juniors Shane Larkin (6-3 F), Matt McCurdy (5-11 G)
Top newcomers: Juniors Steve Hall (6-1 F), Zack Romando (5-7 G), freshman Ray Hunnicutt (5-11 G),
Season outlook: The void left by the graduation of all-area honorary co-captain Mike McCurdy and his 24.7 points per game won't be filled by one player. Unlike the last two seasons, when the Rockets relied first on Cully Payne, then McCurdy, to provide the bulk of the scoring, points will come from multiple sources. Last year seniors McCurdy, Jake McNutt and Jason Wagner combined for 1,422 of Central's 1,850 points (77 percent). Returning juniors Shane Larkin and Matt McCurdy and freshman shooting guard Ray Hunnicutt, who was elevated to the varsity during the summer, should be the team's leading scorers. Larkin started last year in the post and averaged 6.1 points per game. If his teammates make good post feeds, Larkin can fill it up. Matt McCurdy (4.1 ppg.) was injured for a month at midseason and finished with 10 3-pointers. "I think Matt and Shane will have some nights where they score in the mid-to-upper 20s, but for the most part this year I think we'll be pretty balanced every night," Central coach Chris Payne said. Berg and Doty step into starting roles this season after coming off the bench last year. Berg saw regular minutes last season and started for a stretch when Matt McCurdy was injured. He will start at small forward. Doty is the senior captain and a vocal leader with an improved perimeter game. Payne said he expects leadership and an uptick in scoring from Doty this season. Mastio is a hustler who brings energy off the bench and the ability to knock down open shots. Rau plays hard-nosed defense and will back up Berg and Larkin along with Hall. Romando is the team's best 3-point shooter. He led the sophomore team in scoring last year and will try to fill the role vacated by McNutt, who led the team with 78 3-pointers. Hunnicutt is young but talented and will be able to score at the varsity level as he learns where he can get his points at the varsity level. The Rockets have won 6 regional titles in 9 seasons and 3 in the last 5 seasons under Payne. Whether the two-time defending Big Northern East champs can compete with Hampshire and Richmond-Burton for another title and vie for another 3A regional title depends on how quickly the new starters mesh. "We're very inexperienced, but these kids will play hard every night," Payne said. "I think we'll be up and down at the beginning of the year, trying to find our identity, but hopefully we can take off a little bit after Christmas and play our best ball come regional time. The Rockets will play holiday tournaments at Sycamore (Thanksgiving) and DeKalb.
Hampshire
Coach: Bob Barnett (seventh season at Hampshire, 95-66)
Conference: Big Northern
2007-08 record: 14-13 (6-4 BNC East Division)
Top returning players: Seniors Evan Brenner (5-10 G), Will Bush (6-2 F), James Goebbert (6-2 F), Mike Kozenczak (6-2 F), Danny Pace (6-1 G), Dale Swetman (5-11 G), Rob Tiojanco (5-9 G); juniors Justin Bieber (6-1 G), Ryan Burke (6-1 F)
Top newcomers: Juniors Shyler Ralphs (6-1 G), Ryan DeChant (6-3 C); freshman Tyler Watzlawick (6-6 F)
Season outlook: Hampshire graduated all-area forward and leading scorer, T.J. Burzak (17.2 ppg., 6.9 rpg.), but the next eight leading scorers return from a team that surged in the second half of the season after a 3-9 start. The Whip-Purs will play more man-to-man defense this season instead of the 1-3-1 zone. Kozenczak hounds as a defender at forward, has good post moves and can step out and shoot the 3-pointer. He'll be joined inside by Bush (7.1 ppg.), a three-year varsity performer whose 164 rebounds and 31 steals were team highs. Also at forward will be Goebbert (6.5 ppg.) and Burke (1.9 ppg.), two of Hampshire's best all-around athletes. DeChant brings more size in a backup role. The big man in the middle will be the 6-foot-6 Watzlawick, who becomes the first freshman Bob Barnett has elevated to a varsity team in his 22 years as a coach. He has good hands and is light on his feet for his size. He could work his way into the starting lineup if he's able to effectively cover man-to-man. Bieber returns at point guard. Last season he led the Whips in 3-point field goals (49-of-113) and assists (2.6). Ralphs will back up Bieber. He's a physically strong junior who can handle the ball, shoot and play good defense. Uncertain is the status of Brenner (5.1 ppg.), a returning starting guard with 17 3-pointers last season. Also the school's quarterback, he suffered knee cartilage damage in the final football game of the season and is scheduled for surgery early next week. If there's a tear, he'll miss his senior basketball season. If it's a partial tear that can be trimmed, he could be back by December, Barnett said. The Whips would clearly be stronger with him in the lineup, but they could still make a run at the BN-E title in his absence. Also expected to see time at guard will be Pace, Swetman and Tiojanco, none of whom saw many minutes last year. Overall, there is reason for optimism as the Hampshire boys break in their new gym this season. "I like our quickness," Barnett said. "With so many guys coming back with a lot of time last year, it's going to help us. These are good kids. They work hard, they're unselfish and they're fun to be around. We're getting a lot of work done."