Batavia brings plenty of size

Scouting Batavia boys basketball

By Dave Oberhelman

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

Much was made last year about the height of Batavia’s boys basketball team.

This one’s not vertically impaired, either.

Senior guard Braden Hrack is listed at 5-feet, 10 inches, and the Bulldogs only go up from there. It’s a uniformly good-sized group that tops out with 6-6 center Elliott Vaughn, who last year averaged 7.9 points on 58 percent shooting, and grabbed 7.8 rebounds a game.

“I think it’s a pretty long group,” said Bulldogs coach Jim Roberts. “I think it’s a group of kids that if they fight hard on both ends of the glass it’ll create a lot of opportunities for us.”

Inside player Cole Gardner brings 220 pounds of muscle to support his 6-5 frame. Also coming aboard from Batavia’s football team are a pair of 6-4 forwards, Joe Sortino and Brady Strittmatter, who has 6-5 brother Zach on the team. Seniors Mike Clopton and John Douglas and juniors Tom Doyle and Evan Zeddies also stretch 6-foot-3.

While guards Noel Gaspari and Matt Tevonian join Hrack among the sub-6-foot contingent, Roberts also fields 6-2 guards Mike Rueffer and Mike Jorgensen and 6-3 point guard Jesse Coffey.

Coffey, who will be resuming his floor leadership position with Vaughn doing the same in the lane, enjoyed an All-Area junior season averaging 11.2 points. An eagle-eye shooter, he canned 52 three-pointers and made 92 percent from the foul line.

Though the graduated Ricky Clopton was far and away Batavia’s leading scorer last year, Coffey had consecutive games of 22 and 24 points down the stretch.

Roberts said making good decisions handling the ball will be particularly important for this team, but he’s got a slew of players to do the job with Gaspari, sophomore Rueffer and Jorgensen helping Coffey out.

Defense is also a key for Batavia as the Bulldogs enter the Upstate Eight Conference, where in crossover games the Bulldogs will meet old rivals Waubonsie Valley and East Aurora. Physical, hardworking players like Gardner, Vaughn and defensive stopper candidate Mike Clopton won’t get cheated defensively.

Such effort is part of what makes this gym a special place.

“We just try to approach each year as if it’s our last and make it as unique as possible for our players and the people who come watch our kids play,” Roberts said.

Quick facts

Coach: Jim Roberts

Last year: 18-9, 9-5, third in the Western Sun Conference; lost 63-53 to Oswego East in a Class 4A Waubonsie Valley regional semifinal.

Players to watch: Mike Clopton, sr., F; Jesse Coffey, sr., G; John Douglass, sr., G-F; Cole Gardner, jr., F-C; Braden Hrack, sr., G; Mike Rueffer, so., G; Joe Sortino, sr., F-C; Brady Strittmatter, sr., F; Elliott Vaughn, sr., F-C.