This team left a legacy
By Bruce Rolfe
While an 8-18 finish is not the kind of record this year’s Climax-Scotts boys varsity basketball team had envisioned, the team still left its mark.
The team left a legacy as a team that refused to quit, no matter what the score was. They also captured the school’s first district championship since 2013.
“We actually did talk about some of that stuff. The last couple of games we said what do you want your legacy to be when this is all said and done? I think their legacy is, we put a number on the banner for a district title. We had an opportunity to play in a regional game. They can look up at that banner and see 2024 and say we got that legacy right there. They just battled to the end of the game tonight (regional semifinal) and they battled until the end of the season. Just like C-S always does. C-S always fights,” points out C-S coach Kenny Sattler.
Despite trailing many games at halftime by double digits, there was always a drive to get back into games, which the team often did, leading to a few victories.
C-S will lose four seniors, including its leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker (Miles Shannon), two guards (Billy Felton and Tyler Smith), who started or saw significant minutes each game and another guard (Ryan DeHaan) who also saw quite a bit of playing time.
A JV team that had an impressive season with a 17-4 record, combined with a group of five juniors, including four who saw significant playing time this year, offers promise next season.
Junior Chase VanMiddlesworth had a big season under the boards where his hard work led to many offensive rebounds and second and third opportunities. He was also a threat from the three-point line. He joins juniors Ivan Abad-Reyes, who showed encouraging signs at a guard position, Luke Lawrence, who is always a hustler and played significant minutes, Gage Champion, who developed into a real solid player as the season progressed, and Brayan Simbron-Malerva. Sophomores Hunter LaSala, Tye Chambers and Johann Albarran-Aguilar, all members of the JV team most of the season but were JV call ups for the tournament, will also be counted on to provide help.
“Our future is bright. The juniors, they know the game. They understand what we’re looking for. We have some sophomores that have come in and done some really nice things for us too. The freshmen, they’re going to come in and do work in the summer and get better. They’re really athletic. We’re going to work on their skills. The incoming guys, we’re going to work on their skills to help them be bigger, faster and stronger and see where they fall, helping us in the future. We have some really cool kids. I couldn’t be more thankful to be able to be the coach of those four seniors. Those guys meant a lot to me. I know they meant a lot to the other coaches. Those four seniors will obviously be missed. I told each and every one of them the privilege is all mine to coach them. We’ve got a bright future. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We are really appreciative of all the seniors for sure,” said Sattler.
While an 8-18 finish is not the kind of record this year’s Climax-Scotts boys varsity basketball team had envisioned, the team still left its mark.
The team left a legacy as a team that refused to quit, no matter what the score was. They also captured the school’s first district championship since 2013.
“We actually did talk about some of that stuff. The last couple of games we said what do you want your legacy to be when this is all said and done? I think their legacy is, we put a number on the banner for a district title. We had an opportunity to play in a regional game. They can look up at that banner and see 2024 and say we got that legacy right there. They just battled to the end of the game tonight (regional semifinal) and they battled until the end of the season. Just like C-S always does. C-S always fights,” points out C-S coach Kenny Sattler.
Despite trailing many games at halftime by double digits, there was always a drive to get back into games, which the team often did, leading to a few victories.
C-S will lose four seniors, including its leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker (Miles Shannon), two guards (Billy Felton and Tyler Smith), who started or saw significant minutes each game and another guard (Ryan DeHaan) who also saw quite a bit of playing time.
A JV team that had an impressive season with a 17-4 record, combined with a group of five juniors, including four who saw significant playing time this year, offers promise next season.
Junior Chase VanMiddlesworth had a big season under the boards where his hard work led to many offensive rebounds and second and third opportunities. He was also a threat from the three-point line. He joins juniors Ivan Abad-Reyes, who showed encouraging signs at a guard position, Luke Lawrence, who is always a hustler and played significant minutes, Gage Champion, who developed into a real solid player as the season progressed, and Brayan Simbron-Malerva. Sophomores Hunter LaSala, Tye Chambers and Johann Albarran-Aguilar, all members of the JV team most of the season but were JV call ups for the tournament, will also be counted on to provide help.
“Our future is bright. The juniors, they know the game. They understand what we’re looking for. We have some sophomores that have come in and done some really nice things for us too. The freshmen, they’re going to come in and do work in the summer and get better. They’re really athletic. We’re going to work on their skills. The incoming guys, we’re going to work on their skills to help them be bigger, faster and stronger and see where they fall, helping us in the future. We have some really cool kids. I couldn’t be more thankful to be able to be the coach of those four seniors. Those guys meant a lot to me. I know they meant a lot to the other coaches. Those four seniors will obviously be missed. I told each and every one of them the privilege is all mine to coach them. We’ve got a bright future. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We are really appreciative of all the seniors for sure,” said Sattler.
Lady Panthers should be strong next season
By Bruce Rolfe
A 41-36 loss to Battle Creek St. Philip in the district championship game March 7 certainly brought disappointment for the Climax-Scotts girls varsity basketball team.
Two seniors surrounded by a younger, talented group brought high hopes for a second straight district championship.
But the team fell short in the district title game and complete the season with a 15-7 record.
The two seniors on the team, Jaise Lane and Lillie Edwards, brought impressive leadership as well as a strong work ethic each game. Both seniors were vital to C-S’ success and regular contributors this year and will be missed.
“Those ladies (Lane and Edwards) started with me six years ago when I took the job as the seventh grade coach. So they’ve been with me this entire time. Hats off to Lillie Edwards and Jaise Lane. They’re two very lovely young ladies. They’ve got very bright futures ahead of them. They wore the Climax-Scotts jersey proud. I’m very happy for them,” said C-S coach Chip Paddock.
Paddock noted following the district championship game the loss stings, but he hopes the disappointing loss brings motivation for next season.
Motivation and nine players on the tournament roster returning including three starters and others who saw significant playing time and were regular contributors, should make the Lady Panthers very solid next season.
Junior Lylah Parrish will be the lone senior next season returning off the tournament roster.
Sophomores returning include Sophie Braithwaite, Ashlynn Gilbert, Addy Reeves, Holly Talbert, Chloe Czuk and Elizabeth Morales. Talbert was C-S’ leading scorer and Reeves was a leader many games in scoring and rebounding. Gilbert and Braithwaite saw significant minutes and should be regular contributors next season.
Freshman Annabelle Edwards showed great promise this season as an inside scoring threat and rebounder and freshman Kendal Reitz, who was sidelined a large portion of the season with a foot injury, offered promise from a guard position when she returned to the lineup
“The pieces coming back, we’ve got quite a few there. Definitely quite a few there. It’s all going to come down to hopefully this one stings a little bit, and then we got to get back to the grind. But we got some really good kids coming back and looking forward to what we have here coming up in the future,” said Paddock.
Two seniors surrounded by a younger, talented group brought high hopes for a second straight district championship.
But the team fell short in the district title game and complete the season with a 15-7 record.
The two seniors on the team, Jaise Lane and Lillie Edwards, brought impressive leadership as well as a strong work ethic each game. Both seniors were vital to C-S’ success and regular contributors this year and will be missed.
“Those ladies (Lane and Edwards) started with me six years ago when I took the job as the seventh grade coach. So they’ve been with me this entire time. Hats off to Lillie Edwards and Jaise Lane. They’re two very lovely young ladies. They’ve got very bright futures ahead of them. They wore the Climax-Scotts jersey proud. I’m very happy for them,” said C-S coach Chip Paddock.
Paddock noted following the district championship game the loss stings, but he hopes the disappointing loss brings motivation for next season.
Motivation and nine players on the tournament roster returning including three starters and others who saw significant playing time and were regular contributors, should make the Lady Panthers very solid next season.
Junior Lylah Parrish will be the lone senior next season returning off the tournament roster.
Sophomores returning include Sophie Braithwaite, Ashlynn Gilbert, Addy Reeves, Holly Talbert, Chloe Czuk and Elizabeth Morales. Talbert was C-S’ leading scorer and Reeves was a leader many games in scoring and rebounding. Gilbert and Braithwaite saw significant minutes and should be regular contributors next season.
Freshman Annabelle Edwards showed great promise this season as an inside scoring threat and rebounder and freshman Kendal Reitz, who was sidelined a large portion of the season with a foot injury, offered promise from a guard position when she returned to the lineup
“The pieces coming back, we’ve got quite a few there. Definitely quite a few there. It’s all going to come down to hopefully this one stings a little bit, and then we got to get back to the grind. But we got some really good kids coming back and looking forward to what we have here coming up in the future,” said Paddock.
