Team Preview: McBain Ramblers
McBAIN RAMBLERS
Last season McBain went 19-4 overall winning the Highland conference championship and district. Their loses during the regular season were against Frankfort, Manton and Glen Lake all ranked and respectable during the regular season last year. The Ramblers loss in the regional was to Glen Lake who eventually played in the Class “C” final.
The Ramblers strength will be their defense and depth eventually. They do have some size and athletic guys, however experience and toughness right now will be a challenge. Head Coach Bruce Koopman said, “I’m hoping that by the 1st of the year guys will start to understand the defense, have some experience and will have gone through the wars with some mental toughness growing.”
Some key players will be seniors Garrett VerBerkmoes, 6′-5″, Logan Rodenbaugh, 6′-3′, Justin Kamphouse, 6′-2′ and Devin Morris 6′-3′, along with senior Daniel Quist 5′-10″ all have experience from last season. Some other key players that need to get up to speed include Gavin Sieland 6′-1″ very athletic point guard, Grayson Verberkmoes, Kaiden McGillis both athletic 6′-3″ sophomores.
The Highland conference is always very competitive. The conference will again be very competitve with Beal City, Manton, Pine River and McBain all figuring to challenge. McBain will look to win their 5th conference championship in a row.
Coach Koopman said, “Every year I look forward to building a team into young men first and foremost who understand how to win the right way with defense and rebounding. A conference championship is always goal number one with reaching a Final Four goal number two. I really like our team this year. It is made up of some really great character young men who are very coachable and competitive. However, our non conference is very tough with the likes of Glen Lake (Class “C” runner ups 2018, Traverse City St. Francis, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Boyne City (Class “B” Quarter Finalist 2018). All these teams will be a great challenge and will either make us better or break us down!”
Since 2002 (Class “C” champions) McBain has made the Final Four 4 times. (2002 State Champions, 2009 Final Four, 2011 State Runner Up’s and 2016 Final Four)