The Rotation: Rugby
Rugby won 17 games and advanced to the Region 6 championship game before losing to Bishop Ryan. The Panthers enjoyed their success thanks to a stifling defense and steady contributions from several high-end players. With several sophomores poised to take another step forward, Rugby could be one of the best teams in the state in 2018-19.
Needs to be Replaced: Landen Foster, Seth Jaeger, Brock Haakenson, Daniel Kearns, Isaiah Johnson
Foster was really good for the Panthers as a senior, averaging 11.7 points, six rebounds and six assists per game. He scored in double figures 17 times and keyed the team’s defensive effort at the point, averaging 3.5 steals. Jaeger averaged 3.8 points per game, Johnson averaged 4.5 points and 4.9 rebounds and Haakenson averaged 3.2 points.
Key Returners: Trace Goven, Jaden Hamilton, Devan Michels, Kevin Vetsch,
Goven led the team in scoring last year, averaging 16.6 points per game. He’s a dynamic slasher and terrific finisher. The junior guard scored in double figures 22 times and more than 20 points on nine occasions. Hamilton led the team in rebounding last year, averaging 14.9 points while adding 5.9 rebounds. He knocked down 2.3 triples per game as well. He spent the AAU season with ND Attack and he could be one of the top players in Class B. With his combination of size, athleticism and skill, he’ll be a handful for teams. Michels averaged 6.4 points per game as a sophomore and also played with ND Attack over the summer. He should be a guy that takes that sophomore-to-junior jump. Vetsch was a rotation guy a year ago, averaging 4.4 points per game.
Stepping Into New Roles: Michels, Mayson McCabe
Mayson McCabe saw limited time as a sophomore last year but the Panthers are graduating several frontcourt players and while they don’t lose much in scoring but size, rebounding and defense are always at a premium. Michels is another guy that should see a different role as he’ll move up the food chain offensively.
Season Outlook
The Panthers are losing in Foster, their top assist man. He was a solid scorer but really set the tone for the team on the defensive end and in terms of distribution. Goven and Hamilton in particular are terrific scorers but they undoubtedly benefited from Hansen’s ability to set the table. Who takes that role now? Does Goven become more of a distributor and if so, can he balance his scoring ability with that? How much do the sophomores develop with another year of varsity experience? Those things will determine how good this Rugby team can truly be. On paper, the Panthers look like a top 5-10 team in Class B.