Way-Too-Early Team Preview: Richland
Richland went into last season with moderately high expectations and very quickly emerged as a legitimate top-5 team in Class B. The Colts went to the state tournament and ultimately finished third. With four starters back including arguably the best…
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Continue ReadingRichland went into last season with moderately high expectations and very quickly emerged as a legitimate top-5 team in Class B. The Colts went to the state tournament and ultimately finished third. With four starters back including arguably the best perimeter trio in the state, the Colts are a legitimate state title contender in 2019-20.
GO-TO GUY: Cole Myers
Meyers was an all-state guy as a junior, averaging 18 points and seven rebounds. He does it all on the offensive end, using his 6-foot-2 frame to score in the paint while also knocking down more than two 3-pointers per game. He’s efficient, explosive and incredibly consistent.
BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Colten Evenson
Evenson averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds last season, finding a lot of success in that junkyard dog role. He’s athletic and active in the paint, does a good job moving without the ball and finishing. And his interior defense is a key for a team that mixes in zone and has to offset a relative lack of height. With the talent around him, Evenson could very well average in the double-double range next winter.
QUESTION: Who will take on complementary roles?
Myers, Carter Lingen and Gavin Reiland are entrenched as all-region caliber players. Evenson was a solid complementary forward a year ago. There isn’t a lot of room for guys to emerge in prominent roles on this team. But can someone or a group of players step into complementary roles in that fifth starter spot and the first couple bench slots? Richland is good enough to win a ton of games and go far even if guys don’t come along super quickly, but there’s an opportunity for a number of guys to break into varsity action in low-wattage roles on a team where there’s a lot of insulation in place.
OUTLOOK
Fresh off a third-place finish at the state tournament, Richland returns four of its five starters and its top three scorers. The Colts should be one of the most explosive teams in the state, they’ve got the experience, the talent and now incredibly high expectations. They play in a tough region and will play a solid schedule in 2019-20, so there will be no shortage of entertaining games for them next winter.