Team Preview: Crossings Christian (3A)
The Crossings Christian Knights are another 3A team that was hit hard by departing seniors. They graduated many key players, including three starters from last year’s 24-4 squad. They will miss nearly 30 points per game from those three graduated…
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Continue ReadingThe Crossings Christian Knights are another 3A team that was hit hard by departing seniors. They graduated many key players, including three starters from last year’s 24-4 squad.
They will miss nearly 30 points per game from those three graduated starters. Even with the graduated seniors, I wouldn’t expect this to be a down year for the Knights in the slightest. Coach Shawn Schenk has been able to reload and lead the Knights to impressive seasons every year since he has taken over the head coaching duties.
Returning for the Knights, most notably, is junior point guard Reid Lovelace Reid Lovelace 5'10" | PG Crossings Christian | 2022 State OK . Lovelace averaged 15.4 points per game last season as a sophomore and has a chance to get into the 1,000 point club pretty early on in the season. For the Knights to maintain the level of success they’d like to have, he’ll really have to elevate his game and average more than 20 points per game this season to make up for lost production. Lovelace is a great shooter from deep and is a crafty passer too.
Joining him in the backcourt is junior Cooper Gudell Cooper Gudell 6'3" | SG Crossings | 2021 State OK who saw his points dip slightly last year but still was able to contribute 8.6 points per contest. Gudell will have the green light this year, as he and Lovelace both shoot from distance at a high clip and at high volume. Gudell has solid range and is lengthy enough to get rebounds too.
The Knights will struggle on the boards as they lose their two big men to graduation and a guard in Koonce that could really rebound. Look for guys to step into a new role and really contribute for the first time in seniors Miles Brown and Drew Middendorf. Both guys are athletic wings that will get plenty of court time this year and will have to play well for Crossings Christian to have a chance at another state run.
The Knights will rely on a good amount of new faces this year as this could be one of those teams that just gets better as the year goes on and they have a chance to gel together.