The Cardington boys’ basketball team will have a different look from last year’s squad, as head coach Rod Brown will have to find a way to replace eight seniors from an 18-7 team.
Gone is Devin Pearl, who averaged 18.2 points per game and finished his career with 1095 points, as well as Derek Goodman, Skyler Bowling, Cody Long, Luke McCarrell, Nate Craig, Mac Warren and Austin Yake.
Brown does return three players with varsity experience. Senior Garrett Wagner, a three-year starter and letterman, was a first-team District 11 pick, as well as a second-team MOAC and honorable mention Central District selection. Last year, he averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He also hit 86 percent of his free throws and connected on 77 three-pointers at a 37 percent clip. Also back are two-year letterman Daniel Kill and one-year letterman Dylan Goodman.
A number of newcomers to the varsity level will make up the rest of Cardington’s team, as Logan Doubikin, Danny Vaught, Branden Steckel, Garrett Linkous, Tommy Cimani, Josh Shook, Trey Brininger and Cayman Spires all will vie for playing time.
“We want to play hard every second of every game and improve as the season goes on,” said Brown of his squad’s goals.
In the conference, the coach looks at Northmor, Highland, Mount Gilead and Danville as contenders for the championship.
