Wildcats Have To Replace Four Starters

Members of the 2016-17 Durant boy’s basketball team are front row, l-r: Leo Callison, Jake Conley, Cole Miedema, Josh Hein, Mason Compton and Easton Botkins. Middle row: Bryce Lafrenz, Will Lossi, Joe Lilienthal, Luke Whitlock, Curtis Lilienthal and Dawson Frett. Back row: coach Cody Wille, man- ager Jada Rock, Cale Frett, Carter Voelkers, Thomas Rhoades, manager Zach Hein, head coach Matt Straube. Photo by Ryan Stonebraker. 

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

DURANT — Last season was the tale of two halves of the season.  The Wildcats shocked everyone but themselves in winning all 10 games before Christmas break and shooting up the class 2A state basketball rankings, getting as high as 7th.  Then, after Christmas, a loss at Camanche started the second half.  The Wildcats beat Iowa City Regina to improve to 11-1, but would finish the regular season 1-8 to finish the regular season 12-9.  The Wildcats lost a tough game at Iowa City Regina in the second round of the district tournament 47-44 to end their season.

Durant head basketball coach Matt Straube said that this will be an exciting year.

“I think that we are going to be really good again.  I am really excited about our team this year.  We don’t have a lot of  experience back, but some.  I think that because we are young, we are still learning and that is what we have focused on in the preseason,” he said.

Durant returns one starter from last year in senior Luke Whitlock.  Whitlock averaged 8.2 points a game and got to the free throw line 63 times.  He was the second leading rebounder for the Wildcats with 104 and had 17 assists and 13 steals.  He led Durant in blocked shots with 19.

Also back are guard Josh Hein (2.1 ppg), Jake Conley (1.5 ppg), Curtis Lilienthal (1.0 ppg), Leo Callison and Cole Miedema.

“Luke has decent size and has been an inside guy for us, but we may need to move him around on the perimeter.  He worked hard last year on finishing near the rim, and he is a good ball handler,” said Straube.

Durant graduated much of their scoring and rebounding from last year.  Gone are graduated seniors Gavin Meyer (13.5 ppg, 32 made 3’s, 57 assists), Will Bentley (11.0 ppg 32 made 3’s, 93 rebounds), Jacob Benischek (7.6 ppg. 136 rebounds) and Joey Tobin (4.0 ppg, 84 rebounds, 33 steals).  Bentley is playing basketball at the University of Dubuque and Tobin ran cross-country and will run track and field at the University of Dubuqe.

New names that Wildcat fans will notice on the team are four sophomores and a freshman.  Sophomores Easton Botkins, Mason Compton, Will Lossi, Bryce Lafrenz were part of a Wildcat JV team last year that was 16-5 last year with two losses coming to Iowa City Regina.  They all can defend on the perimeter and can shoot the basketball.  Freshman Joe Lilienthal will also add much needed size depth to the roster that already has Curtis Lilienthal and WIll Lossi.

Straube said that his teams stregth will be the potential that it has.

“Our strength is the potential we have.  It’s just unproven potential.  I’d like to think that we would be this or that, but we are very young and we won’t know what we are until we get them in the games,” he said.  

Straube said that he has a couple of concerns about his team.

“I am concerned about a couple of things.  We have a lot of guys that I think will play a lot of minutes, but they haven’t on the varsity level.  Also, I am concerned about how we handle adversity.  We are working on both things in the preseason,” he said.

Durant plays the first of three non-conference games on December 5 at Bellevue Marquette.  The Wildcats host Midland on January 7and travel to Mediapolis on January 30.  The first Wilton-Durant game will be at Wilton in the last game before Christmas break on December 20.  The Wildcats host the Beavers on January 13.  Durant will play seven games before Christmas with three of those being home games.  The Wildcats will play at home seven times after Christmas break.

Durant Wildcats

2015-16 Record: 12-10

2015-16 RVC Record: 8-10

2015-16 Postseason: 2/18 - Iowa City Regina 47, Durant 44.

Returning Starters (1): Luke Whitlock (8.2 ppg).

2015-16 All-Conference RVC Picks: Will Bentley - RVC South Divisional Team, Gavin Meyer - RVC South Divisional Team, Jake Benischek RVC Honorable Mention Team.  

2016-17 Roster: Seniors — Leo Callison, Jake Conley, Luke Whitlock.  Juniors — Cale Frett, Dawson Frett, Curtis Lilienthal, Cole Miedema, Thomas Rhoades, Carter Voelkers.  Sophomores — Easton Botkins, Mason Compton, Josh Hein, Will Lossi, Bryce Lafrenz.