Highland coach hopes basketball Bulldogs’ regional ousting is motivation for new season
The Highland boys basketball team accomplished plenty of good things during the 2022-23 season, including winning 21 games.
Still, there was one big goal that eluded them and that was advancing to the IHSA Class 3A regional championship game in Bethalto.
Losing to Mississippi Valley Conference foe Civic Memorial in the regional semifinals last February was something that Highland coach Deryl Cunningham hopes sticks with and drives this year’s Bulldogs club.
“I’ve certainly said something to them about that,” Cunningham said. “I told them we accomplished some things last year and for us to get a three seed last year was good, but we really needed to get to that regional final against Triad and try to get out of the regional and they know that.”
Six returning players are back for Highland this winter. Senior point guard Jake Ottensmeier, junior forward Grant Fleming, junior guard Braxdon Decker, junior forward Gerrin Stone, junior guard Carter Holthaus, and junior forward Will Jansen will form the nucleus of the Bulldogs’ roster.
Ottensmeier, a four-year starter, and Fleming, a three-year starter will be the leaders of the group.
Helping from the bench will be senior guard Trey Koishor, who is back after missing last season with baseball-related injuries.
“He’s doing really well and he’s stronger and he’s still very cerebral about the game,” Cunningham said.
Other players that are expected to give quality minutes are senior forward Keaton Favre and sophomore forward-guard Macklin Bellm.
Ottensmeier, who led the team in scoring last year at 15.9 points per game, is playing for the first time in his career without Cade Altadonna, Brendan Gelly, and Joe Jansen, who all graduated last year.
He feels no pressure to score more this season and is excited about the new group of players he is working with this winter.
“I don’t think I’m gonna have to score more,” Ottensmeier said. “I think we’ve got a lot more pieces coming in than most people realize with a lot of athletic kids who can offensive rebound very well and find other ways of scoring off the dribble. I do not think I’ll need to pick up in the scoring, but more in my leadership role as a point guard getting people to go where they need to go.”
Cunningham said that the Bulldogs are a fast and athletic group and that they will look to utilize that speed as much as possible.
Playing an up tempo fast-break offense will be the preferred style when Highland has the ball.
“We’re looking to be a fast-paced team so we’re looking to push the ball more, play more transition (offense) instead of playing a halfcourt offense,” Ottensmeier said.
Highland opens the season on Monday at 6 p.m. against Metro Catholic Conference power St. Louis University High School at Alton in the first round of the Alton Thanksgiving Tournament.