It’s a clean slate for the Shawano Community High School boys basketball team.
Young a year ago — the team had only one senior in Jon Christopherson, the Hawks played unevenly on their way to a 8-15 record (6-10 Bay Conference) and a first-round exit from the WIAA Division 2 tournament.
Chris Kellett, who replaced longtime coach Thadd Cornell in the offseason, said he’s giving the players a fresh start.
“I told every player from the moment that I met them that I really did not care what happened last year, good or bad,” he said. “Everyone had a clean slate. Everyone has pretty much been playing hard because of it. Guys are trying to prove themselves to someone with brand new eyes.”
The focus early is making sure the Hawks are playing team basketball.
“The biggest issue that we have is that we have to play unselfish and take care of the basketball,” Kellett said. “Our defense will come. I’m not sure what they ran last year, but we’re going to be primarily man-to-man.”
Kellett dedicated the first week of practice to putting in his system.
“The guys are amped up; they’re working hard,” he said. “There’s a lot of leadership this year, and it makes my job a lot easier, having guys show up earlier to practice, showing up to open gyms in the offseason. It’s a transition period with me being new and running a lot of different things offensively and defensively, and the guys have responded really well.”
Leading a long list of returning varsity players is junior Zack Sousek, a 5-foot-9 guard who was a second-team all-Bay Conference selection a year ago. He was ninth in the conference in scoring last season with 180 points.
Sousek, along with fellow junior Sajen Knueppel and seniors Dillon Frechette and Travis Geenen, will get most of the minutes at guard for the Hawks.
“Those four have had wars at practice,” Kellett said, “and the great thing about it is that all four are a little different. Zack is the strongest. Travis is the oldest, probably the smartest with the ball. Dillon is the best shooter, and Sajen, he’s the best athlete. Those guys have been battling every day and whoever is playing the best will get most of the minutes.”
Frechette, who was used mostly as a 3-point sniper last year, has earned the attention of his new coach.
“One player that I really appreciate is Dillon Frechette,” Kellett said. “He was the first guy to open gym, didn’t miss one. He’s been at practice, he stays after, he shoots. He’s been doing all the right things so far, and I’m looking for big things from his this year.”
Kellett said Frechette has worked on developing a more complete game.
“He can absolutely shoot it, but he does things off the bounce better than people anticipate as well,” Kellett said. “So he’s able to hit gaps and find open guys. He’s been passing just as well as he’s been shooting.”
At forward, the Hawks return 6-foot-6 sophomore Zeke Gueths, who played extensively last year.
“Big Zeke is back. He’s done some good things,” Kellett said. “We need to get him a little better finishing toward the basket, but he’s working hard and he’s getting there. I think his rebounders will be up because he won’t be outside as much.”
The sophomore is familiar with the new defense, Kellett said, from Amateur Athletic Union basketball the last few years.
“He’s got a head start on almost everybody,” the coach said.
The coach is also looking forward to seeing what juniors Jack Lacy and Dylan Hintz can do at forward. Will Cox, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, has been out with an injury, but the coach is hopeful he’ll be healthy at some point in the season.
Kellett, who was an assistant for three years at Lawrence University and the junior varsity coach at Neenah High School for three years, said the Bay is a tough basketball conference.
“The Bay Conference has a two-headed monster. Seymour and West De Pere are absolutely tremendous,” Kellett said. “Obviously they’re very well coached. They both have scholarship players.
“Hortonville is also very talented. We’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
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