Duke Copp is in his second season of heading the Bonduel High School boys basketball program.
After an 11-13 season (5-9 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) a year ago, Copp feels good about where the team is ahead of Saturday’s opener against Gillett.
“I think we’re farther ahead this year than we were last year at this same point,” Copp said. “I was new to these guys, and just learning what their expectations were and what they can do. I think this year, being into it a season, we are way further ahead.”
The schedule is certainly better. The team has had two weeks of practice to get ready for the season, a luxury after an early start last year.
“Last year, after six practices, we had a game, two games that week,” Copp said. “This year we have two weeks of practice before a game. That makes a big difference, too.”
The Bears return four starters from last year in seniors Connor Rosin, Colton Dobratz, Hunter VanDerLinden and junior Trevor Pedersen.
“I have four starters back, which is exciting. … They know what is expected,” Copp said. “A lot of those guys have been two-year varsity players. And they all play AAU ball in the summer.”
Rosin, a 6-foot-2 guard who started the last three years, led Bonduel in scoring last season with 11.5 points per game. Dobratz, a 6-0 guard, had 9.1 points per game. VanDerLinden, a forward, had 6.6 points per game.
For a team that had height issues last season, the addition of 6-4 junior forward Peyton Czarapata could have a big impact.
“He’s 6-4, big kid,” Copp said. “We had him in junior varsity last year, and he basically dominated JV. He’s exactly what we need. We’re probably going to be the smallest team in the conference again, except for he’s our one big guy. He’ll get a lot of use.”
Also back for the Bears are seniors Hunter Berry, Matthew LaBerge, Austin Marcks.
“We have a lot of experience back,” Copp said. “They had a lot of opportunities over the summer to get better; we’ll see if they did enough.”
Juniors Preston Robaidek, Gage Petcka and Garret Riemer also join the varsity team.
To have success, Bonduel will have to navigate a tough CWC-8 conference.
“It’s tough again,” Copp said. “Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia have almost everyone back, and they were in the top half of the conference last year.”
An addition to the Bonduel schedule this year is the Shawano Sundrop Shootout, the basketball tournament held every year at the Kress Center on the campus of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
“It’ll be good for fun. It’s a great facility,” Copp said. “It’s a good experience for the kids to be able to play there. Maybe give them a little bit of a tournament setting.”
Bonduel will play Oconto on the first day of the event Dec. 29.
Categories
