Staff writer
The 1A Centre High School boys basketball team went undefeated in the last year of the Dwight D. Eisenhower League. They hope to repeat that record in the first year of the Wheat State League.
In 2009-10, Centre finished 6-0 in the league and was regional runner-up. The team’s record was 12-9 overall.
“We should be pretty good and should be one of the teams favored in the new league,” coach Greg Wyatt said.
With four returning starters including all-leaguers Tanner Brunner and Brian Burhoop, Wyatt expects their experience to help the team win games. The other returning starters are Rustyn Kerbs and Adam Matz. Tyler Klenda is a returning letter-winner. All are seniors.
As a junior, Brunner averaged 9 points, eight rebounds, and two assists per game. Burhoop averaged 7 points, six rebounds, and two assists per game.
Wyatt is hoping some of the younger players will step up to provide depth for the team.
Others expected to see varsity playing time are juniors Trevor Hageberg, Kordell Harding, and Shane Methvin, and sophomores James Wyatt, Justin Deines, Houston Svoboda, and Kodey Johnson.
Wyatt expects Centre, Goessel, Peabody-Burns, and Little River to rank in the top half of the league. Other league members are Elyria, Hope, White City, Solomon, and Wakefield.
Centre faced 3A Southeast of Saline Friday in the opening game of the season. The Cougars will face 2A Herington and Northern Heights this week in the Herington preseason tournament. They also will play Marion, Chase County, and Canton-Galva during the regular season.
Members of the junior varsity are junior Chi Do; sophomores Dallen Thompson, Cory Brunzell, and Jerami Slayden; and freshmen Grant Srajer, Kevin Lewis, Tanner Peterson, Ty Simons, Chad Mueller, Kyle Methvin, Terren Thompson, Kendall Harding, Tim Vinduska, and Karl Riffel.
Wyatt is an alumnus of Centre High School. He is beginning his second full year as head boys basketball coach at Centre. He is assisted by CHS alumnus Bryant Gutsch.