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Trojans Basketball: Large senior class expected to drive Atlantic
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Atlantic returns All-Hawkeye 10 players Jacey Hoegh and John Cord for elastic Trojans’ lineup
By Drew Herron
NT Sports Editor
ATLANTIC— In coach Steve Blazek’s two years back that followed two years of Blazek stepping aside, the Trojans have steadily built a program that ought to have “Hawkeye 10 Title Contender” carved across its foundation.
For parts of last season, that kind of identify and expectations seemed well-founded. At other times, inconsistency took its toll and ultimately the Trojans lost ground in a tight race amongst the top half of the Hawkeye 10.
But this winter, the Trojans anchored by a pair of the Hawkeye 10’s top returning scorers, might indeed have the right recipe to knock from the top of the hill the likes of Lewis Central and Harlan. At AHS, expectations and goals are blunt.
“Our number one goal is obvious, we want to compete for a conference championship,” Trojans coach Steve Blazek said.
Part of the reason Atlantic can expect as much is plain old familiarity. Seniors Jacey Hoegh and John Cord return as maybe the Hawkeye 10’s top 1-2 scoring threats, not to mention the size they bring, while five other returning letter winners will tinker with an offense and a defense that suits them just fine.
“John Cord and Jacey Hoegh…they’re very versatile players that we can put wherever,” Blazek says.
“With them leading the way and whatever combination we have, I think we’re going to have some pretty capable scorers.”
The biggest question mark for the Trojans this season is at point guard as they will look to replace three-year starter Chris VanCleave. The graduated VanCleave didn’t bring a flashy scoring average, but proved an excellent ball handler and floor general, who ran the team’s offense effectively.
Bringing back Hoegh and Cord a year older and bigger will certainly help compensate for this hole some, but Blazek says the team is bringing along three guards who can shoot and run the offense in seniors Zach Knuth, Zach Christianson and junior Taylor Petersen.
That, coupled with Hoegh and Cord’s versatility on the perimeter and in the post, will pick up the slack until the new points gets comfortable and well-organized.
The flexible and multi-purpose players in this puzzle make Atlantic’s roster about 7-9 players deep, depending upon the development of some. But regardless of growth on the bottom end of the varsity bench, the pieces already in place for Atlantic make them a resourceful squad with options.
It’s a nice luxury to have as many times, the team will look to run their offense through Hoegh, a starter at the No. 4 position.
Blazek says he’s excited in the improvement he’s seen from Hoegh on the perimeter, a facet that makes the 6-foot-4, 205 pound senior a more complete high school player.
“He’s just a good all-around basketball player,” Blazek says of Hoegh. “He can score, we can put him to guard at any of the five positions, he communicates well and he’s a leader. Jacey’s got a very high basketball IQ.”
Cord, for his part, comes into his senior season as just his second as a full-time starter. But over the course of the season last winter, Cord developed at such a rate that he finished rivaling Hoegh as the leading scorer as both finished with averages in the mid-teens with just under double-digit rebounding averages.
Cord (6-foot-5 and 185 pounds), comes into this season stronger and more confident, says Blazek.
“He can put it on the floor, he can put it on the block or he can hit the three,” Blazek says of Cord. “He’s only 6-foot-5 but he plays bigger than that. He’s pretty darn long.”
Inside, Atlantic will hammer away in the paint with junior Chet Meneely and senior Jeremy Petersen. On nights when the Trojans go with a bigger lineup, three posts will take the floor with one of them able to float on the wing. Returning letter winner Brandon Schuler will also figure into the mix in different roles and will join Knuth, Christianson and Petersen in a shared responsibility.
“They are all very capable shooters and are able of moving the ball around and inside,” Blazek says. “But there are going to be nights when teams will just look to keep the ball out of Cord and Hoegh’s hands inside, so those guys will be needed to make the perimeter shots to open the floor up.”
Hawkeye 10 Outlook:
Harlan is likely once again the preseason favorite for Hawkeye 10 title contention because they return enough from last year’s team that went 24-3 and dropped a YouTube buzzer to Dubuque Wahlert in the Class 3A Championship game.
Cyclones coach Mitch Osborn has had his teams reach the state tournament in five of the last six years, two of those yielding state championships and two more ending as runner up.
Glenwood returns a lot, Lewis Central lost their top two big men from last year’s Hawkeye 10 Championship team but should be competitive by their sheer athleticism, while a coaching change in Denison might add the Monarchs into the race.
Veteran coach Don Lyons spent the last 20 years as the girls' head basketball coach at Denison where he accumulated a record of 322 wins (121 losses) for the Lady Monarchs. Lyons has taken seven girls teams to the state tournament.
“It’s a pretty competitive league from top to bottom,” Blazek says. “Like always, if you don’t show up to play, you’re going to be in trouble.”
For parts of last season, that kind of identify and expectations seemed well-founded. At other times, inconsistency took its toll and ultimately the Trojans lost ground in a tight race amongst the top half of the Hawkeye 10.
But this winter, the Trojans anchored by a pair of the Hawkeye 10’s top returning scorers, might indeed have the right recipe to knock from the top of the hill the likes of Lewis Central and Harlan. At AHS, expectations and goals are blunt.
“Our number one goal is obvious, we want to compete for a conference championship,” Trojans coach Steve Blazek said.
Part of the reason Atlantic can expect as much is plain old familiarity. Seniors Jacey Hoegh and John Cord return as maybe the Hawkeye 10’s top 1-2 scoring threats, not to mention the size they bring, while five other returning letter winners will tinker with an offense and a defense that suits them just fine.
“John Cord and Jacey Hoegh…they’re very versatile players that we can put wherever,” Blazek says.
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The biggest question mark for the Trojans this season is at point guard as they will look to replace three-year starter Chris VanCleave. The graduated VanCleave didn’t bring a flashy scoring average, but proved an excellent ball handler and floor general, who ran the team’s offense effectively.
Bringing back Hoegh and Cord a year older and bigger will certainly help compensate for this hole some, but Blazek says the team is bringing along three guards who can shoot and run the offense in seniors Zach Knuth, Zach Christianson and junior Taylor Petersen.
That, coupled with Hoegh and Cord’s versatility on the perimeter and in the post, will pick up the slack until the new points gets comfortable and well-organized.
The flexible and multi-purpose players in this puzzle make Atlantic’s roster about 7-9 players deep, depending upon the development of some. But regardless of growth on the bottom end of the varsity bench, the pieces already in place for Atlantic make them a resourceful squad with options.
It’s a nice luxury to have as many times, the team will look to run their offense through Hoegh, a starter at the No. 4 position.
Blazek says he’s excited in the improvement he’s seen from Hoegh on the perimeter, a facet that makes the 6-foot-4, 205 pound senior a more complete high school player.
“He’s just a good all-around basketball player,” Blazek says of Hoegh. “He can score, we can put him to guard at any of the five positions, he communicates well and he’s a leader. Jacey’s got a very high basketball IQ.”
Cord, for his part, comes into his senior season as just his second as a full-time starter. But over the course of the season last winter, Cord developed at such a rate that he finished rivaling Hoegh as the leading scorer as both finished with averages in the mid-teens with just under double-digit rebounding averages.
Cord (6-foot-5 and 185 pounds), comes into this season stronger and more confident, says Blazek.
“He can put it on the floor, he can put it on the block or he can hit the three,” Blazek says of Cord. “He’s only 6-foot-5 but he plays bigger than that. He’s pretty darn long.”
Inside, Atlantic will hammer away in the paint with junior Chet Meneely and senior Jeremy Petersen. On nights when the Trojans go with a bigger lineup, three posts will take the floor with one of them able to float on the wing. Returning letter winner Brandon Schuler will also figure into the mix in different roles and will join Knuth, Christianson and Petersen in a shared responsibility.
“They are all very capable shooters and are able of moving the ball around and inside,” Blazek says. “But there are going to be nights when teams will just look to keep the ball out of Cord and Hoegh’s hands inside, so those guys will be needed to make the perimeter shots to open the floor up.”
Hawkeye 10 Outlook:
Harlan is likely once again the preseason favorite for Hawkeye 10 title contention because they return enough from last year’s team that went 24-3 and dropped a YouTube buzzer to Dubuque Wahlert in the Class 3A Championship game.
Cyclones coach Mitch Osborn has had his teams reach the state tournament in five of the last six years, two of those yielding state championships and two more ending as runner up.
Glenwood returns a lot, Lewis Central lost their top two big men from last year’s Hawkeye 10 Championship team but should be competitive by their sheer athleticism, while a coaching change in Denison might add the Monarchs into the race.
Veteran coach Don Lyons spent the last 20 years as the girls' head basketball coach at Denison where he accumulated a record of 322 wins (121 losses) for the Lady Monarchs. Lyons has taken seven girls teams to the state tournament.
“It’s a pretty competitive league from top to bottom,” Blazek says. “Like always, if you don’t show up to play, you’re going to be in trouble.”
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