'Cats hope to pounce with quickness

Leopold's Matt Stoverink prepared to shoot a free-throw in the third quarter Tuesday at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. (AARON EISENHAUER ~ photos@semissourian.com) [Click to enlarge]

Leopold coach Shawn Dugger graduated his center, point guard and one of his forwards from last year's 8-15 Wildcats squad, but he's not worried.

"This group here potentially is quick," he said. "I think our team speed will be faster than it was last year. So that should help out a lot."

That team speed helps out Dugger because he's a coach who likes to center his game strategy on playing strong defense and being able to press opposing offenses, and also use a man-to-man defense.

"I've got some guys who aren't huge, but they've got some long arms and they're quick and they get up and down the floor," Dugger said. "So we will try to score as much off of our defense as we can."

Returning to the Wildcats' starting lineup is shooting guard Darren VanGennip, one of the team's top scorers last year. He can post up inside and shoot the ball well from outside.

Junior Darren VanGennip was among the Wildcats' top scorers last season. (Kit Doyle) [Click to enlarge]

Cody Van De Ven also returns at point guard.

Jordan Jansen and Trent Vandeven will also likely see some minutes.

Replacing Eric Fluchel at center will be Dustin Thiele, a 6-foot-2 junior, and Larry Nussbaum, a 6-2 sophomore. Both will likely see action at forward and center. Junior Clayton Stoverink will also play some forward.

"I don't think our size is down," Dugger said. "Dustin has got long, lengthy arms. They're both long and they're both quick. They work hard and get after people on defense and they bring a lot of energy."

Nussbaum received minutes on the varsity last year.

"I expect them to compete and I expect them to win a lot of games this year," Dugger said.