Saxony Lutheran preview: Crusaders' first seniors hope to complete careers with another winning campaign

Saxony Lutheran's first basketball practice was more like a reunion than a get-to-know-you session.

The Crusaders return all five starters from last season -- including four seniors making up the first group to complete four years of participation in any sports program at the school.

"It's good to have all of our key players back and have them familiar with our system," Saxony Lutheran coach John Daniel said. "But we've had so many injuries, we have not had our starting five on the floor at the same time during practice yet."

That starting five, when healthy, will include seniors Trey Maevers, Lauren Lueders, Casey Petzoldt and Tim Lorenz, and junior Alex Jauch. Lorenz, at 6-foot-4, works in the post for the Crusaders, while Petzoldt is the team's most versatile player and most dangerous weapon. Maevers and Lueders -- who signed earlier this month to play women's basketball for Division I power Vanderbilt -- run the backcourt. All five players have shown the ability to score in double figures in Saxony's balanced attack.

Off the bench, Daniel can count on sophomores Max Wieser, Ben Courtois and Austin Kwikkel.

"We do have very balanced scoring, and I expect it to be more balanced this year," Daniel said. "Each year, our bench has given us more scoring than the year before."

Saxony will be in the race for conference and district titles but defending MVC champ Meadow Heights and final four participant Bell City represent formidable road blocks.

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Coach: John Daniel, third season

Assistant: Nathan Brown

Last season: 18-8, Class 1 district semifinalist

Conference: Mississippi Valley Conference

Returning starters

Trey Maevers 5-8 Sr. G

Lauren Lueders 5-8 Sr. G

Casey Petzoldt 6-2 Sr. F

Alex Jauch 6-2 Jr. F

Tim Lorenz 6-4 Sr. C

Rest of roster

Ross Gage, 6-0, Fr., F; Garrett Ruppel, 5-7, So., G; Zach Bohnert, 6-0, So., F; Brett Steffens, 6-2, Fr., F; Max Wieser, 6-0, So., F; Ben Courtois, 6-1, So., F; Austin Kwikkel, 6-3, So., F

Schedule

Nov. 22 -- Oak Ridge, 6 p.m.

Nov. 26 -- at COS Lutheran, 2 p.m.

Dec. 2 -- Chaffee, 6 p.m.

Dec. 10 -- St. Pius (Heartland Hoopfest), 3:50 p.m.

Dec. 13 -- at Oak Ridge, 6 p.m.

Dec. 17 -- at Marquand, 2 p.m.

Dec. 22 -- at Valle, 6 p.m.

Dec. 27-30 -- Saxony Christmas tournament

Jan. 5 -- at Oran, 6 p.m.

Jan. 7 -- Fredericktown (Central Shootout), noon

Jan. 9-14 -- Chester tournament

Jan. 17 -- at Ste. Genevieve, 6 p.m.

Jan. 20 -- Notre Dame, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 -- at Delta, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 30-Feb. 4 -- Mississippi Valley Conf. tournament

Feb. 10 -- Leopold, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 -- Meadow Heights, 6 p.m.

Feb. 17 -- at Zalma, 6 p.m.

Feb. 21 -- Marquand, 6 p.m.