Jonathan Alder’s boys varsity basketball squad is pictured from left front row, Jackson Izzard, Jonathan Keith, Peyton Heiss, Tyler Begin, Gibby Wilson, Grant Welsch, Nick Riedel, Rod Brandel and Taber Headings; second row, Joey Walker, coach Denny Klenowski, coach Thomas Urban, head coach Zach Ross, coach Luke Harrington, coach Scott Heiss and Gavin Heimlich. (Photo submitted)
The Jonathan Alder boys basketball team will have a somewhat new look for the 2020-21 campaign.
The Pioneers, who finished as the Division II district runner-up to Columbus St. Francis DeSales, lost key players in Jackie Santa-Emma and 6-7 Henry Walker.
Alder, however, has three solid veterans returning for a squad that posted an overall record of 20-5.
JA also captured the Central Buckeye Conference’s Kenton Trail Division with a 9-1 mark.
Jackson Izzard, who averaged 14 points per game, is back as the team’s top shooting guard.
Point guard Grant Welsch averaged nearly five points per contest, while strong forward Tyler Begin averaged 2.2.
The Alder varsity roster will have several new faces in seniors Gavin Heimlich, Nick Reidel and Rodney Brandel; juniors Taber Headings, Joey Walker and Jon Keith; and freshman Peyton Heiss.
“We’re hoping to replace our departed seniors with our depth and having new people step up in the lineup,” said second-year head coach Zach Ross.
“We have a good deal of depth, but we’re lacking in varsity experience,” he said.
The Pioneers unveiled a more up-tempo type of game during Ross’ first season at the helm.
The team responded well with the CBC divisional title.
Jonathan Alder then fell to DeSales in the district championship game when a late JA shot attempt failed to fall.
Ross installed a set of values when he took over the program during the summer of 2019.
“Once again, we hope to live up to our core values of playing together and play with passion, grit and humility,” he said.
Although the Pioneers have lost a couple of key players, Ross has high goals set for the 2020-21 team.
“We hope to be able to play for another CBC Kenton Trail championship this year,” said Ross.
Alder claimed the Kenton Trail crown by one game over London (8-2) last winter.
The Red Raiders and Kenton Ridge figure to once again challenge the Pioneers for the championship.