Members of the JA boys varsity basketball team are from left, front row, Jackson Izzard, Daniel Heinig, Nick Zuro, Henry Walker, Logan Stevens and Jack Santa-Emma; back row, assistant coach Ryan Swinehart, Connor Reed, Drew Begin, head coach Brent Cahill, Jacob Koenig, Preston Gower and assistant coach Andy Clark.
(Photo submitted)
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Jonathan Alder High School’s boys basketball squad will be led by five returning lettermen during the 2018-19 season.
Those veterans include senior Jacob Koenig, who averaged 12.2 points per game; juniors Jackie Santa-Emma (10.6), Henry Walker (6.3) and Daniel Heinig (3.0) and sophomore Jackson Izzard (4.5).
They helped the Pioneers capture a Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division championship last season with a 12-1 record.
Alder posted an overall mark of 18-5 during the 2017-18 campaign.
“With five returning lettermen, experience is going to be one of our strengths,” said JA head coach Brent Cahill. “We also have some very strong shooters from the perimeter in Jacob, Jackie and Jackson.”
Walker and Heinig will give the Pioneers a solid inside presence as well as they respectively stand 6-6 and 6-5.
Sophmore Nick Zuro, at 6-6, will give JA additional post depth off the bench.
Rounding out the varsity roster are Preston, 5-8, junior; Drew Begin, 6-0 junior; Connor Reed, 5-9, junior; and Logan Stevens, 6-3 junior.
Cahill feels the Pioneers have the potential to capture another CBC divisional title.
However, he realizes it’s not going to be easy.
“The addition of London this year will make the conference very competitive,” he said.
Cahill is hoping that a competitive conference schedule will help prepare the Pioneers for an additional goal.
“We not only want to win the conference championship, but also make it to the Division II district championship game,” he said.