Jonathan Alder’s Blake Atkins goes up for a shot against Columbus Bishop Watterson during the Division II district title game. The Pioneers will travel to Vandalia-Butler High School on Thursday to face Kettering Alter in the regional semifinals.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Jonathan Alder’s boys basketball squad will take another step along the Division II tournament trail this evening.
The Pioneers (16-9) will face Kettering Alter (19-7) during the regional semifinals.
The contest will tip off at 6 p.m. at Vandalia-Butler High School.
Alder head coach Derek Dicke said preparation this week has pretty much followed what the team has done throughout the season.
“It’s been similar to what we’ve done in the past,” he said. “We brought the guys in on Sunday to watch some film and after that, it’s been practice as usual.”
The Pioneers have had the benefit of not only watching the Knights on tape, but also receiving an in-person scouting report.
“A couple of our assistant coaches drove over to the University of Dayton to watch them in their district championship game (a 64-54 triumph over Cincinnati McNicholas),” said Dicke. “They were able to get back to Central Crossing for our championship game later on Saturday.”
Alder earned its first boys district title since 1979 with a 54-44 victory over Columbus Bishop Watterson.
The Knights will present a size issue for the Pioneers.
Charlie Uhl (6-8), Matt Lunne (6-7), Brady Connor (6-6) and Nacieve Fenton (6-5) will help comprise one of the taller units Jonathan Alder has faced this campaign.
Kettering Alter finished the 2023-24 season ranked ninth in the Associated Press state poll.
“They’re ranked in the top 10 among Division II teams in the state for a reason,” said Dicke.
Along with a size advantage, the Knights will mix up their zone defensive coverages.
“They’re going to show us both 1-3-1 and 3-2 zones,” said Dicke.
Those alignments will be used to try and prevent the Pioneers from penetrating inside for layups.
“The way to defeat those defenses is to get passes into the dead zone and work both inside and outside,” said Dicke.
Jonathan Alder is led by Peyton Heiss, the lone senior on the roster.
He was recently named the Central District Division II player of the year and is averaging approximately 24 points per game.
“Peyton has been our leader the last two seasons,” said Dicke. “He helps us with our core values which include passion and accountability.
“Everyone on the team is expected to play up to our standards,” said the coach. “Our younger guys have showed a great deal of maturity in living up to that.”
Dicke said it won’t take just one person to defeat Kettering Alter and advance to Saturday’s regional championship game.
“No one is going to have to be ‘Superman,’” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to take all of us to win this game and advance to the regional championship game.”
Tonight’s game will be followed by the other regional semifinal at 8 p.m.
The evening’s nightcap will be between Cincinnati Wyoming (23-3), the sixth-ranked team in the final state poll, and Hamilton Badin (16-10).
The winners will return to Vandalia-Butler for Saturday’s regional championship game at 2 p.m.
The winner of Saturday’s contest will earn a berth in the Division II state Final Four.