Graduation creates holes for Hornets

Advance coach Joe Shoemaker is not shy about admitting how difficult it will be to replace the members of last year's senior class that helped the Hornets to another 20-win season.

"We lose about 80 percent of our scoring and rebounding," Shoemaker said. "We lose four starters off that crew, and it's going to hurt."

But Shoemaker said he thinks his team will play tough.

"I think we'll be all right," he said. "We tried to play a lot during the summer because we were losing so much from last year's team. We did a lot of the MAYB, shootouts and camps and stuff like that. We tried to make up for the experience we lost."

Advance certainly loses some offense by graduating Alex Steil, who was a two-time all-state guard and helped earn the Hornets a trip to the Class 2 final four two winters ago.

Shoemaker will call upon the only two players to receive starts from last year's squad -- 6-foot-3 forward David VanGennip and 6-0 guard Jacob Bond -- to help with the scoring load.

VanGennip can shoot well from the outside and drive to the basket. Bond, who will be the shooting guard, is a strong all-around player who improved this summer after spending time at the gym, Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker also thinks 6-3 senior Chris Welch will be an important scoring option, replacing Trenton Moses at center. He added that senior Cody Mitchell (6-2) will be called upon to play inside. Mitchell does have a broken hand and will be out approximately four weeks.

Nate Middelton will take over the point guard duties.

"He didn't get much playing time last year, but he's really working hard so far this year," Shoemaker said. "He was our backup point guard last year and got some minutes last year, but he's impressed me so far this year. He knows the offense well."

Shoemaker also said his team has some depth as he has a number of options off the bench, including Cory Cooper, Blake Lingle, Blake Seabaugh and Cody VanGennip, a defensive player who plays inside.