KELLY HAWKS' SENIORS READY FOR FINALE

The four seniors on the Kelly boys basketball team have known only one high school basketball coach at the school.

Entering his fourth-year as coach of the Hawks, Kent Mangels is looking forward coaching those seniors through their final season.

"This group of seniors were freshman when I got here, so this group is special," said Mangels. "Hopefully this will be the year we can break through."

The Hawks return several players from last year's 13-12 team. Seniors Denver Stuckey (6-1), Ben Klipfel (6-1), Mike Riley (6-1) and Nathan Dirnberger (6-0) will provide leadership and talent along with all-conference junior Jim Hulshof (6-2).

"We can be tough either inside or out," Mangels said. "We've got pretty good size up and down the lineup and we will get up and down the floor. We can start five players over 6-1."

Despite playing in only 14 games due to an injury last season, Stuckey returns as an all-conference selection at point guard.

"We did a great job without him, but I wonder what we could have done with him," Mangels said.

Stuckey and Hulshof both averaged about 13 points per game.

"Jim does a tremendous job, especially behind the 3-point line," said Mangels.

Klipfel provided a spark off the bench last year, but will likely start this season at forward. Riley is Kelly's top defensive player and Dirnberger's strength will be counted on for several rebounds in the paint.

Junior Jason Glastetter (6-1) is one of the Hawks most athletic players who could provide points on the inside or on the perimeter.

"He'll play the post for us, but when he plays AAU ball, he plays the point," Mangels said. "He can score inside and out."

Forward Russ Mothershead led the 17-6 junior varsity last year with 17 points per game. He'll also make it into the regular rotation.

"Our top seven will play quite a bit," Mangels said. "They're all about 6-1 or 6-2, athletic and hard to guard,"

Other players fighting for playing time are senior Joe Livingston and juniors Kenny New (6-5), Aaron Johnson, Daniel Mothershead and Nathan King.

"Expectations are very high and we feel we can win quite a few games," Mangels said of this group of players that went 20-3 on the JV level two years ago. "JV ball and varsity ball are very different, but we feel we could have a great year."

The Hawks open their season in the Oran Invitational Dec. 1.