Northeastern Head Coach Brent Ross conducts a drill during a pre-season practice.
FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. – Balance will be a key for the Northeastern boys basketball team as Brent Ross begins his ninth season as the head coach of the Knights.
“This year on any given night one through nine somebody is going to be able to put up some numbers,” Ross said. “They share the basketball very well, so this will be more of an overall team effort.”
The eighth-ranked Knights are looking for a fifth straight Tri-Eastern Conference title after going 22-6 last season and 7-0 in the league.
“They’re working hard and our system is in place, so we will continue to do some of the same things we have done over the past several years,” Ross said. “Stability in a our coaching staff has been huge. They know what to expect.”
Along with depth, defense should be a strength of the Knights, who also won their fourth sectional in a row.
“Defensively, we ought to be pretty solid,” Ross said. “You never know until you start playing other teams. You don’t really know for sure what your weaknesses all are because they will get exposed really quick.”
All-TEC Honorable Mention choice Freeman Brou is the top scorer (10.2 PPG) and rebounder (5.3 RPG) returning along with fellow senior Alex Reynolds.
The juniors on the roster are Cole Mikesell, Quantrell Gammon, Jalen Hillard, Isiah Loftis, Michael While, Blake Hancock and Caylor Fisher.
Jordan Stolle is the second-leading returning scorer at 5.7 PPG. The other sophomore is Austin Burkhart. Carter Lumpkin and Kolden Vanlandingham are freshmen.
Northeastern was scheduled to open the season on Tuesday at Monroe Central, but that contest has been postponed with no makeup date announced. The first game for the Knights now is at home on Saturday against Morristown.
The Knights travel to Centerville for their first TEC contest on Friday, Dec. 1.