MOUNT VERNON – It took all season for the Mount Vernon boys basketball team to get good momentum, only to go down to an unfortunate draw.
The Yellowjackets won four out of five before getting bounced in the Division I sectional finals against eventual state runner-up Westerville Central. Mount Vernon coach Nick Coon hopes that momentum can be carried to the start of the 2021-22 season.
Coon, in his seventh season as head coach at Mount Vernon, lost five seniors to graduation, including top scorer Blake Meyer (12.4 points per game). Meyer was also second on the team in rebounds (6.1) and assists (2.1).
This season, the mantle of on-court leader is expected to go to Beau Bridges, who was second in scoring (9.3) and first in rebounds (6.3). Joining Bridges as seniors will be Owynn Gleason and Nolan Belcher.
Mount Vernon’s third leading scorer from last season, Hudson Rohler, is expected to miss the season with a torn ACL. Caden Rowland, Ben Bridges and Trevor Buttke are juniors who are expected to fill Rohler’s role and compete for minutes in 2021-22.
With tryouts not scheduled until this week and next week, and the season set to begin Nov. 24 at Centerburg, the Jackets still have more questions than answers. Coon preaches every year for his players to “be prepared, be committed, be passionate,” as his motto goes.
Last season, the Jackets finished the season with a 7-12 regular-season record, including 6-6 in Ohio Cardinal Conference play.
