The East Knox Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they went 20-7 overall and 8-4 in Knox Morrow Athletic Conference play.
Their postseason run was a huge and and long one, as they won four playoff games. EK coach Ryan Powell hopes that this year’s group can show this kind of success again with “attitude and effort.”
“Ethan Rine, Nathan Streby, Mitchell Williams and Dustin Springer need to lead and step up this year,” said Powell, who is in his 10th year coaching and sixth at East Knox. “To this point, sophomore Corbin Poff is our most improved from last season.”
The team will be using a spread offense and a man-to-man defense this season. Powell said that the team has the potential to play good defense, but rebounding is a concern.
The team lost two of its top players to graduation in Shane Knepp and Sam Whitney. Knepp was the KMAC top scorer at 17.4 points per game, first in steals and second in assists last year while being named first team All-KMAC. Whitney was one of the conference’s top rebounders and defenders last season, ranking fifth in rebounds and fourth in blocked shots.
“We should be balanced on offense,” Powell said. “We need to replace a lot of points due to graduation.”
Powell added, “We expect to improve every day and to be competitive with every team on our schedule.”
East Knox kicks off the season on Dec. 2 against Amanda-Clearcreek at home with a 7:30 p.m. tip off.
