Pirates had bright spots among struggles
Boys team won two games, but had individual standouts
Curtis Roupe had a sensational individual season for Black River, which struggled from a team standpoint. Photo by BRUCE BILLOW
As Black River boys basketball coach Josh Calame surveys his team’s recently-completed season, there simply isn’t much to be optimistic about – at first.
“There’s not much to say,” Calame said. “We finished the year 2-21, so what do you say? It just didn’t go the way we wanted to.”
The Pirates finished last in the Patriot Athletic Conference’s Stars Division with a 2-14 record – 11 games behind champion Buckeye. Then, in a Wooster Division III sectional opener, Northwestern beat Black River 90-36.
A second glance at the season, however, proves the maxim that the darkest of times often brings out the best in all of us. Calame got to witness that up close and personal with the players on his team.
“I’m proud of the kids for staying committed and showing up every day and working hard,” he said. “Nobody enjoys a 2-21 year but they came to practice every day with a good attitude and they worked hard, and that’s all I can ask when you struggle through a year like this.”
The five seniors Calame and staff must bid adieu to represent more than just a class. These players are the first bookend of Calame’s tenure with the Pirates.
“This group is special to me because they were freshman when I took over,” the coach said. “These five who are still here stuck it out. We’ve endured a lot; there were some tough years and a lot of losing, but they stuck it out. So they’re a special group and I appreciate everything they’ve given us.”
Among those leaving is 6-foot-3 forward Curtis Roupe. Roupe, an All-Ohio offensive lineman on the Pirates’ football squad that made the state playoffs, anticipated more success than he experienced. And by being a double-double machine at 22 points and 14 rebounds a game, Roupe certainly held up his end of the bargain.
“I thought we’d do better at the beginning of the year,” Roupe said. “I wasn’t expecting this, but it is what it is. We’ve got to move on and I hope the best for these guys next year.”
Calame cannot estimate the effect Roupe had on his fellow teammates as well as Black River’s fortunes over the season.
“My goodness, he’s had a great career, a great four years,” Calame said. “Been with me since I took this thing over and he’s had a great career – a thousand-point scorer. Great leader, great competitor, and I’ve got nothing but positives to say about him.”
Also departing are forward Mike Hazlett and Seth Pluta, as well as guards Brandon Wine and Matthew Potter. Along with Roupe, Potter was a starter on this season’s squad.
Calame will be looking for several juniors who already have starting experience to assume the leadership positions vacated by Roupe and Potter. Key among them is guard Zach Hawley.
“Zach Hawley is a junior who has had a great year for us,” Calame said. “He had a great year as a sophomore last year and he has continued. He’s the type of kid who never gives up, he goes a hundred miles an hour all the time and he gives everything he has. He’ll be a leader next year.”
There are two other junior starters who will assume the reins of the team alongside Hawley.
“River Wheeler will be coming back from a solid year,” Calame said. “Garret Hord is a great defensive player; he’ll also be a leader for us next year.”
At the sophomore level, forward Brennan Scheck and guard Blake Widenmeyer will join with Jonathon Herb, who towers at an imposing 6-foot-8.
Herb is a raw prospect with tons of potential that could strike fear in opposing teams. Calame believes if he puts in the work, the payoff could be big.
“If he can work at it in the offseason, learn to get a little quicker, get a little better fundamentally, he’ll be good to go,” Calame said. “Obviously, you can’t teach 6-8.”
Finally, on the horizon is a group of players who may help in transforming Black River’s program into a yearly competitor with regular infusions of talent.
“Our seventh-grade group this year had a very good year so as they come up through the program,” Calame said. “We’re looking forward to having them, but that’s still a few years off.”
“There’s not much to say,” Calame said. “We finished the year 2-21, so what do you say? It just didn’t go the way we wanted to.”
The Pirates finished last in the Patriot Athletic Conference’s Stars Division with a 2-14 record – 11 games behind champion Buckeye. Then, in a Wooster Division III sectional opener, Northwestern beat Black River 90-36.
A second glance at the season, however, proves the maxim that the darkest of times often brings out the best in all of us. Calame got to witness that up close and personal with the players on his team.
“I’m proud of the kids for staying committed and showing up every day and working hard,” he said. “Nobody enjoys a 2-21 year but they came to practice every day with a good attitude and they worked hard, and that’s all I can ask when you struggle through a year like this.”
The five seniors Calame and staff must bid adieu to represent more than just a class. These players are the first bookend of Calame’s tenure with the Pirates.
“This group is special to me because they were freshman when I took over,” the coach said. “These five who are still here stuck it out. We’ve endured a lot; there were some tough years and a lot of losing, but they stuck it out. So they’re a special group and I appreciate everything they’ve given us.”
Among those leaving is 6-foot-3 forward Curtis Roupe. Roupe, an All-Ohio offensive lineman on the Pirates’ football squad that made the state playoffs, anticipated more success than he experienced. And by being a double-double machine at 22 points and 14 rebounds a game, Roupe certainly held up his end of the bargain.
“I thought we’d do better at the beginning of the year,” Roupe said. “I wasn’t expecting this, but it is what it is. We’ve got to move on and I hope the best for these guys next year.”
Calame cannot estimate the effect Roupe had on his fellow teammates as well as Black River’s fortunes over the season.
“My goodness, he’s had a great career, a great four years,” Calame said. “Been with me since I took this thing over and he’s had a great career – a thousand-point scorer. Great leader, great competitor, and I’ve got nothing but positives to say about him.”
Also departing are forward Mike Hazlett and Seth Pluta, as well as guards Brandon Wine and Matthew Potter. Along with Roupe, Potter was a starter on this season’s squad.
Calame will be looking for several juniors who already have starting experience to assume the leadership positions vacated by Roupe and Potter. Key among them is guard Zach Hawley.
“Zach Hawley is a junior who has had a great year for us,” Calame said. “He had a great year as a sophomore last year and he has continued. He’s the type of kid who never gives up, he goes a hundred miles an hour all the time and he gives everything he has. He’ll be a leader next year.”
There are two other junior starters who will assume the reins of the team alongside Hawley.
“River Wheeler will be coming back from a solid year,” Calame said. “Garret Hord is a great defensive player; he’ll also be a leader for us next year.”
At the sophomore level, forward Brennan Scheck and guard Blake Widenmeyer will join with Jonathon Herb, who towers at an imposing 6-foot-8.
Herb is a raw prospect with tons of potential that could strike fear in opposing teams. Calame believes if he puts in the work, the payoff could be big.
“If he can work at it in the offseason, learn to get a little quicker, get a little better fundamentally, he’ll be good to go,” Calame said. “Obviously, you can’t teach 6-8.”
Finally, on the horizon is a group of players who may help in transforming Black River’s program into a yearly competitor with regular infusions of talent.
“Our seventh-grade group this year had a very good year so as they come up through the program,” Calame said. “We’re looking forward to having them, but that’s still a few years off.”