The fact remains that it has been since the 1980s since the Colts last had a winning season. Turning that around is somewhat improbable, if not near impossible.
The move to the Portage Trail Conference was supposed to be somewhat of a solvent for the struggles but year 1 in the new league produced more of the same. Banks, who replaced Marty Ryan, takes over a team that finished 2-21 a year ago, 2-12 in the PTC’s Metro Division.
“I fully understand that is going to be a tough road ahead but the feedback from the parents has been very positive,” Banks said.
Timmy Schuerger led a class of seven seniors who graduated. Schuerger scored 16 points per game and was a solid outside player. The Colts lacked a good No. 2 option and had trouble scoring against most opponents.
On top of that, they were a little leaky at the defensive end, allowing more than 70 points per game. That will be the easier end to fix, if the Colts want it to be. Offense may come a bit slower, with 5-foot-10 shooting guard Tyler Kapeluck as the only returning player to average even 6 points per game a year ago.
Upon his resignation, Ryan said the program at the lower levels was shaping up. It could be a while before that translates to much at the varsity level.
That being said, Banks is going to try to build from the ground up and in doing so will play a lot of young players, who may take some lumps before getting things headed in the right direction.
“We’re going with the youth movement with two freshmen and one sophomore (starters),” Banks said. “(We’re) also using two more freshmen in the rotation.”
That leaves Kapeluck as the lone senior in the starting lineup. Classmates Ryan Gutschow (6-4, forward/center), Dylan Starcher (6-3 center), Dillon Peterson (6-1 forward/center) and Jim Fazio (5-9 guard) are other seniors who will see the floor.
Travis Hissom, a 6-foot junior forward, will be the other veteran in the starting lineup, which will include for the time being 6-2 sophomore forward Nick Bailey, 6-4 freshman center Sylar Jones and 6-4 freshman guard Brycen Holliday.
Sophomores Donavan Nichols (6-0 guard) and Robert Rivera (5-11 sophomore guard) are also part of the present and future, as are 6-1 freshman forward Joe Rhode, 5-10 freshman guard Cruz Severson and 5-10 freshman guard Matt Tanko.
With so many underclassmen figuring in, the natural thought would be that the Colts will continue to struggle. Banks doesn’t want any part of that, though. He wants the team to compete and win as much as possible, hopefully ending a string of losing that has spanned two generations.
“Our outlook for this season is to be the first team in the last 20 years or so to have a winning record,” Banks said. “We have to change the culture and the perception of Cloverleaf basketball by starting to be hands-on with our youth program and junior high teams.”