The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1432310
D-2 Winter Sports Preview Wednesday, November 24, 2021 The Press-Dispatch See MINDSET on page 8 GO CHARGERS! Willis & Company, p.C. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS & CONSULTANTS Gregory K. Willis, CPA • Carla D. Willis, CPA 705 MAIN ST., PETERSBURG • (812) 354-6274 FAx: (812) 354-6974 Members American Institute of Certified Public Accountants • Indiana CPA Society GOOD LUCK Chargers! Locally Owned and Operated Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th Street, Petersburg • 812-354-9400 Mon. 8am-7pm, Tues. 8am-noon, Wed. 10am-7pm, Thurs-Fri. 8am-5pm call for an appointment or come in and check out our selection. The 2021-2022 Pike Central boys' basketball varsity and junior varsity players are, front row (l to r): Chase Ridao, Alex Clark, Zack Miller and Zane Gehlhausen; mid- dle row: Braden Howald, Quade Morton and Jagar Dent; back row: Julian Gish, Kendric Sorgius, Peyton Howald and Lucas Taylor. The 2021-2022 Pike Central boys' basketball freshman players are, front row (l to r): Kole Besing, Nate Carter and Albert Whitehead; middle row: Noah Meece, Drew Dawson, Ryan Whann and Conner Loveless; back row: Jace Himsel, Jakob Newkirk, Matthew Meadows, Brenton Fryrear and Barrett Cooper. Chargers have a winning mindset for the 2021-2022 season By Matthew Haycraft The Pike Central Charger boys' basketball team seems to be prepared to hit the hardwood and take on the 2021-2022 sea- son. Last year's team finished the regular season with a 3-17 overall record, including a 1- 11 mark in the PAC. They also had one senior, Sean Hansel- man, be named to the basket- ball All-Pocket Athletic Confer- ence Honorable Mention team. Coach Hunter Elliott com- mented that the team lost six seniors to graduation last year that had been under his coach- ing all the way through their high school basketball ca- reers. He stated they will all be missed, and some were start- ers, so there are some definite holes that will need to be filled this year. "We definitely have more play- ers this year. It's kind of a weird situation, especially when you have younger kids playing up more and freshmen starting var- sity, kind of throws off the bal- ance and everything. So they keep getting better. So having one senior's a little bit different, but he's one that's very dedicat- ed. It's one of those things that if you want to be here, it's a long season, and I want to expect a lot out of you. But as far as num- bers, we're pretty good with 23. We'll be able to have a freshman team again, which is good, we didn't have one last year. We had about 19 last year and we may- be could have, but it would have been cutting it close." A lot of the players are from other fall and spring sports, so the team will most certainly be very athletic this year. The team only has one lone senior this year, Alex Clark, 6'1", and he will be a forward on the varsity team, after splitting last year between the junior varsity and varsity. Coach Elliott said, "He did a lot of really good things on the varsity level and had some re- ally big scoring games JV wise last year. This summer, he's done a really nice job of lead- ing and, you know, kind of buy- ing into his role, and he's really been playing well for us." Clark commented, "I just want to be able to go out there and help the team get wins, what- ever I can do, whatever my role needs to be this year. I think we can do big things this year, and go out there and surprise some people." The varsity squad this year is made up of four juniors, four sophomores and Clark. The ju- nior varsity team has one junior, playing for both JV and varsi- ty, three sophomores and four freshman. On the varsity team, junior Kendric Sorgius stands at 6'6" and has grown since last sea- son. He played a lot of really big games for the Chargers last year, and has put a lot of time in the weight room. He has got-