Berean boys seek state return

ELBING — The Berean Academy boys’ basketball team will again have its usual high expectations for the upcoming season, but will do it with some new faces in the starting lineup.

Lewis Wiebe begins his 27th season as the Warriors’ head coach. He is 483-132 at Berean and 645-204 in his career. He is assisted by Joel Stucky, who will also handle the junior varsity and C team.

The Warriors were 24-1 last season, 9-0 in Heart of America League play. Berean won both its regional and sub-state tournaments, but fell to Stockton 38-33 in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament.

Two starters return from last season — Chase Wiebe (6-2, sr., G, 17 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 aog) and Sam Snook (6-1, sr., F, 7 ppg, 5 rpg, 1 apg). Wiebe was a first-team Class 1A All-State selection last season.

Other letterwinners returning include Jon Hoover (6-3, sr., F, 4 ppg, 3 apg), Blake Timken (6-0, sr., G, 2 ppg, 2 rpg), Grant Busenitz (5-10, sr., G, 1 ppg, 1 rpg) and Austin Thiessen (6-5, jr., C, 4 ppg, 3 rpg).

“We will have good size this year and lost a lot of quickness from last year’s team,” Lewis Wiebe said. “We will have to figure out how to do a better job of getting the ball inside and scoring more there, but also continue to develop and encourage our outside game as well. We have good players, but will have to develop the best chemistry to help us to be the best we can be.”

The Berean coach looks for Hutchinson Trinity, Inman, Sedgwick, Moundridge and Sterling to be among the top challengers for the Warriors’ HOAL crown. He looks for Belle Plaine to be among the top non-league teams on the Berean schedule.

Schedule

(Subject to change)

Dec. 4 Udall

Dec. 7 Wichita Independent @ Marion (G 7 p.m., B 8:30 p.m.)

Dec. 8 @ Marion (G 7 p.m., B 8:30 p.m.)

Dec. 12 @ Marion Inv. TBA

Dec. 15 Caldwell

Dec. 17 Garden Plain (G 7:30 p.m.)

Dec. 18 @ Belle Plaine (B 7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 5 @ Classical School of Wichita

Jan. 8 Hutchinson Trinity

Jan. 12 @ Sedgwick

Jan. 15 @ Sterling

Jan. 18-23 @ Burrton Inv. (B) TBA

Jan. 22 @ Inman (G 7:30 p.m.)

Jan. 26-30 Eli J. Walter Inv. (G) TBA

Jan. 29 @ Inman (B)

Feb. 2 Marion

Feb. 9 Remington

Feb. 12 Bennington

Feb. 19 Moundridge

Feb. 23 @ Elyria Christian

March 1-6 Sub-State TBA

March 10-13 State @ Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan TBA