BOYS BASKETBALL: Wilmot’s leadership, perimeter shooting keys to success

WilmotLarge-webGlass, Bruton threats on the arc

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Although Wilmot Union High School enters the boys basketball season without two leaders lost to graduation, coach Jake Erbentraut believes the squad can compete in the highly-contested Southern Lakes Conference, courtesy of team chemistry.

The Panthers, who lost Bobby Brenner and Christian Janssen, are coming off a season where they finished fifth in the SLC at 7-7 (10-14 overall).

But the return of senior captains Troy Hickey and Darren Rita, along with junior perimeter threats Latrell Glass and Jeremy Bruton, can look to offset the loss of both.

The four letter-winners, in addition to sophomore Kevin Brenner, are complimented by a slew of junior newcomers.

“Everyone that has joined us is doing really well and it has been a really enjoyable experience coaching them,” said Erbentraut, who enters his fifth season. “This is my most cohesive group of young men that I’ve coached.”

Wilmot boasts a junior class of 5-foot-11 guard Kody Schemenauer, 5-11 guard Jacob Gerzel, 5-10 guard Colten Pearson, 6-3 forward Quintin Girardi, 6-3 forward Colby Barker and 6-1 guard Kyle Gendron.

Joining the juniors are three seniors, 6-2 forward Samuel Rovik, 6-3 forward Joshua Schattner and 5-11 guard Tim Freeman.

However, Erbentraut said, the Panthers are counting on the leadership of Hickey, a 6-foot guard, and Rita.

“We have given the captain positions to Darren Rita and Troy Hickey,” Erbentraut said. “Darren has been outstanding this off season. Besides his second-to-none work ethic, he has been a driving force of getting guys into the gym and playing.”

The return of Hickey came as a surprise, said Erbentraut, who thought the athlete would forego his senior year of basketball after signing a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Oklahoma State.

“He will play baseball at Oklahoma State next year and we thought he was going to focus on baseball this basketball season,” Erbentraut said. “He chose to come out and in the fall has been a hard worker in the gym.”

As Hickey and Rita push the newcomers, Glass and Bruton pose a threat behind the arc, where they led the Panthers in 3-point percentage last year.

Glass, a 5-11 guard, converted 44-of-95 perimeter shots for a 46.3 percent shooting percentage.

Meanwhile, for the 6-2 Bruton, he finished his sophomore season 44 percent beyond the arc, swishing 51-for-116.

Additionally, Bruton chipped in a team-leading 75 assists.

“Without a doubt, Latrell and Jeremy will need to perform for us to have any success,” Erbentraut said. “Besides their scoring abilities, their teammates are looking to them to lead as they have the most experience and we hope they’ll answer the call.”

While the Panthers have two senior leaders and two juniors with varsity experience, Erbentraut acknowledged the team is still in search of a post presence, after Brenner and Janssen led the team in rebounds with 202 and 132 last year.

“We don’t seem to have a true post type play or maybe an inside presence,” he said. “However, we have some players willing to play those positions that are tough and willful.”

While Wilmot is still working to solidify its starting lineup, Erbentraut states the two teams standing in its way in the SLC are defending champion Westosha Central and Burlington.

The Panthers split their series against Westosha Central last year, including a thrilling 94-92 victory at home.

Meanwhile, Burlington posed a bigger challenge, defeating the Panthers three times, including a season-ending WIAA Regional final loss in Burlington.

“Westosha will still be tough this season and I believe Burlington will be highly competitive this season,” Erbentraut said. “Regardless, we have talent and good coaching in this conference so we can expect no off nights.”


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