Earlier this week, Great Lakes Post Spoke with Northville Boys Basketball Coach Todd Sander to preview the Upcoming Season
How ready are you to start this season?
Sander: Our players have been working tirelessly since the end of last season in March. We really have a core group of players that love being in the gym and have dedicated the last eight months to get better. We’ve had guys in the gym before school at 6:00 am, in the gym during evening sessions and even finding the gym open on their time, or organizing their own pickup games off-campus; this gym rat culture has gained momentum and gets contagious. It is exciting to watch as a coach when they buy into that. We have a challenging pre-season schedule with scrimmages, and a tournament in December before starting the rigors of the West Division in the KLAA in early 2019.
Who are some of your top returners this year?
Sander: We graduated four starters from last year’s 18-5 team so we need to make up for many minutes, points scored and rebounds secured. We had tremendous consistency last season starting the same five players in all 23 games. Obviously, we have more unknowns entering this year, but we will be anchored by senior Zach Shoemaker. He has been up since his sophomore year and is primed to lead us entering into the 2019-2020 campaign. Both Dom Rodriguez and Brady Withey played significant minutes off the bench last year and are eager for ‘their’ time to shine and compete. Grant Mathiesen will have a big year and is a threat to score from deep-range, and he’s been working a ton at scoring in other ways so as to not just rely on his perimeter stroke. Our other two seniors (Mick Farrell and Max Barnes) coupled with a steady core of newcomers from last year’s JV team are reasons to be excited.
How do you think The KLAA will fair in Boys Basketball?
Sander: Our league is always skilled top-to-bottom. On paper, I think many of us in the West Division feel like we all take a slight step down from last year: we had 18 wins, Howell made a trip to the Final Four, and Canton loses a Mr. Basketball Candidate. That being said, all of our teams are well-coached so everyone is looking forward to reloading and competing at a high level. Coach Housey at Novi does a great job, and rivalry games are always tough. There are no easy nights in our Division or the KLAA. On the other side, Belleville and Wayne are always tough, Glenn has a new coach so they are a little bit of an unknown, and Stevenson returns much of their squad from last year. The KLAA is always one of the most competitive leagues top-to-bottom in the metro Detroit area.
What is your outlook on this season?
Sander: We expect to compete for the Division. Winning the Division is our first goal with every new season. By doing that (or finishing second), you have a chance to win the conference given the second season of the current scheduling format. Though last year was one of the most enjoyable teams and seasons with an ideal group of players and parents, the beauty and reality of high school sports are you have a new challenge each November. I look forward to watching our players reap the rewards and having success for as much time as they’ve put in the past eight months.