BOYS BASKETBALL: The Rams’ coach sees the 2000-2001 campaign as a transition year.
By: Neil Hay
The way Hightstown boys’ basketball coach Don Hess saw it, 2000-01 was a transition year between last season’s great accomplishments and the future achievements that certainly lay ahead for this program.
As much as Hess and his players wanted it, this year’s Rams team could not duplicate what its predecessor did. Hightstown was unable to make states; the Rams were unable to compile a winning record. But it was not because of a lack of effort.
"I was very pleased" with the Rams’ final 11-12 record, said Hess. "You felt like coaching because every game you thought you could win."
Right up to the end Hess exuded confidence in his squad. Before the season finale at home last Friday against Nottingham, a 60-50 loss, Hess boldly predicted a win. Even though the Northstars were gunning for their twentieth victory of the season, Hess thought his team was capable of the win. Instead the locals lost, and were denied a winning record.
"We had a chance to win," said Hess.
The Rams trailed by 32-20 at the half, but came back to 38-36 going into the final quarter. The Northstars hung on, though, thanks in part to the Rams’ ineffective shooting.
"We missed so many lay-ups," Hess noted. "We played pretty well. It just seemed every time we needed a basket, we missed a lay-up and they came down and scored at the other end."
Lance Gonzalez scored 15 points for Hightstown. He added three assists and five steals. Andrew Whitmore, who had 13 rebounds and four assists, netted 14 points to close out his Hightstown career. Whitmore was the CVC’s leading scorer this winter with a 20.2 points per game average. Nick Kenny scored 12 points with nine boards and three assists. Glen Sturman had nine steals.
Graduation cut deeply into last year’s team which won the CVC. After losing three-fourths of its offense, "These kids definitely were overachievers" this year, according to Hess. "We were in a lot of games, except for Ewing, Notre Dame, and the first Nottingham game. Every other game we were there."
The offense was not as potent but the defense (which allowed 49.3 points per game) rarely rested. For the third year in a row, Hightstown had the CVC’s second rated "D." At the other end the Rams shot the ball at a 48.7 percent clip.
"That’s pretty good, considering our tallest player (Brett Rodgers) was 6-foot-2."A sign of this team’s toughness on defense was the new school record it set for taking charges 24. Rodgers alone took nine. The Rams also collected 216 steals.
"We did a lot of trapping," Hess noted.
When the cutoff for states rolled around, the Rams were only 7-8, one game below the necessary .500 mark.
"That was the biggest disappointment," Hess said. " We were competitive with everybody. For next year we want the underclassmen to get a taste of (states)."
Despite the disappointment of not qualifying, the players never quit. Over the final eight games of the season, against some pretty formidable opponents, the team went 4-4.
"They could have packed it in. The rest of the way we stayed focused."
Hess credited his "great group of seniors" for making this an enjoyable, if not winning, season.
"Gonzalez played with heart and soul all year. Sturman did a tremendous job distributing the ball. Rodgers was a hard-nosed defender who played the other team’s toughest offensive player. J.T. Williams was a valuable reserve.
"Whitmore will go down in history as one of the top guards who played for Hightstown, not just for his scoring (over 800 career points) but for his defense against the other team’s top guard. He was also a tremendous passer and excellent rebounder. He was the complete player. Off the court he was one of the top kids we ever had," said Hess.
"These kids set the standard" for future teams. "The last three years we went 48-24. They were very instrumental in winning the Mercer County championship last year. It was a very special group of kids. They stayed focused all year and worked hard."
And with a 19-4 jayvee team this year, Hess is optimistic about next season.
"The future is bright."