Hoone takes over as Mapletown coach
Taking a shot during a recent practice at Mapletown High School
is Adam Hein. (Photo by John F. Brothers)
Running defensive drills at Mapletown High School are (from left) Alex Lewis, Adam Hein and Ben Boone. (Photo by John F. Brothers)
Mapletown boys basketball coach Craig Hoone.
The Mapletown boys basketball team will look for a total team commitment this year, as they will try to build the program into a winning one under first-year coach Craig Hoone.
“We are looking for commitment from these players,” Hoone said. “We want them to be committed to this team and to this program. It’s all about time and effort with us. Over time we want to build a winning program here at Mapletown and create a buzz around boys basketball at Mapletown.”
Hoone was involved with the Albert Gallatin basketball program the last three years, starting out his coaching career three years prior with the Lady Maples as an assistant.
After qualifying for the postseason in 2009-10, the Maples went 2-20 last year, and had their aches and pains throughout the season.
Another battle that Mapletown will face this year is battling with the numbers, both in games and in practices.
“It’s a very difficult thing to practice with such limited numbers,” Hoone said. “We have 10 kids this year coming out, and the board and the community are really coming together to help out this team. We have had different coaches from other sports and other volunteers helping us in practice to simulate our drills and systems.”
The Maples lost one senior from a year ago, but that was leading scorer William Cox and according to Hoone, everyone must step up for Mapletown this season.
“I don’t want to name names or single any particular player out, but we have to come together as a team and learn as a team,” Hoone said. “It’s going to be a team first thing for us this year and we can’t afford to focus on the one-on-one battles.”
Hoone also stated that they have more goals they want to achieve than just to make the playoffs. He said that winning more games and improving are critical things for the team.
“With our section, there are six teams and four makes the playoffs,” Hoone said.
“It will be huge for us to make the playoffs, but we have more goals we want to accomplish. We want to increase our win total and play more consistent in section play.”
The Maples will look for that consistency from the get-go, as they will begin the 2011-12 season at the McGuffey Tip-off Tournament on Dec. 9-10.
After the season-opening tourney, Mapletown will travel to Beth-Center on Dec. 12 and Frazier on Dec. 14, followed by the Hoopfest Tournament at Trinity on Dec. 17.
The Maples will open up section play on Jan. 6 at Avella.