Defense, athleticism to propel Colby this season
By Nathaniel Underwood
The Colby Hornets boys basketball team fell in an overtime thriller against Auburndale on Monday evening, eventually losing to the visiting Eagles 70-62 in their 2024-25 season opener.
While there are plenty of returners coming back for this year’s Colby squad, many will have to step up into greater roles, especially on the offensive end of the floor. Last year’s top three scorers, first-team all-conference selection Joseph Streveler, second-team all-conference selection Adrian Lopez and honorable mention Jaxon Polivka, have all graduated, meaning the Hornets will have to turn to new options on the offensive side of the court.
Seniors Miguel Morillon, Tucker Hayes and Landon Steinman, as well as junior Reed Fleischmann, all saw significant time on the court for Colby during the 2023-24 campaign. Fleischmann was the fourth leading scorer, averaging 5.8 points per game, while Hayes and Morillon also averaged over five points per game and Steinman had just over four.
Morillon also led the team with 44 steals and was second in assists, averaging 3.3 per game, while Hayes had a team high 25 blocks. The pair were also third and fourth in rebounding, with Morillon grabbing 4.0 per game and Hayes bringing down 3.8 boards on average.
Seniors Gavin Voss, Braiden Johnson and Tayt Smith are also back after logging varsity minutes last season and Hayden Kaiser, Bryan Castillo and Brody Viegut will be added to the roster this season. Juniors Colton Orth, Luke Hannula and Devon Meyer will also be in the mix, and a number of underclassmen could also potentially see time on the court as the season progresses.
Leaning on their athleticism and ability to bog down opposing offenses will be the Hornets’ keys to success this season, according to head coach Jimmy Flink.
“Probably our biggest strength is our athletic ability,” Flink noted. “I also think our play on defense will also be stronger this year.”
Finding a way to try to replace the offensive output of the three senior starters from last season will also be a facet that the Hornets will have to contend with, especially in the beginning of the season. The trio of Streveler, Lopez and Polivka combined to account for an average of 42.2 points per game for the 2023-24 Colby squad, a not insignificant amount.
Flink believes that the returning starters from last year’s squad will see their roles on the offensive end of the floor increase.
“Between Adrian, Joe and Jaxon, that’s a lot of points there,” he said. “They were our top three scorers. Now, Miguel, Landon, Reed and Tucker are really going to have to step up and work for their shots.”
The Hornets had their first challenge of the season against the Auburndale Eagles on Monday evening. While Colby had four players score in double-digits, the visitors outscored them 12-4 in the overtime period to deal the Hornets a 70-62 defeat.
An early run from Colby put them in control of the opening minutes of the nonconference contest. A layup from Steinman got the Hornets on the board on their first possession of the game and Morillon turned a steal into transition points to double Colby’s total. Fleishmann then got in on the action, hitting a mid-range jumper, a fast break layup and a three-pointer in quick succession to complete the 11-0 run for the Hornets.
After being held scoreless for the first five minutes of the game, Auburndale finally got on the board on an inbound layup. The two squads traded baskets over the middle minutes, but every time the Eagles seemed to bring themselves back into the game, Colby had an answer. A three from Auburndale cut the home team’s lead down to five at 21-16, but the Hornets sank a pair of threes in response, getting one from Fleischmann and another from Steinman to go up 27-16.
However, a flurry of scoring from Auburndale in the period’s final five minutes flipped the script of the half. A trio of threes from guard Blake Raab helped propel the Eagles on their 16-4 run to end the first period. A layup and subsequent free throw for Auburndale gave them their first lead of the game with four seconds left in the half and Colby went to the locker rooms down 32-31.
While the Eagles got the first points of the second period, Morillon tied the game at 34-34 with a three-point shot from the top of the arc. The Hornets could not retake the lead, however, and Auburndale maintained its small advantage as the two teams played relatively evenly for the first ten minutes of the period.
Down 47-43, a transition layup from Steinman got Colby back within one possession. After two empty possessions by the Eagles, Orth put the Hornets back on top with a contested three-pointer. Colby pulled off another stop on defense and then Hayes worked his way to the basket for a layup to extend Colby’s lead. A midrange jumper from Fleishmann with under
See HORNETS BB PREVIEW/ Page 16
2024-25 COLBY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM - This year’s 2024-25 Colby boys basketball team is, in the back row, left to right, Tayt Smith, Xander Buchanan, Rolyn Hopperdietzel, Reed Fleischmann, Gavin Voss, Tucker Hayes, Hayden Kaiser, Colton Orth and Miguel Morillon. In the front row, left to right, are Izaac Carrera, Cyler Pagelsdorf, Bryan Castillo, Landon Steinman, Devon Meyer, Luke Hannula, Braiden Johnson and Brody Viegut. The Hornets are coached by Jimmy Flink.
STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD
STRAIGHT TO THE BASKET - Miguel Morillon maneuvers his way around his defender during the Hornets opening game against Auburndale on Monday evening. The Colby senior had 13 points in the loss.
STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD Hornets BB preview
Continued from page 10 five minutes to play capped off the 9-0 run for the Hornets and gave them a 52-47 lead.
The Eagles did not go away quietly. Another three from Raab tied the game at 5656 and a steal and a free throw a few seconds later put Auburndale back in the lead. Fleishmann grab a loose ball after a block on Colby’s next possession and made a go-ahead layup with under a minute left, but the visitors made one more free throw before the end of regulation to force an overtime period.
Auburndale took the first lead of overtime but Morillon answered with his own basket to knot the game back up at 60-60. A final three from Raab on the next possession put the Eagles ahead for good. A layup from Orth pulled the Hornets back within a basket at 65-62, but Colby went scoreless in the final minute and a half. Auburndale left the door open after not shooting particularly well from the charity stripe, but Colby could not secure the rebound on three consecutive missed free throws, allowing the visitors extra possessions.
Fleischmann led the team with 17 points, connecting on a trio of three-point shots and recording three steals and six rebounds. Morillon and Steinman both had 13 points, with the former adding seven rebounds and nine assists and latter connecting on three shots from beyond the arc.
Orth also finished with double-digits for the Hornets, ending the game with 11 points and four rebounds. Hayes added six points and seven rebounds and Kaiser put up two points.
The Hornets will look to bounce back in their first conference game of the season against the Loyal Greyhounds next Tuesday at home. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
KEY LAYUP - Tucker Hayes gets two of his six points during an important 90 run for the Hornets in the their game against Auburndale on Monday.
STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD
