SPORTS

Tornadoes looking to improve behind experienced lineup

Brandon Hannahs
Reporter

ZANESVILLE - Josh Middleton has emphasized the importance of being stronger, physically and mentally, to his West Muskingum squad.

The third-year coach hopes his team responds to that message.

“We need to have mental toughness and fight through adversity,” Middleton said. “We didn’t outrebound anyone last year so we have to do a better job on the glass and need to play tougher in the post on both ends of the floor.”

The post play will be led by 6-4 senior Drew McKenzie, a four-year varsity contributor who missed the start of last season with an injury. He averaged nearly 10 points and eight rebounds per game.

Juniors Grant Murrey and Ian Myers give the Tornadoes depth in the paint.

“We have to get touches down low to Drew and allow our shooters to move off of him,” Middleton said.

West Muskingum’s strength will remain with its guards, led by seniors Gunner Hazen and Drake Dodson. Hazen led the team with 13.6 points per game, while both shot better than 30 percent from behind the arc.

Juniors Kyle Lones, Luke Scott and Matt Burnett will also be part of the rotation, and classmates Owen Iden and Ethan Reilly round out the roster.

“We have depth to go with being more athletic and having more scorers,” Middleton said. “Players like Grant and Matt will come off the bench and can make some hustle plays and give us some toughness.

“We have the talent to score, but we have to rebound and get stops on the defensive end,” he added. “We have to come out and play hard.”

While the Muskingum Valley League is deep with several teams contending, Middleton hopes the Tornadoes can climb the standings and be a factor in the league race and in the tournament.

“I believe our guys have that desire to turn the corner and to win,” he said. “We have to rebound and do the little things better. If we can do those things, we should be in every game, and it will have us ready for the tournament.”

bhannahs@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6763

Twitter: @brandonhannahs

Roster

No.

Name

Ht.

Class

0

Drew McKenzie

6-4

Sr.

1

Grant Murrey

6-2

Jr.

2

Luke Scott

5-10

Jr.

3

Drake Dodson

5-9

Sr.

4

Owen Iden

5-11

Jr.

5

Kyle Lones

5-11

Jr.

10

Matt Burnett

5-9

Jr.

11

Ian Myers

6-0

Jr.

14

Gunner Hazen

6-0

Sr.

30

Ethan Reilly

5-7

Jr.

Schedule

Dec. 2 at Liberty Union

Dec. 3 at Ridgewood

Dec. 6 at Philo

Dec. 9 New Lexington

Dec. 13 at Maysville

Dec. 16 John Glenn

Dec. 20 Crooksville

Dec. 27 Coshocton

Jan. 3 at Tri-Valley

Jan. 6 Morgan

Jan. 10 at Sheridan

Jan. 13 Lakewood

Jan. 14 Richmond Edison (Route 40 Classic)

Jan. 20 Philo

Jan. 24 Maysville

Jan. 27 at John Glenn

Jan. 31 at Crooksville

Feb. 3 at Licking Valley

Feb. 7 Tri-Valley

Feb. 10 at Morgan

Feb. 14 at New Lexington

Feb. 17 Sheridan