Returning seniors help Beetdiggers basketball start strong

The Jordan Beetdiggers are already off to a strong start for their 2011-2012 boys basketball season. And with a core of experienced seniors leading the varsity team, players and coaches are optimistic about what this season has in store.

“We have some great returning players on our team who we are really excited about,” head coach Rob Geertsen said. “We think we can really play strong in our region and be one of the higher-ranked teams heading into state.”

This year marks the fifth that Geertsen has coached the Beetdiggers. Last year, Jordan recorded a 5-15 record and won only one game in its region. Geertsen is hopeful that this year will mark a significant turnaround for his team.

“We were developing a lot of younger players last year, and we had a few setbacks,” he said. “But this year, we are as strong as we have ever been, and we have the skills and the talent to have a great season.”

Four of Jordan’s starting five are returning seniors who Geertsen will be looking at to lead the team to greater success this year.

In the guard position, senior Ryan Nemelka returns as Jordan’s leading scorer and hot hand from the three-point line. Nemelka averaged 13 points per game last season and made 54 three pointers.

Also playing guard, senior Taylor Loomis returns, healthier and looking to continue to lead the team in assists. Last year, Loomis had a shoulder injury that kept him out of several games near the end of the season. Along with the several assists, Loomis also averaged 10 points per game last year.

Senior Mark Krueger returns as the team’s leading rebounder. Last season, Krueger was the second leading rebounder in all of 5A basketball with over seven boards per game. He also rounds out Jordan’s triple scoring threat, averaging 11 points per game in 2010-2011.

Also returning are seniors John Gleason and Trent Neilson who both play in the forward position. Senior guard Austin Haney, junior guard Chandler Smith and junior forward Brandon Pasker are among the other returning players Geertsen is considering key to Jordan’s success this year.

Jordan has already made a strong start to the new season by winning its first four games and, as of press time, boasting a record of 5-3. In their first four games, the Beetdiggers beat their opponents by a dominating average of 18 points.

Jordan opened its season with a 75-57 win against the Cyprus Pirates on Nov 23. Jordan then went on to compete in the Jordan/Alta Challenge tournament where it beat Twin Falls, Idaho, 64-40, on Dec. 2 and Timpanogos, 64-47, on Dec. 3.

After those games, Jordan took part in the Jordan Holiday Tourney, Dec. 9 and 10. In the first round, Jordan defeated Mountain Crest, 59-45, but then suffered its first loss of the season against Northridge the next day, 48-43.

On Dec. 14, Jordan was defeated by Pleaseant Grove, 64-59, before heading to play two teams in California, which Geertsen called “a true road trip. On Dec. 16, they showed their highest offensive output of the season, winning the first game of the road trip against Fullerton by a score of 84-78. They then lost the second game of the series against Vista High school in a fourth-quarter comeback that fell just short, 58-56.

So far this season, Krueger and Nemelka are both averaging 12.6 points per game and Nemelka has made 21 three-point shots. Kreuger has netted 66 total rebounds and Gleason has grabbed another 52 boards.

“We do have a lot of potential and a lot of great kids on our team,” Geertsen said. “It is just about making the most of that potential and transferring it into wins.”