By STU SWARTZ

Goshen News Sports Editor

(One of a Series)

Mystery surrounds the Goshen High School boys basketball program for the season about to begin and that might be a good thing.

The Redskins posted a second straight winning record last winter. However, graduation stripped the program of seven key performers and just two lettermen are returning.

But, Goshen hopes to surprise some folks in 2009-10 with a stalwart post player in 6-7 senior Taylor Kolbus and some promising youngsters.

“We are having to teach a lot and must be patient, but this has been a refreshing group to work with,” said GHS coach Brian Bechtel who is entering his 11th season.

Only Mike Sorrell (14 seasons from 1985-99) and Art Cosgrove (13 seasons from 1959-72) have served longer stints as head coach of Redskin basketball.

The current Redskins open the season Tuesday night at Mishawaka Marian.

Kolbus scored 161 points and grabbed 137 rebounds for Goshen during his junior campaign. He had a high of 20 points in a sectional victory over Elkhart Central at North Side Gym.

The only other letterwinner returning is 6-3 senior Jon Good who netted four varsity points.

“Even with having only two lettermen, we are not about to lower our expectations,” said Bechtel. “Practices have been very competitive and I am happy with the work attitude everyone has brought.

“There is a lot of playing time available to the new varsity people.”

Joining Kolbus and Good in the prime Redskin rotation for now are 5-10 senior Andrew Litwiller, 5-10 junior Ryan Getz, , 6-1 junior Carson Roberts, 6-1 sophomore Warren Kay, 6-2 sophomore Louis Kissinger and 6-2 sophomore Jake Speicher.

“Taylor Kolbus is ready to handle the role of our go-to guy,” said Bechtel. “He has matured into a very good player and great leader. Taylor is our hardest worker in practice and is a great leader, both verbally and by example.

“But we will only be as good as our guards. They must make the extra pass, find the open man and knock down some perimeter shots to take the pressure off Kolbus inside.

“A big key for us will be staying healthy. On the floor we must take good care of the basketball, make good decisions and develop good team chemistry.

“We don’t have great team speed or quickness, so must play great team defense and just be solid all the way around.

“We need to get our field goal defense percentage down and just be more stingy on that end of the floor. We can’t give up the post and need to challenge shots better.

“What Northridge did last year (unbeaten regular season) should be an inspiration to all programs. They returned little experience, but had the right kids working together at the right time.

“In our (Northern Lakes) conference, you expect a lot of close games. The teams which execute down the stretch and play with a high level of maturity will be the ones contending for the championship.

“I look for Warsaw to be dynamite in our league with Memorial strong and Concord ready to contend. The rest of us aren’t that far behind.

“We start the season with Marian which is a young team with good speed and pushing the tempo. We then go to Elkhart Central and Bremen. It’s tough starting a schedule with three road games.”

The Goshen holiday tournament has again been discontinued and replaced by a four-team event Dec. 22 and 23 at North Side Gym with Memorial, Northridge and Concord.

That’s less than an ideal situation as all four are in the same Class 4A sectional and could wind up playing each other three times.

Goshen will have four games on the North Side floor as the Redskins also visit both Memorial and Central for regular season contests.

Assistant coaches to Bechtel are Michael Wohlford, Shaun Hill, Von Oxenrider and Tyler Coppotelli. Student managers are Erik Kuhlman, Jennifer Good and Andrea Grossman.

Freshman players are Cristian Barron, Nate Gingrich, Robbie Hoemig, Austin Henke, Troy Wiktorowski, Nick Woodward, Tim Vukovich, Sam Stegelmann, Aaron Johnson, Hans Singer and Hunter Warrick.

Graduating after last season were Ethan Hussey, Marshall Crawford, Alex Aguilar, Mac Hussey, Andrew Bowers, Scott Landis and Brock Bender.

Ethan Hussey scored 426 points and finished his career with 902, ninth on the Redskin chart.

Crawford netted 225 points, Aguilar 103, Mac Hussey 11, Bowers 124, Landis 87 and Bender 43.