Zach Cooper Nov. 12, 2008

Fortified Dutch squad open 2008-09 campaign Saturday

PELLA—A fortified Central College men’s basketball team opens the 2008-09 season Saturday at Faith Baptist College. Game time is 2 p.m. in Ankeny. Central then makes its home debut Tuesday, playing host to Graceland Univ. in a 7:30 p.m. game at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.

Central routed Faith Baptist at Pella last season 94-53. The Eagles opened the season Nov. 4 and are 0-4. 

“It will be fun for the guys to get out and play,” coach Mike Boschee said. “We’re excited to see how the team looks.”

Central hasn’t met Graceland since dropping a 90-89 decision in Pella early in the 1997-98 season. The NAIA Yellow Jackets are 1-3.

“They’re very athletic,” Boschee said. “They’ve got a lot of junior college transfers. It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”

Despite graduating the school’s career leaders in assists, 3-point goals and field goal percentage, the Dutch are hoping to improve on last season’s 14-10 record.  Boschee said Central will have the most physical club of his six-year tenure.

“We’ll be bigger and stronger,” he said.

Central is getting close to settling on a playing rotation, Boschee said. Saturday’s starting lineup will likely feature two starters from last season, 6-foot guard Miguel Ley (junior, San Antonio, Texas, Judson HS) and 6-9 center Zach Cooper (junior, Des Moines, Johnston HS).  Justin Madsen (junior, Fort Dodge, St. Edmond HS) (6-2) will be at the other guard spot. Mark Holan (junior, Fontanelle, Nodaway Valley HS), a 6-4 forward, is back after a year’s absence while 6-6 transfer Grant Franzen (junior, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) mans the other forward position.

Boschee is excited about his club but notes that preseason workouts have revealed some areas of concern that need to be resolved.

“We’re going to be a work in progress,” he said. “We’ve got so many new faces being injected who are still learning the system.”