Published: November 29, 2007 10:37 am         

GHS boys basketball team 2-0 for first time in two decades

You’re right! It has been awhile since a Goshen High School boys basketball team began a season with two victories.

The 2-0 Redskins visit the Bremen Lions on Friday night and play their home season opener (finally!) on Saturday against the Penn Kingsmen in the nightcap of a girls-boys varsity doubleheader. The girls game with Penn starts at 6.

It was 20 years ago that a Goshen team, coached by Mike Sorrell, started the season 10-0 before losing 42-39 to an unbeaten Concord team led by prep All-American Shawn Kemp at McCuen Gym.

Redskin players in 1987-88 were Mike Essig, Thad Holden, Scott Beres, Dan Welz, Rusty Eash, Bob Rossi, Rich Hollinger, Jered Prough, Mitch Herschberger, Randy Smith, Jeromy Sheets, Eric Wentz and David Lee.

The 1940-41 Redskins, coached by Lorin “Snow” Evans, won their first nine before being derailed by Sturgis of Michigan 26-18.

GHS players 67 years ago were Phil Bickel, Floyd Koch, Bob Miller, Don Whitmer, Junior Schnoebelen, Bill Stose, Dick Fancil Hare, Junior Myers, Keith Wortinger, Bill Ogle and Loyal Culp.

Recent Goshen teams have struggled against difficult early-season schedules. Elkhart Central and Warsaw were the first two foes many years in a row and recently it had been the likes of Fort Wayne Carroll and South Bend Riley.

The current Redskins went on the road last week for victories over Mishawaka Marian 63-41 and Elkhart Central 64-59.

Bremen defeated Argos 45-40 and lost to Plymouth 53-45 in its first two outings. Penn’s opener is Friday night at Jimtown.

Redskin coach Brian Bechtel said, “We are focused on being in shape for our first two-game weekend of the season. We must have 10 guys ready to go.

“We will need to get our starters rested both nights, although I do think this team is in better shape than any we have had in several years.

“I am pleased with our defense to this point. We are giving up a few more points, but that’s due to our faster pace of play. We are scoring more points also.

“Marian and Central shot only about 32 per cent against us, but I’d like to think we had a little something to do with that. We have guys committed to challenging shots.

“It also helps that we got an early lead in both games. There is always a sense of urgency for teams playing from behind.

“Our guys did not play hesitantly in either game when we got ahead. And I liked our teamwork on the offensive end. We are averaging more than 10 assists per game.

“One thing we must do better is rebound. With teams missing so many shots against us, we should be doing better on the boards.”

Bremen got 10 points apiece from 6-1 junior Ben Klinge and 5-11 senior Aaron Koontz in its win over Argos. Then, 6-4 junior Ryan Hessler scored 14 and 6-0 junior Chris Hueni 10 in the loss to Marshall County rival Plymouth.

“Bremen is a very aggressive and scrappy team,” observed Bechtel. “They four starters back and were able to get some easy shots in the paint against Plymouth.

“Our main focus continues to be on what we need to do. No matter whom we play, it must be an effort for 32 minutes and we need to be relentless on the defensive end.”

Saturday foe Penn returns three starters from a team which went 21-4 last season and won the Class 4A sectional at Elkhart under veteran coach Dean Foster.

Leading the Kingsmen are 6-1 junior point guard Tommy Kurth, 6-6 senior forward Ryan Choiniere and 6-6 senior center Pat Hess.

Kurth averaged 9.0 points, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game last winter; Choiniere 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds with 19 blocked shots; and Hess 5.4 points and a team-best 35 blocked shots.

This is the 50th year for Penn basketball. Foster is 155-62 in nine seasons with the Kingsmen and 412-319 in 33 years overall including 13 years at Bremen and six at his alma mater, Elkhart Central.

“Penn had a great point guard in Kurth, a scorer in Choiniere and a big kid in Hess back from a team which won our sectional,” said Bechtel.

“Penn has great basketball tradition and is always a measuring stick for any of us teams in the area who get to play them. They will control the ball and play tough defense.”

Penn and Mishawaka won’t be in the Elkhart sectional this season, being shifted west in reclassification. Northridge and Warsaw will be coming to North Side Gym instead to join GHS, Concord, Central and Memorial.

Goshen follows with three more home games — DeKalb on Dec. 8, Northridge on the 14th and Fairfield on the 15th.

The Goshen holiday tournament is Dec. 28 and 29 with Elkhart Memorial meeting Lakeland at 6 p.m. and Goshen going against Michigan City at 8 on opening night. Times are the same for consolation and championship games that Saturday.