Sports
Season Outlook: Vinton County Vikings
By: Corbin Bagford, Michelle Mwaura
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The reigning TVC champion Vinton County Vikings look forward to maturing quickly this season.
Last year’s team ended the season with a record of 17-4, senior Jordan Kidd was named TVC-Ohio MVP and head coach Matt Combs received the conference’s Coach of the Year award, but the Vinton County boys basketball team looks like it has a lot of work to do and big shoes to fill for the 2013-2014 season.
The team graduated six seniors, including key players Jordan Kidd and L.B. Remy, whom Combs says, “are tough to replace.” At this point, the Vikings have to start from scratch and get the other players up to speed.
The team is composed of seven freshman and sophomore players and six upperclassmen players. Combs hopes that the upperclassmen will step up and provide leadership for the team.
The Vikings lost a scrimmage against Unioto 75-54, but Vinton County was able to show off some of their young talent.
New starters this season include sophomore center Chase Wood, who scored 13 points, and Max Ward, who scored 5 points.
The Vikings return a couple key players in Alex Owings (senior SG) and Jordan Albright (sophomore PG), and Combs hopes those two will help return the team to the level it played at last season.
Coach Combs seems confident in the team’s upcoming season. He acknowledged that the team needs to improve, but that they can do it quickly once they build some chemistry.
Combs discussed how the team lost their most physical players, the aforementioned Remy and Kidd. He looks forward to seeing which young players would replace their physicality and height.
“Remy would not have allowed to be pushed around,” said Combs.
Remy believes that the TVC championship can be seen more as a destination than a big-picture goal.
“Our goal is to get better and gain in one thing until we start to put it together,” said Combs.
The Vikings open the 2013-14 season on Dec. 6 against Alexander.