Greenmen must replace majority of scoring from district semifinal team
Following a late-season surge that saw them win their final four regular season games and then reach the district semifinals, the Aurora Greenmen will have a whole new look this year.
Aurora coach Greg Rodi's team lost seven players off last season's 12-12 squad that defeated Austintown Fitch to reach the Division I district round, before succumbing to Akron Hoban to end its postseason.
Senior guard Zach Anzells is the lone returning letter winner for the Greenmen, who finished tied for 6th place in the Suburban League American Division during the 2021-2022 campaign.
"We are young. With only one returning letter winner we will look for our young players to step up and fill crucial roles," said Rodi. "We are athletic at both ends of the floor. Just like last year, we will attempt to play an uptempo style offensively. It is possible we could go 10, 11 deep in our rotation as we gain experience."
Anzells is a talented defender who is often tasked with checking an opponent's best player, according to Rodi. On the offensive end of the floor, Anzells is a very good 3-point shooter. That will be beneficial for a team that may have trouble scoring at times on the heels of losing essentially all of its offensive output. A year ago, Aurora averaged 57.6 points a night while yielding 58.5.
Some new names on the horizon include sophomores Brock Habbyshaw, Zach Pannetti and Ben Lukasik, a trio of guards. Two others to watch are 6-foot-4 senior forward Michaell Greenwood and junior Brandon Liepins, who saw some varsity time as a sophomore.
Liepins, a quarterback on the football team, brings leadership, a high basketball IQ and can play both ends at a high level, per Rodi. Greenwood, meanwhile, uses his height to play inside or outside, can shoot beyond the arc and can finish around the rim, according to the coach. Habbyshaw will complement Anzells on the defensive end while also giving the group capable outside shooting.
For the Greenmen to be successful this season, it will take a collective effort.
"We have a roster full of team guys who are committed to their roles, and that will be critical to our success early in the season because our weakness is experience," said Rodi. "We will look for our identity this season to be a "team-first" mentality. Knowing their roles and working hard together on both ends of the floor will continue to be our focus."
As usual, the Suburban figures to be a challenge, with Copley looking to defend its title.
"The American Division is always a tough road," said Rodi. "From top to bottom, the league is physical and well-coached. There are no nights off in this league."
2022-23 Aurora Boys Basketball Varsity/JV Schedule
Sat. Nov. 26 - at Hudson, 5:30/7
Fri. Dec. 2 - at Chardon, 5
Fri. Dec. 9 - at Copley, 6:30/8
Tue. Dec. 13 - Cuyahoga Falls, 6:30/8
Fri. Dec. 16 - Tallmadge, 6:30/8
Tue. Dec. 20 - at Eastlake North, 6/7:30
Thu. Dec. 22 - Twinsburg, 6:30/8
Tue. Jan. 3 - at Roosevelt, 6/7:30
Fri. Jan. 6 - at Barberton, 6:30/8
Tue. Jan. 10 - Highland, 6:30/8
Fri. Jan. 13 - at Revere, 6:30/8
Jan. 14-15 - at Spectrum Orthopaedics Class, North Canton
Tue. Jan. 17 - at Kenston, 6/7:30
Fri. Jan. 20 - Copley, 6:30/8
Tue. Jan. 24 - at Cuyahoga Falls, 6/7:30
Fri. Jan. 27 - at Tallmadge, 6/7:30
Sat. Jan. 28 - Jackson, 6/7:30
Tue. Jan. 31 - at Streetsboro, 5:30/7
Fri. Feb. 3 - Roosevelt, 6:30/8
Sat. Feb. 4 - at Nordonia, 6/7:30
Tue. Feb. 7 - Barberton, 6:30/8
Fri. Feb. 10 - at Highland, 6:30/8
Sat. Feb. 11 - Chagrin Falls, 6/7:30
Fri. Feb. 17 - Revere, 6:30/8
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Aurora Greenmen boys basketball team returns one letter winner
