PAGE A16, KEIZERTIMES, DECEMBER 03, 2021
Celts look to reload with experienced roster
Senior forward Tyler Copeland is expected to be one of the top players for the McNary basketball squad this season..
M C N AR Y
HOOPS
By MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Although the McNary boys' basket-
ball team returns nearly their entire
roster, the Celtics will be looking to
replace one of the top players in the
state this season.
Nate Meithof was the Mountain
Valley Conference (MVC) Player of the
Year in 2020 as a junior, averaging more
that 23 points per game, and in the
shortened spring season, the McNary
shooting guard poured in more than 25
points per contest, leading the Celtics
to a 13-4 record.
While losing Meithof is a big hit to
this Celtics squad, McNary head coach
Ryan Kirch says it will give different
players a chance to shine.
“As much as he scored and
rebounded, when you have someone
who is that dominant at times, it is very
easy to stand and watch, not necessar-
ily intentionally, you're just playing off
of that. We are looking for our guys to
be a little more aggressive and be play-
makers with the ball in their hands,”
Kirch said. “Regardless of how many
kids you have back, everyone's role has
changed, whether you were a guy that
came off the bench last year to now
being a starter this year, or a starter that
has to do a little bit more. It's going to
be about making the most of your role.”
One player that is expected to step
into the spotlight this year is senior for-
ward Tyler Copeland, who is entering
his fourth season on the varsity squad.
Copeland, who is coming off a success-
ful football season as the McNary quar-
terback, is a versatile athlete who can
score both on the inside and outside.
“We feel like he can score with his
back to the basket and take people off
the dribble. He has gotten a lot more
physically strong. He can bully some
people inside and has great vision,”
Kirch said. “He is a do-it-all type of
guy.”
Another player who has shown
versatility from the guard position is
senior Gunner Smedema. The third-
year varsity player is one the Celtics
best on-ball defenders and will be
expected to be more involved on the
offensive end.
“Gunner is a guy that can play the
one, two or three spot. He is a guy that
will probably play as many minutes as
anyone. He is one of our best defend-
ers. He is a lockdown guy. He is also a
guy who finishes games,” Kirch said.
Along with their two most expe-
rienced players in Copeland and
Smedema, the Celtics return a number
of other seniors who are expected to
see increased roles.
Tyler Cleveland
received
signifi-
cant playing time at
wing last season in
his first year on the
varsity team, and
Evan Cornell will
likely be one of the
top spot-up shoot-
ers in the MVC. In
the frontcourt, with
the loss of Zane
Aicher, who elected
not to come out for
the team this
season, senior
post
Carson
Long will be
expected to take
the bulk of the
minutes down
FILE PHOTO, Keizertimes
low.
“The leadership of the seniors will
be huge. They bring a lot of maturity
and experience to the table, which is
why we will be relying on them But
they also understand what we want out
of an X's and O's standpoint as well,”
Kirch said.
While this McNary team is senior
heavy, the Celtics roster features mul-
tiple underclassmen that will play
The leadership of
the seniors will be
huge. They bring a
lot of maturity and
expereince to the table,
which is why we will be
relying on them.
— RYAN KIRCH
McNary head coach