Joe Sibbitt has only been coaching the Hauser boys basketball team since August, so it may take the Jets a little time to gel in his system.
Sibbitt, a former Paoli and Austin Peay star and former Paoli and Austin High School coach, took over after former Hauser coach Nate Cangany left for Whiteland after leading the Jets during the June period when coaches can work with their teams in game and practice settings.
“We’re a work in progress,” Sibbitt said. “I’m getting used to them, and they’re getting used to me. I’m throwing a lot of new stuff at them. We just need to get practice time with me not having a summer with them. As they learn my system and get comfortable with it, we’re going to improve as the season goes along.”
Hauser returns three starters from a team that went 12-14 last season. Leading that group are 6-foot-1 senior Jackson Paradise and 6-6 senior Trey Johnson.
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“I’m going to ask a lot out of those guys,” Sibbitt said. “I’m going to be expecting a lot of leadership from those two being our only seniors.”
Also back is 6-0 junior point guard Brock Thalls. Thalls will miss the first five games, and 6-2 junior Caleb Hoover currently is out with an Achilles injury.
Paradise also sustained a minor injury in Saturday’s scrimmage against Central Christian Academy, but should be ready for Tuesday night’s season opener at home against Brown County.
“We’re a little banged up right now,” Sibbitt said. “Hopefully, we can get healthy here and be at full go. In the short term, that’s not helping us, but maybe in the long term, we’ll be better off.”
Bryce Bates, 6-3 sophomore, saw plenty of varsity action the second half of last season. Landon Asher, a 5-9 junior, likely will start at the point until Thalls returns.
Isaiah McDaniel, 6-3 junior, also is battling for a starting spot. Frankie Poole, a 5-9 junior, and 6-2 junior Clayton West also could see action.
“I’m going to look to play all eight or nine of those guys,” Sibbitt said. “We’re in the process of defining those roles.”
Following Tuesday’s opener against Class 3A Brown County, the Class A Jets travel to 4A Columbus North on Saturday.
“We’re trying to lose some bad habits and establish some better habits,” Sibbitt said. “The good news is, basketball season is a marathon, not a sprint, and at some point in the season, we’re going to have a very solid basketball team. We expect to compete for our conference championship and our sectional championship.”
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The 2019-20 Hauser boys basketball schedule:
Tuesday;Brown County;7:30 p.m.
Saturday;at Columbus North;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3;Trinity Lutheran;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 6;at Morristown;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13;at Crothersville;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 20;at Edinburgh;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27-28;at Edinburgh Tournament;TBA
Jan. 3;Greensburg;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10;at North Decatur;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 17;Columbus Christian;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 18;Milan;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24;Waldron;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25;at Rising Sun;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31;South Decatur;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 1;at Batesville;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6;at Southwestern (Shelby);7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8;Rushville;1:30 p.m.
Feb. 14;at Jac-Cen-Del;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 18;Oldenburg Academy;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 22;IndianCreek;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 25;Triton Central;7:30 p.m.
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