CRESTLINE — Crestline’s boys basketball team hopes to get back on track this season under second-year head coach Robert Lisle. Lisle, entering his 15th season overall as a coach, had a rough go last year while seeing his Bulldogs finish 1-22 overall and winless in the Mid Buckeye Conference at 0-12.
There is a positive outlook though for Crestline, as they will be sending all five of last year’s starters to the court this season. Leadership will be expected of senior Tyler Sipes, juniors Zach Gregory and Kevin Winkler, and sophomores Ty Clark and Davon Triplett. Triplett lead the team statistically last season with eight points and six rebounds per game. Gregory chipped in eight points and four boards per game, while Ty Clark added seven points and seven rebounds. Key losses from last year’s squad were role players Spencer Miller and Connor Kurtzman.
In addition to having the starting five back, coach Lisle states size of the program to be a strength for this year’s campaign. “We have great numbers this year in the program with 27 kids. We are still very young and need to find some players to step up and take some of the varsity spots and we need to continue to grow as a young team,” states the coach.
The Bulldogs will look to continue to grow each day and improve along the way. Coach Lisle looks to be competitive in a tough league as well. “The league will be very competitive with St. Pete’s, Danville, Loudonville and Mansfield Christian returning some good players and we hope to surprise some teams.”
Lisle and his squad tip-off the 2016-2017 season at home on Friday Dec.2 against the Mapleton Mounties.
