MIDDLETON - When high school basketball kicks off next week, the Middleton Regional High School senior boys will be in the thick of things with a young team and a lot of determination on the road to Regionals.
The Middleton Monarchs enter the new hoops season with few familiar faces and a bevy of newcomers, said coach Paul Shaffner. He takes over coaching duties this year with help from assistants Travis Kennedy and Quinn Van den Heuvel.
“After the graduation of seven seniors and discontinuance of two others from last year’s squad, this season’s Monarchs have only two returnees, Grade 12 Jordan Cloutier and Grade 11 Elyias French,” said Shaffner. “Being the sole team members with experience at the varsity level, this duo will shoulder much of the load.”
Shaffner said Cloutier will figure large in point production with his slippery maneuvering and artful moves near the hoop, adding that team captain French gives the team a nifty inside scorer and a staunch battler on the boards.
“The newcomer crop has Junior A Monarch grads Grade 10s Tyler Baker, Kris Hampton, and Will Luttmann,” he said. “Baker, one of the best prepared basketball rookies in years, provides the Monarchs with a deft ball handler and a scoring threat from every range. Forward Kris Hampton adds rebounding prowess, while speedster guards Luttmann and Daigle will measurably add to an extended range of play.”
Also back in the picture after a number of years with Junior Monarchs is Grade 11 Judson Luttmann who Shaffner described as a rugged utility player. Rounding out the team are three international students, Jaime Herrero, Alex Christ, and Sam Caram.
“Christ will add an important dimension to team defense,” said the coach, “and Caram to team feist.”
The team plays in the NSSAF Division II Western Region Valley League. League opponents include long-time rivals Digby, Bridgetown, West Kings, Central Kings, Northeast Kings, and Kings Edgehill.
Shaffner said the Monarchs will also appear in several tournaments, one being as host of
the Western Valley Shootout at MRHS on Dec. 20.
Current team information can be found on website www.middletonbasketball.weebly.com/senior
Senior Boys Schedule
(as of Nov. 21)
Nov 29 (Wed) at AWEC 6:30 p.m.
Dec 4 (Mon) at NKEC 7 p.m. (LEAGUE)
Dec 8 (Fri) Bridgetown 7 p.m.
Dec 11 (Mon) NKEC 7 p.m. (changed from Jan 5)
Dec 14,15,16 West Kings Tournament
Dec 20 (Wed) Western Valley Shootout 3 p.m.
Jan 11 (Thu) at Digby 7 p.m. (LEAGUE)
Jan 12,13 Avon View Tournament)
Jan 15 (Mon) KES 7 p.m. (LEAGUE)
Jan 19,20 Annapolis Tournament
Jan 23 (Tues) at Bridgetown 6 p.m. (LEAGUE)
Feb 2 (Fri) West Kings 7 p.m. (LEAGUE)
Feb 7 (Wed) Central Kings 7 p.m. (LEAGUE)
Feb 12 (Mon) New Germany 7 p.m.
Feb 14 (Wed) at Forest Heights 5:30 p.m.
