Arcanum boys basketball team likes its deep roster

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ARCANUM – Arcanum enters the 2017-18 boys basketball season with a deep roster highlighted by several returning varsity players.

Senior Andrew Baker, junior Evan Atchley and sophomore Carter Gray all return to the Trojans after starting last season. Senior Wills Troutwine, who came off the bench last year, also returns to the varsity lineup this season.

The four returning varsity players are joined this season by junior Lane Byrne, junior Grant Delk, junior Dylan Lumpkin, junior Zach Smith, junior Mitchel Wogomon, sophomore Austen Cutarelli, sophomore Cory Ross and sophomore JT Whittaker.

“A lot of players (are) in contention for playing time at the varsity level,” Arcanum coach Marcus Bixler said. “Each of these guys will be called upon this season to provide us with some depth.”

Arcanum could have had even more depth had it not been for injuries. Juniors Isaiah Hootman and Wade Meeks both could miss the entire season with ACL injuries.

Still, the Trojans have a lot to build around. Gray led the team with 13.3 points per game last season while Atchley was third on the team with 8.8 points per game and led Arcanum with 5.8 rebounds per contest. Meeks was second in scoring last year with 9.4 points a game.

With the players Arcanum does have, Bixler sees good size and versatility.

“We have more length than past years, and we would like to use that to our advantage,” he said. “We also have guys that will play and defend multiple positions on the floor.”

The Trojans still have some areas to work on including team defense, offensive rebounding and individual offensive skills, Bixler said.

Arcanum has the potential to be a contender in the Cross County Conference, but Bixler said the team’s success will be defined on a game-to-game basis.

“Our goals are defined on a game-to-game basis on both ends of the floor,” Bixler said. “A major key will be our ability to control tempo and execute defensively and on the glass.”

The Arcanum boys basketball team has a deep roster filled with versatile players.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Arcanum-boys-WEB-4.jpgThe Arcanum boys basketball team has a deep roster filled with versatile players. Kyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

By Kyle Shaner

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Kyle Shaner may be reached at 937-569-4316. Follow me on Twitter @KShanerAdvocate or get updates on Facebook by searching Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com.

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