New Tiger Cub coach pleased with work ethic of first squad

Friday, November 18, 2016
Bryce Rector demonstrates a technique to his player in practice.
Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

Success breeds success, the popular saying goes.

Bryce Rector not only believes in that phrase, but he’s counting on it during his first year as head coach at Greencastle.

Several of the Tiger Cubs were members of the school’s highly-successful football team this fall, which had one of the best turnarounds in state history by going from 1-9 the previous season to 9-1 this year before losing a heart-breaking game in the sectional semifinals.

“The culture of our program had quite a shift on that first Monday when they were able to attend,” Rector said. “We hope they continue to bring that great culture and leadership that coach [Mike] Meyer instilled in them into our basketball program.”

Quarterback Nick Costin, wide receivers Alex Costin and J.T. Matthews, running back Devin Clar and defensive lineman Gavin Bollman are among the Tiger Cubs making the short transition from wearing pads and helmets to shorts and tank tops.

Rector, formerly an assistant coach at Avon, took over last spring when Troy Greenlee departed after 15 seasons to become the athletic director and assistant principal at White River Valley. Rector has been pleased with how things went this summer as he became familiar with his new players and also this fall when he has been able to work with them.

“It’s been a really good transition, and the kids are really buying into what we’re doing,” he said. “It’s a work in progress, because we’re changing up a lot of things we’re doing offensively and defensively.

“Doing that takes a lot of time, but they are really working hard and I really like how much they’re catching onto.”

Rector has also been impressed with the team’s ability to practice two very different aspects of the game simultaneously.

“They’re doing a really good job of focusing, at the same time giving maximum effort,” he said. “It can be hard to have a high intensity practice, while also learning new concepts. I have been very impressed with their ability to maintain their intensity and focus.”

Without having coached an official game with his new team, Rector admits he can’t yet determine how it will be able to play or what potential strengths are.

“We’re going to have to play along as the season goes as far as what we can and can’t do,” he said. “Obviously, what is going to have to be a key for us is that we can’t turn the ball over, and we have to be solid defensively.

“It doesn’t matter what we are doing offensively if we can’t get a good shot every time down the floor. Defensively, we have to be solid and try out best to outlast the offense.”

Junior Colin York was not a football player, but will take over the reins from graduated scoring specialist Ryan Coble.

Coble was the state’s fifth-leading scorer at 27.9 points per game, and now plays basketball at the Standards of Excellence Academy in North Carolina.

York was second on the team in scoring last year at 12.5 points per game.

“Colin is a great player,” Rector said. “He’s going to be someone who is expected to lead our team.”

Other backcourt players Rector can foresee playing quite a bit are the Costins and Clar.

“They are excellent athletes and bring toughness to the game,” Rector said.

Rector also inherits considerable size, with the 6-7 Matthews being joined by the 6-5 Bollman and Rylan Lucas (also 6-5) and 6-8 sophomore Trey Wood.

Bollman showed a tenaciousness on the football field that will easily translate to the post area on the basketball court.

“He’s going to be a bulldog this year,” Rector said. “I’ve been unbelievably impressed with his improvement from the summer until now. J.T. will also be a leader on the floor, while Lucas will also get good minutes for us.”

Jack Hutcheson isn’t as tall at 6-2 as older brother Nick, who was 6-7 and played at the University of Southern Indiana before injuries cut his career short. Rector still likes the tough nature he brings to the court.

“He outplays his size a lot, and plays significantly bigger than 6-2,” Rector said. “He just has a knack for finding the ball, and we expect him to have a big season. We wish he was 6-7, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in his heart and hard work. He didn’t miss an off-season workout this year and has really gone after it.”

Rector points to players reading each other offensively as one particular point he needs to fix before the games begin next week.

“We have to get better at that, and defensively you can always get better,” he said. “We’ve got a ways to go, but we’ve made significant progress in the time this fall.”

Rector hasn’t been surprised by anything that has happened to this point in his young career as a head coach, having been around the game for a long time.

“I’ve been in several different programs,” he said. “You never fully know the amount of responsibility the head coach has until you have been in their shoes. As an assistant you have specific things to do, but as the head coach you have to do a lot of other things like fundraising, setting up meetings, media interviews, setting up accounts on MaxPreps and a lot of things you take for granted as an assistant. I need to do a better job of delegating that stuff.”

Rector is looking forward to his varsity head coaching debut on Tuesday at Crawfordsville.

“I’ve known this is what I wanted to do for a while,” he said. “It’s an important game for me, but what’s important is that we get a W against Crawfordsville. I’ve looked forward to it, and I’m very blessed to have the opportunity.”

2016-17 schedule

(Times listed are varsity tipoff)

Nov. 22 — at Crawfordsville, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 29 — Danville, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 — West Vigo, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 — at South Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 16 — Sullivan, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 — Cloverdale, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 — at Cascade, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 6 — at Northview, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 7 — Rockville, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 — North Putnam, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 — at Edgewood, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 20 — at South Vermillion, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 21 — Western Boone, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 — Western Indiana Conference playoffs (TBA)

Jan. 28 — Tri-West, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 — at Monrovia, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 — at Brown County, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 — vs. North Putnam in Putnam County Classic at Greencastle, 6 p.m.

Feb. 11 — Putnam County Classic consolation and finals at Greencastle, 6/7:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 — at Southmont, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 — Owen Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 24 — North Montgomery, 7:30 p.m.

2015-16 results (10-13)

Crawfordsville L,54-63

at Danville L,40-68

at West Vigo L,35-48

North Putnam W,77-30

South Putnam W,63-32

at Sullivan L,53-63

at Cloverdale W,75-67

Cascade W,62-47

Northview W,67-62

at Rockville W,74-73

at South Vermillion W,69-59

Edgewood L,30-54

at Western Boone L,67-69 (OT)

Brown County L,67-74 (OT)

at Tri-West W,75-73

Monrovia W,58-47

Brown County L,54-83

Cloverdale L,71-75 (OT)

North Putnam L,63-67

Southmont W,69-52

at Owen Valley L,65-77

at North Montgomery L,63-69

Sectional

Western Boone L,48-64

2016-17 roster

Devin Clar 6-0 Sr.

Nick Costin 6-2 Sr.

J.T. Matthews 6-7 Sr.

Rylan Lucas 6-5 Sr.

Colin York 6-0 Jr.

Jack Hutcheson 6-2 Jr.

Alex Costin 6-2 So.

Gavin Bollman 6-5 So.

Seth Nichoils 5-9 Jr.

Abe Wade 5-9 Jr.

Blase Hasty 6-1 Jr.

Trey Wood 6-8 So.

Head coach: Bryce Rector

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