Preseason Team Rankings: #48

<p>It’s now creeping up on the start of the high school season and we are looking to start our series of previews on some of the best teams in the state. Today, Eric Gardner and Kyler Staley join up to start our deep dive into some of these teams.</p> <p>Our series will take a look at the best teams in the state for each class with our rankings. Starting at #50 and going to #1, we will look at each class ranking across all classes starting now with #48.</p> <p><strong>1A #48: Traders Point Christian</strong><br /> It will be an interesting season for Traders Point as they will be trying to build back up their talent base. They lost Alkiah Caldwell and Alex Terrell which is a big blow.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Derek Mount and Thomas Caldwell return, though, giving them some experience. The thing is their schedule, while tough at times, does afford them some leeway to grow and this is a team notorious for always finding a way to finish strong. Can they do it one more year? We will see.</p> <p><strong>2A #48: Providence</strong><br /> Providence is a very good program year in and year out but last year they were only able to get to 8-17.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Now, they have a new head coach in Ryan Miller and will try and get back into a successful run.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>This times up well with a roster where they bring back everyone except outgoing Senior Hayden Burke.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Look for guys like Austin Barnett and Sterling Huber.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Huber should be the big time scoring threat this year and teams will have trouble trying to stop him. Give this team another year of development, a new head coach, and they could make it back deeper in March.</p> <p><strong>3A #48: Boonville</strong><br /> Boonville is coming off a terrible 5-19 record where most of their talent were outgoing seniors. The bright spot for The Pioneers is that they return 6’5” forward Hunter Bruce, that can not only provide post play but is a solid shooting presence as well. If The Pioneers want to show great signs of improvement, they will need for sophomore Devin Mockobee, who is an athletic forward that is great defensively, to step up and improve in the scoring department. With a schedule that is as tough as it was season ago, Boonville will need to improve in almost every aspect of the game if they want to have a chance to make it out of their sectional that is tough from top to bottom. If Bruce and Mockobee play to their potential, watch out for this team.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p><strong>4A #48: Bedford North Lawrence<br /> </strong>The Stars are coming off a 13-10 record with an almost completely new roster this season. This year, they will rely on a very talented JV team to come in and fill important roles. All eyes this year will be on senior Brayton Bailey, who is a very explosive guard from the moment he touches the ball. Bedford will need smooth scorer Trey Mollett and JV stud Kooper Staley to breakout and provide scoring from the perimeter. Also look for athletic forward Ben Cosner, and big men Cale Bunch and Zach Sasser to provide the post scoring. Though it will be hard for The Stars to survive their tough sectional with Floyd Central and New Albany still leading the pack, this squad has all the talent to shock some teams in The Hoosier Hills Conference.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>