Open Gym Report: Connersville High School
Yesterday I continued my journey around the state with a stop at the famous Spartan Bowl to check in on Connersville. The Spartans are a historic basketball school with state championships in 1972 and 1983 and play in one of…
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Continue ReadingYesterday I continued my journey around the state with a stop at the famous Spartan Bowl to check in on Connersville. The Spartans are a historic basketball school with state championships in 1972 and 1983 and play in one of the most iconic gymnasiums in Indiana High School Basketball. Coach Kerry Brown was nice enough to pull back the curtain to his program for a day so I could watch their workout and see what the Spartans will have for the 2021-2022 season.
Since taking over in 2010, Coach Brown has compiled a 192-109 record at Connersville with three sectional championships in the last six seasons. Last year, the Spartans made the regional final for the second time under his tutelage before losing to eventual state champion Silver Creek 31-30. Coach Brown’s teams are known for their stellar defense, discipline, and being able to win games in the 30s and 40s. It is definitely a throwback style of basketball, but it is effective.
Don’t let the emphasis on defense and low scoring games fool you though. The Spartans have talent. They lost just two rotations pieces from last year’s 18-8 regional final team and return over two-thirds of their scoring output. Connersville will be led by senior point guard Tobey Billups Tobey Billups 6'0" | PG Connersville | 2022 State IN . The 5’11″ floor general holds an offer from IU-East and should have a big senior season ahead. He averaged a team-leading 8.8 points and 5.1 assists a season ago. There isn’t much of a question as to what Billups will bring on a nightly basis, but it will be the development of his teammates that will decide whether or not Connersville is a true state title contender in Class 3A.
6’3″ senior sharp-shooter Kaleb Sparks is the second-leading returning scorer after averaging 6.6 points per game last season. He shot over 41% from beyond the arc (44-107) and should be poised for a breakout senior season. He will be on the receiving end of a lot of Tobey Billups Tobey Billups 6'0" | PG Connersville | 2022 State IN drive-and-kicks.
Gage Brown, a 6’6″ senior forward, is the next best known commodity brining back 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He is strong and mobile around the basket giving the Spartans nice size at the rim. Speaking of size, the potential breakout star of this Spartan team could 6’4″ forward Lucas Barron Lucas Barron 6'4" Connersville | 2023 IN . He recently stood out at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo and should have a big junior season as the potential starting “4” at Connersville. His development, along with fellow junior 6’2″ wing Josh Williams, will be the biggest question marks for the Spartans. If the two juniors are good and make significant jumps this season then this is a legitimate state championship contending team in Class 3A.
Adding depth to the equation will be senior point guard Carter Bodwell, junior wing Braxton Myers, senior guard Luke Sullenbarger, and sophomore forward Blaine Hornsby.
As always, this will be a defensive-minded group that will rely upon veteran leadership and varsity experience to win basketball games. The Spartans will be a preseason Top 10 team in Class 3A with the potential to finish even higher.
Final Thought: Tobey Billups Tobey Billups 6'0" | PG Connersville | 2022 State IN gives Connersville one of the best guards in east central Indiana. Coach Kerry Brown always finds a way to have one of the best defensive teams in the state. Those two facts alone will make the Spartans a top Class 3A team. However, the development of some additional rotation pieces will be the determining factor between state title hopes or another sectional/regional exit. Only time will tell.