Webster Bearcats: Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Webster Area Bearcats enter the new season with a fresh sense of direction and renewed optimism under head coach Matthew Lenards. Last year's injuries disrupted rhythm and continuity, but this group has put in the work to reset, regroup, and reposition themselves as a competitive presence in Region 1. The offseason wasn't just about getting healthy — it was about learning a new system, adapting to a new coaching voice, and establishing clearly defined roles within the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"200"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:200">With a talented guard group capable of handling pressure and creating offense, paired with size and physicality in the paint, the Bearcats have the pieces to be a balanced squad on both ends of the floor. Expect Webster to defend with purpose, rebound with intent, and play a smarter, more cohesive style of basketball. There's a strong belief inside the program that this season will mark a step forward — a chance to bring Bearcat hoops back to consistency, competitiveness, and relevance in Region 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">See below for player comments and a Q&amp;A session. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2632356,"width":"247px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2632356" style="width:247px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3126076,"width":"247px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_e8ac63.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_e8ac63.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3126076" style="width:247px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Program:</strong>&nbsp;Webster Area</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Mascot:&nbsp;</strong>Bearcat</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Head Coach:</strong>&nbsp;Matthew Lenards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Athletic Director:</strong>&nbsp;Nathan Bloom</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Class:</strong>&nbsp;A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Region:</strong>&nbsp;1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player To Watch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}},"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:100"><em>*Comments from Coach Lenards</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2365532' first='Matthew' last='Mount'] - 6'1 Senior Guard.</strong> "<em>Can score from all three levels. Good rebounder</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2338068' first='Jack' last='Shoemaker'] - 6'3, Senior Guard.</strong> "<em>Can score from all three levels. Good rebounder</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeron McCreary - 6'2, Senior Forward.</strong> "<em>Can score from all three levels. Good rebounder, good on-ball defender</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3127108' first='Gage' last='Wik'] - 6'4, Senior Forward.</strong> "<em>Big and long, shot blocking presence, Good rebounder</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3127206' first='Seth' last='Lesnar'] - 5'11, Sophomore Guard.</strong> "<em>Can score from anywhere, Good on-ball defender, quick</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Peyton Sichmeller - 5'10 Senior Guard.</strong> "<em>Can score from all three levels</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3128297,"width":"247px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_bc5a5e.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_bc5a5e.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3128297" style="width:247px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">With Matthew Lenards</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Respect and punctuality.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Controlling dribbling lanes, forcing low percentage shots.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who will be a couple of your lead guards?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='3127206' first='Seth' last='Lesnar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2338068' first='Jack' last='Shoemaker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2365532' first='Matthew' last='Mount'] can handle pressure, create for others off the dribble, score from anywhere, and find the open man to dish to.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Offseason was a big learning opportunity. It was also a great opportunity for some players to get healthy. With a new coach, we had to learn new systems and philosophies. We expanded our thought process to understand things that are different or new to us. It was a great opportunity for me to see what certain players brought to the table and be able to establish roles within the team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We had opportunities this summer to test our new knowledge in some team camps. It showed where we were at and what we still needed to do maintenance on and correct some of those miscues.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>PHD: Who are a few of your top defensive players?</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Jeron McCreary and [player_tooltip player_id='3127206' first='Seth' last='Lesnar'] are good on-ball defenders and can limit players' scoring opportunities. GageWik and [player_tooltip player_id='2338068' first='Jack' last='Shoemaker'] are some of our bigger bodies inside to create difficult shots at the rim.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Jeron McCreary</em> <em>[player_tooltip player_id='2338068' first='Jack' last='Shoemaker'] are some of our better rebounders. Using both size and athleticism to go up and secure the ball. Gage uses more size and physicality to grab boards for us.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are your team goals this year?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Stay healthy, consistently improve upon mistakes and miscues, make teams uncomfortable, score at a more consistent pace game in and game out. Create more turnovers. Shoot the ball at a high percentage from various levels.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: Who are some of the top teams in your area?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Groton, Milbank, Hamlin, Clark Willow Lake.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Injuries plagued the team last year, we are looking to right the ship and get the program as a whole back into a more consistent place within the Region and the state in terms of winning.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"1000"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:italic;font-weight:1000">BEST OF LUCK TO THE BEARCATS!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3126076,"width":"568px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_e8ac63.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_e8ac63.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3126076" style="width:568px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->