SEASON OUTLOOK: Veteran Tigers Ready To Make Strong Run

After back-to-back NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, the Wittenberg Tigers went through a rare “rebuilding” season in 2012-13 to finish 17-10. A year later, veteran Head Coach Bill Brown welcomes back an experienced team he believes is capable of contending for a league championship.

Heading the list of eight returning letterwinners are three senior captains: post Scott Masin (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) and guards Zack Leahy (Rossford, Ohio/Rossford) and Steven Newell (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont), along with junior wing Sam Collins (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights). All four were starters throughout the 2012-13 season, while senior Cole Bond (Canton, Ohio/St. Thomas Aquinas) and sophomore Alex Fultz (Cincinnati, Ohio/Glen Este) split the fifth starting position.

Masin enjoyed a breakout season a year ago, leading the team in scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg) while shooting 56 percent from the field en route to first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and third-team All-Great Lakes Region honors. Other big men include Fultz, Bond and junior John Albertson (Morrow, Ohio/Little Miami), who appeared in 21 games in the post off the bench in 2012-13.

Leahy ranked second on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg), third in assists (62) and first in steals (28) last year. He was rewarded with honorable mention all-conference recognition after averaging a team-high 30 minutes per game.

Newell has been a steadying influence at the point for three years, and he topped the team in three-point field goals (46) and ranked second in assists (63) while committing just 24 turnovers last season. The backcourt rotation will also include Collins, who averaged 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while topping the Tigers in assists (70) last year, and junior Ben Syroka (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer), who average 3.6 points off the bench.

An already deep roster is bolstered by an exceptional recruiting class, which includes several players Brown expects to compete for playing time immediately.

Letterwinners Returning (8)
Scott Masin (P, 6-5, 240, Sr., New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel)
Steven Newell (G, 5-10, 170, Sr., Dayton, Ohio/Northmont)
Zack Leahy (G, 6-0, 190, Sr., Rossford, Ohio/Rossford)
Ben Syroka (G, 6-0, 175, Jr., Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer)
Sam Collins (G, 6-4, 185, Jr., Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights)
Cole Bond (F, 6-6, 225, Sr., Canton, Ohio/St. Thomas Aquinas)
John Albertson (F, 6-7, 200, Jr., Morrow, Ohio/Little Miami)
Alex Fultz (F, 6-5, 200, So., Batavia, Ohio/Glen Este)

Letterwinners Lost (1)

Cam Walton

Starters Returning (5)
Scott Masin (P, 6-5, 240, Sr., New Carlisle, Ohio/Bethel)
Steven Newell (G, 5-10, 170, Sr., Dayton, Ohio/Northmont)
Zack Leahy (G, 6-0, 190, Sr., Rossford, Ohio/Rossford)
Sam Collins (G, 6-4, 185, Jr., Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights)
Alex Fultz (F, 6-5, 200, So., Batavia, Ohio/Glen Este)/Cole Bond (F, 6-6, 225, Sr., Canton, Ohio/St. Thomas Aquinas) - split starting spot

Starters Lost (0)