Cambridge boys hope to add hoops title to football crown

John J. Mesh/McCook Daily Gazette Cambridge boys basketball coach Del Schoenfish outlines a play for the Trojans during sub-district competition two weeks ago against Southern Valley at the McCook High School gymnasium. Schoenfish and the Trojans are 27-1 entering the Class C-2 state tournament. [Click to enlarge]

get No. 2 seed

at state tourney

CAMBRIDGE -- The boys participating in athletics at Cambridge High School have already had enormous success this year.

They added a football championship in the fall and now head basketball coach Del Schoenfish and his team, ranked No. 1 and seeded No. 2 in Class C2, hopes to show they have what it takes to take the Class C2 state basketball championship in Lincoln Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Trojans' first step to the rare double championship feat will come at 5 p.m. Thursday against Sutton High School at Lincoln North Star's gymnasium.

The winner will play the winner of West Point Central Catholic vs. Ravenna on Friday at 11:30 a.m. in Lincoln's Pershing Auditorium.

The championship game will be played at the Devaney Center at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

The Sutton Mustangs, last year's champion, tout a 16-6 season record, but don't let the losses deceive as five of them came against Class C1 schools.

"Their record is really misleading," Schoenfish said of no. 7 ranked Sutton. "They are a quality team and match up with us as far as concerning size. They've got some decent size and are physical.

"They are all around 6-2 and are thick, athletic and can shoot the ball well. They play good man-to-man defense and they try to get after you."

Schoenfish went on to say that while his team has a lot of experience playing against man-to-man defense they don't have a problem countering zone defenses either.

"We can attack both equally well. We can go both inside and outside. It will play itself out."

Cambridge (23-1), on defense, will have to go against Sutton's only returning starter from last year's championship season, Josh Nuss, who averages 15.5 points a game this season.

Whereas Sutton relies on Nuss as their main scorer, the Trojans' starting lineup is filled with talent and any one could lead Cambridge in the points category.

Marcus Vontz (5-10), Waid Vontz (6-0), Matt Depperschmidt (6-2), Matt Sexton (6-2) and Derik Light (6-2) are a scary mix for an opponent.

Schoenfish expects the experience from the success on the football field during big games to help with the pre-game preparation and composure on the basketball court.

While Schoenfish said that he thinks his team can handle the physical aspect of playing three games in three days, the psychological element of the state tournament is one that berates every team.

"Emotionally it's the toughest, but we can handle it physically. There will be emotional preparation each day, but on the last day we'll run on adrenaline," said Schoenfish, whose team will be lodging in Lincoln.

"It's an advantage to the team who can go home and sleep in their own beds."

Class C2

State Pairings

First Round,

Thursday, March 11

At Lincoln North Star

Elmwood-Murdock (21-2) vs. Friend (13-9), 9:30 a.m.

Louisville (17-3) vs. Randolph (20-2), 11:30 a.m.

West Point Central Catholic (19-4) vs. Ravenna (20-4), 1:30 p.m.

Cambridge (23-1) vs. Sutton (16-6), 5 p.m.

Semifinals,

Friday, March 12

At Pershing

Elmwood-Murdock-Friend winner vs. Louisville-Randolph winner, 9:30 a.m.

West Point Central Catholic-Ravenna winner vs. Cambridge-Sutton winner, 11:30 a.m.

Final,

Saturday, March 13

At Devaney

Semifinal winners, 9:30 a.m.