Mitchell boys looking to get more aggressive in rebounding

Tom Young said his team is improving, no doubt.

But one area the Kernels must improve in is rebounding.

In six games, the Mitchell boys’ basketball team (2-4) has only outrebounded one of its opponents. The Kernels outrebounded Rapid City Stevens in their second win of the year.

“That’s going to be the focus for us probably the rest of the year,” said first-year head coach Tom Young, whose team outrebounded Stevens 31-28. “It’s a constant battle where the five guys on the floor have to rebound.

“When you’re not blessed with a lot of size, you’ve got to make up for that with aggressiveness and making sure that we get in position.”

The Kernels’ tallest player on the roster is senior Seth Cavanaugh, who is a 6-foot-3 guard. Playing down low for the team are forwards Jared Schmidt and Josh Schmidt, who check in at 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2.

So far this season, the forwards have faced inside players no shorter than 6-foot-4.

Young said the team is aware of the height situation on the court.

“I don’t ever think we’re going to be a great rebounding team, but we can sure do a better job,” he said.

In addition to rebounding troubles, the lack of height for Mitchell is resulting in more shots from behind the three-point arc.

The Kernels are 46-of-122 in three-point shooting for 37.7 percent. Cavanaugh is leading the team with 14 3-pointers this season. Jared Schmidt has recorded 10 baskets from behind the arc, senior guard Cole Morgan has knocked down nine, sophomore guard Beau Brown has seven and senior guard Evan Mastel has five.

“We’re going to have to continue to do that, because we don’t have a huge inside presence that we can go to,” Young said. “The strength of our kids is quickness and perimeter shooting, so we’ll have to rely on that.”

The Kernels are 109-of-269 from the field, shooting 40.5 percent in six games.

Cavanaugh also leads the team in points this season with 12.8 points per game. Brown has scored an average of 12.5 and Morgan has 9.8 points per game for the Kernels.

Young said the Kernels haven’t had a lot of time to work on certain weaknesses throughout the first two weeks of the season.

Mitchell’s six games played is the most out of any Class AA boys’ or girls’ teams in the state.

“We’re still just getting our feet on the ground,” Young said. “I’m confident that these kids will step up and continue to get better.

“I’ve seen an improvement in our poise level, and I think the kids are settling into their roles a lot better.”

The Kernels have three practices, including today, before their next game when they take on Coronado, Nev., on Dec. 27 in the Mike Miller Classic at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

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