Tigers ride momentum into 2012-13

.556
Winning percentage for Wheaton Warrenville South over the final 18 games of last season. The Tigers overcame a 1-9 start to go 10-8 the rest of the way.

WHAT TO WATCH
After a slow start to Robert Szorc’s first year as Wheaton Warrenville South head coach, the Tigers played their best basketball down the stretch last winter.

Now, despite graduation losses and only three seniors on the roster, the squad will look to carry that momentum into this season.

“We are young and inexperienced,” Szorc said. “We have to win the ‘play hard’ chart. It will be fun to watch the maturity process with this group.”

The Tigers do return one starter in senior Michael Kramer while junior Matt Kienzle also saw varsity time a year ago.

Seniors Joe Waber and Adam Rogers are expected to step in along with junior Aidan Hernandez and Ryan Graham and sophomore Keishawn Watson.

“We’ve got two kids back with lots of varsity experience with Kramer and Kienzle,” the coach said. “And then we are going to have to find ways to distribute the scoring.

“Defensively, in the second year in the system, that is where we have to make our mark. I thought as the season progressed last year, that held true. We played good basketball the second half of the season.”

The next few weeks will be especially important for Wheaton Warrenville South as roles start to shake out. The Tigers are not in a Thanksgiving tournament, instead opening the season with a DVC matchup against West Aurora.

“There is no magic pill to make them veterans,” Szorc said. “We will have to find out some things; find out the groups that mix together well and groups that are ready to compete at the varsity level.”