C-M boys know new league doesn’t guarantee immediate success

COLFAX — Longtime Colfax-Mingo boys’ basketball coach John Borts expects his Tigerhawks to compete for a conference championship this season.

Not because the program is in a new league or because 11 of the 12 player’s on last year’s squad are back.

It’s just the way Borts approaches things.

“Do I expect to do well? Yes. But we are not expecting it to be easy at all,” Borts said as he moves closer to his 35th season as Tigerhawk coach.

Borts brings back all five starters from a team that went 1-22 last year. Senior Colin Lourens was a second-team all-conference player in the Heart of Iowa after averaging a double-double, while senior guards Jacob Lietz and Jared Myers were honorable mention selections.

This season, that trio, along with seniors Blake Summy, Nicholas Deal and Michael Deal and sophomore Jarod Nichols will be playing against schools similar in size in the South Iowa Cedar League.

That change should certainly help, but it’s not a guarantee. Borts knows that, and he tells his team that whenever he can.

“I know there are going to be several good teams there, too,” Borts said. “It’s not like it’s going to be easy in that league because it’s not.”

There’s proof of what Borts is saying, too.

Belle Plaine went 24-2 and played in the Class 1A state tournament last year, while Montezuma finished 21-4 and Lynnville-Sully and Sigourney both finished 18-6.

Belle Plaine brings back two of its top scorers, Montezuma returns its three leading scorers, and Sigourney’s top two scorers are back.

Keota lost its leading scorer after going 12-10, but every other player returns.

While it won’t be easy, that doesn’t stop Borts from expecting his team to compete for an upper half finish.

Lourens will lead the way in trying to get C-M to the top of the SICL. He averaged 12.4 points and led the HOIC in rebounds last year, corralling 10.1 per contest.

“I have high expectations for him,” Borts said. “He’s a tremendous effort guy. Hopefully we can give him some minutes off so he can continue that effort for an entire game.

“He plays really hard. We need him to get him the ball inside as much as possible.”

The Tigerhawks are ahead of schedule, according to Borts. With so many veterans back this season, he hasn’t had to explain things much at all.

Myers (9.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) will start the season on the sideline as he recovers from an injury sustained in football, but Lietz averaged nine points and led the Tigerhawks with 59 assists and Nichols scored 7.7 points and grab nearly six rebounds per contest.

“I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far,” Borts said. “We are quite a ways ahead of where we have been the last few years. The guys know what is expected and they are just getting after it. We’re trying to take advantage of every opportunity we have with practices.”