Short on size and light on experience, the Edinburgh boys basketball team will tap other resources to continue its recent run of winning seasons.
What the Lancers lack in height they’ll compensate with speed. And what they lack in depth they’ll make up for with tenacity.
At least, that’s the vision of fifth-year coach Drew Glentzer, who has guided the Lancers to four straight winning campaigns. He sees no reason why the streak won’t extend to five under his watch and six overall.
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“Our liability is, we don’t have much size,” said Glentzer, who returns three starters from last year’s 12-8 team. “We only have one kid over 6-foot. So quickness and playing hard and team chemistry, those will all be big things for us in order to be successful.
“We’ll have to play a little harder than everybody else we play.”
Determination has been the Lancers’ hallmark for the past six seasons, even before Glentzer’s arrival.
In recent years, the Lancers have won two sectional championships (2010 and 2012) and one regional title (2012) and have emerged as a consistent Class A postseason contender.
To continue the trend, Edinburgh will lean heavily on the skills and experience of returning starters Elliott Parmer, Matt Heagy and
Bobby Simpson.
Parmer is a 5-foot-9 senior point guard. Heagy is a senior guard/forward and, at 6-1, is the Lancers’ tallest player. Simpson is a 6-foot junior guard.
Those players are likely to be joined in the starting lineup by 6-foot forward Elijah Parmer and 6-foot junior guard Kyle Pendleton.
Elijah Parmer is the twin brother of Elliott Parmer. Pendleton, who saw limited action as a freshman, is back after missing last season with a knee injury.
Edinburgh’s other returning letter winner is Kevin Johnson, a 5-10 senior guard/forward.
All of those players are expected to play significant roles on a team Glentzer is confident not only will contend for Mid-Hoosier Conference and sectional titles but also will make noise in the Johnson County Tournament.
Edinburgh has finished no lower than third the past four years in the six-team field. The Lancers were runners-up to Class 4A Center Grove in 2012.
“The thing (players) have bought into is the fact how hard we have to play in order to compete,” Glentzer said. “We’re usually one of the smallest schools, even on our own schedule. Pretty much everybody we play is bigger than us.
“We’ve got very good community support, and the kids really don’t want to let anybody down.”
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Date;Opponent;Time
Tuesday;Southwestern;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 6;Waldron;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9;at Triton Central;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13;at North Decatur;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19;at Hauser;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 20;Monrovia;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29-30;Edinburgh Tourney;TBA
Jan. 6;Seymour;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9;at Arlington;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10;at Lutheran;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13-17;*County;TBA
Jan. 24;at Knightstown;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30;Morristown;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31;Baptist Academy;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 7;Indian Creek;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12;Greenwood;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 17;Eastern Hancock;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20;at South Decatur;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24;at Southwestern;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 26;Brown County;7:30 p.m.
*at Greenwood
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