West Ottawa Panthers

Coach: Steve Windemuller

2014-2015 Stats

Record:6-15 (Lost in first round of districts to Holland)

Points Per Game:45

Opp PPG:47

Season Overview: The Panthers are coming off of a down season. That being said, expect one of the best West Ottawa Basketball teams to be assembled this decade. Steve Windmueller has changed the attitude around at West Ottawa, and you can expect to see that this season. The Panthers are loaded with young talent this year, pulling 5 Sophomores (Xavier Wade, Tyler Bosma, Nick Wehrmeyer, Drew Pederson, Liam Cavanagh) up to Varsity. To go along with this young firepower, the Panthers have a strong Senior core lead by John Wehrmeyer and Jared Miller.

Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Nick Wehrmeyer

SG:John Wehrmeyer

SF:Tyler Bosma

SF:Jake Van Tubergen

C:Jared Miller

Roster:

Nick Wehrmeyer 10

Drew Pederson 10

Liam Cavanaugh 10

Tyler Bosma 10

Xavier Wade 10

Jake Van Tubergen 11

Hunter Bedford 11

Anthony Charameda 11

Ben Horner 12

Brooks Rodino 12

Mitch Williams 12

Jared Miller 12

John Wehrmeyer 12

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

The Good: West Ottawa’s team is loaded with talent and height.

The Panthers are talented and tall, and those are both positive components to a team. With a starting lineup featuring two 6’5 players with Jared Miller, Tyler Bosma, and Jake Van Tubergen just behind at 6’4 the Panthers will have the edge in the height category in most games.

The Bad: West Ottawa’s on ball defense.

The Panther’s shouldn’t have a hard time scoring the ball, but defending might be another story. Height and quickness don’t always directly correlate. The Panther’s perimeter defense will be tested early, playing against the explosive Demetrius Lake from Holland high, in their opener and will be continued to be tested throughout the season going against Grand Haven’s Drew Hewitt, and East Kentwood’s Micah Rosser.

The Ugly: The number of seniors on the team.

Having a young team is a great thing , but with so little senior leadership, it will be interesting to see how the Panthers work as a team this year. It will be interesting to see if the Seniors along with the coaching staff will be able to get the team to work a one unit. If they do, the rest of the OK better watch out.

Key Games: Here are a few games you won’t want to miss this year.

12/8 @ Holland.

To see a few of the best players in West Michigan battle, head to the Dutch Dome at 7.          

2/5 Rockford

Grit, toughness, and hustle will all be on display against the Rams

2/19 East Kentwood

If the Panthers’ season goes as hoped, this very well could be a conference championship determining game. East Kentwood, who only lost once last year will be a tough matchup, expect a good one.

The X Factor:

Anthony Charameda and Liam Cavanaugh.  Charameda should bring a shooting spark of off the Panthers bench, look for him to come in at the end of half’s and periods.  Cavanaugh, one of the more athletic players on the team, should provide an athletic spark of the bench. Right now, he is injured so don’t expect to see much early in the season, but by the middle of the season expect Cavanaugh to bring an athletic spark of the bench offensively and defensively.

Check out basketball hype video by West Ottawa Junior Zack Neitzel.