By JESSE TEMPLE
jtemple@muncie.gannett.com

(Published Friday, Nov. 20 2009) YORKTOWN — For the six seniors on Yorktown’s boys basketball team, a head coaching change just before their final season of high school hoops could’ve spelled trouble.

New coach. New rules. New system. And by the time they finally would’ve adjusted, their varsity careers would be nearly over.
Thankfully, a familiar face — with a familiar approach — stepped in to save the day.

Blake Everhart, Yorktown’s assistant basketball coach the past five seasons, quelled any fears by filling the vacancy left by former Tigers coach Judd Moulton, who resigned in June to spend more time with his family.

Trouble averted.

Since taking over in July, Everhart has made a point not to make any major changes to the Tigers’ basketball strategy.

“The great thing about me coming into this system is we’re not overhauling everything and having to teach everything new,” Everhart said. “That, to me, is the greatest thing and the greatest advantage for myself. They know it. So when we hit day one, they were on the ground running.”

For the Yorktown seniors — and the rest of the Tigers, for that matter — the transition has been as smooth as satin sheets.

“It’s really good,” senior guard Nick Conte said. “We have the same offense, same stuff we were running last year. Everyone on the varsity knows him pretty well just because he’s been around since we were freshmen.”

The Tigers once again will pattern their offense after Butler University’s men’s basketball program. The offense features ball screens with guard penetration and a focus on kicking out to the open shooters.

Everhart spent parts of the last five seasons as either the head freshman or head junior varsity coach, all while working closely with players and coaches at the varsity level.

“He’s just kind of filling in for Coach Moulton, doing the same stuff,” senior point guard Elliott Kampen said. “He acts like a head coach. We’re pretty confident in him and feel it’s going to be a good year.”

Kampen, a 6-foot-5 All-Hoosier Heritage Conference selection as a junior, begins his senior season as the Tigers’ only returning starter off a 10-12 team that lost five of its top six players to graduation. This will be Kampen’s third year in the varsity starting lineup, and Everhart said he expected Kampen to have an increased role in the offense, learning every position on the floor, including the post — perhaps one of the only major changes to this year’s offense.

“What we don’t want from him is to feel like he has to do everything,” Everhart said. “He’s a good player. He needs to be able to do things for our team. But at the same time, he doesn’t have to do everything. We have some guys that can make some plays where Elliott doesn’t have to.”

Other seniors on this year’s team include Jordan Collins, Christian Campbell, and Kyle Weiss — the Tigers’ quarterback during football season. All three will occupy forward slots. Conte will fill a guard role, and Jason Martin, a 6-7 senior playing his first year of organized hoops, could play some at center.

Kampen, Conte, Campbell and Weiss represent the only Tigers to have already seen much varsity playing time.

Juniors Dan Clevenger, Zach Roberts and Alex McCartney also are expected to contribute to the varsity rotation this year as the season plays out.

“They know what I expect of them,” Everhart said of his team. “I think that’s key. Any time you have a new coach or change, the question is, ‘How long does it take for them to figure it out?’ ”

Everhart and the Tigers will soon find out. Yorktown’s first game is Nov. 28 at home against Central.

Contact prep sports reporter Jesse Temple at 213-5807.