Junior Caleb Dewey (3) returns to the Lancers’ lineup after averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds last season.
Even with everything Edinburgh accomplished last season, it’s what the Lancers didn’t do that remains lodged in the team’s collective craw.
Coach Keith Witty’s squad placed third at its holiday tournament and was runner-up in the final Mid-Hoosier Conference standings before being ousted in the semifinal of the Class A sectional at West Washington.
Prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, the objective had been to capture all three.
“The one thing we’ve talked about in the preseason is that we’ve got some unfinished business,” said Witty, whose club ended with an 18-6 record, a complete reversal of its 6-18 ledger a year earlier. “We always have the goal of winning our holiday tourney, winning conference and winning sectional, and we fell short in all three of those.
“We have a big poster in our locker room taking about unfinished business, but spirits are high, and obviously they know we can succeed at a high level. You just have to perform.”
Returning four of his top six players, Witty, now in his fifth season, is confident the Lancers possess the talent and motivation to accomplish big things.
Swingman Caleb Dewey, a 6-foot-3 junior, is entrenched in the starting lineup for a third consecutive season after averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. The senior nucleus of 6-4 forward Travis Jones (11.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg), 6-3 guard Riley Palmeter (5.7, 4.1) and 6-5 Landen Burton (4.7, 3.2) complements Dewey’s talents — and vice versa.
“I think we’re just ready for the season to start, and we have a fire fueled in us and are ready to get going,” Burton said. “I think just from my point of view, I think sectional was (most disappointing) because we thought we could win it, and we didn’t have the right outcome.
“I think we all have higher expectations this year.”
Junior Jarrett Turner saw action in 10 varsity contests last season and is expected to take over point guard duties, though he will not be the only player from the 2020-21 junior varsity team expected to make an impact. Travis Vidal, a 6-foot senior, along with junior Braylon Bryant and 5-11 sophomore Austin Brockman, make the Lancers eight deep at minimum.
As the season progresses and younger talent improves, Witty’s options could be even more.
“Caleb took a big step this summer. And obviously, Landen goes from being (a reserve) to being a starter. We need him to continue to step up,” Witty said. “Riley is that solid glue guy for us who had a big year in football and expects to succeed on the basketball court, too.
“Travis is our most experienced returner. He is going to be expected to be our voice on the court and take on more of a scoring role. As much as we need him in the post, he will play some on the perimeter as he has worked on extending his game along with his ball-handling.”
The Lancers open the regular season at Southwestern on Nov. 23.
