Marcus Ankney drives to the basket for Center Grove during a junior season in which he averaged 14.3 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Daily Journal file photo
Extracting positives from a 29-point road loss in a game played three years ago has needle and haystack written all over it.
In the case of Center Grove, there is one.
The Trojans’ 73-44 setback at Cathedral midway through the 2019-20 regular season was the first of the many times Marcus Ankney, then a freshman, heard his name announced as part of the starting lineup.
Expect that tradition to continue in the weeks ahead.
Now a senior, the 6-foot-4 guard and Indiana Wesleyan verbal commit is anxious to help Center Grove return to the plus side of .500 after an 11-13 finish last season.
“The most important thing is being a vocal leader,” said Ankney, the team’s leading scorer (14.3 ppg) and third-leading maker of 3-point shots (26) as a junior. “That’s what I’m trying to embrace as one of my roles. I’ve definitely had to work on it, but the teaching side, I feel, comes naturally to me.”
Ankney is part of a Trojans backcourt that also includes 6-2 senior sharpshooter Ethan McComb (6.3 ppg, team-high 35 3s) and junior point guard Jalen Bundy (4.2 ppg, team leader in assists and steals).
Junior guard Joey Schmitz (4.6 ppg) is another perimeter threat who knocked down 17 triples a year ago. That four combined to convert 67% of the team’s makes from long distance and make 77% of their free throw attempts (133 of 172) last season.
As a team, the Trojans shot 55.6% from 2-point range and 35.3% on 3s. They outrebounded opponents by an average of 22.6 to 17.8.
Coach Zach Hahn begins his ninth year on the Center Grove bench with what might be his best group of outside shooters.
Meanwhile, Ankney’s versatility promises to play a major role at both ends of the floor.
“Marcus has taken a big step forward for us leadership-wise,” Hahn said. “He’s, to me, an Indiana All-Star candidate. A guard who can do it all and defend 1 through 4. Marcus is starting to take the reins vocally and really stepped up in that regard.”
Will Spellman, a 6-5 junior, is 20 pounds lighter and could, according to his coach, make big jump for Center Grove beneath and close to the basket. Two 6-6 juniors, Peyton Byrd and Garrett Messer, are also expected to factor in, as are 5-10 junior guards Owen Baker and Dylan Meador.
“I like that we all work together, and are unselfish in the way that we play,” Ankney said. “We play through everyone. Coach Hahn has definitely preached that we can be a good team if we share the basketball.”
Unlike seasons past, no members of the football team are part of the varsity hoops roster.
“The biggest thing with this group is this is the first time in my nine years where all of our players are basketball kids,” Hahn said. “That makes a big differencem because we’ve been able to work with them all year.
“We’re fortunate these guys are really good athletes as well as good basketball players.”
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
Coach: Zach Hahn
Last season: 11-13, lost to Franklin in championship game of Class 4A sectional
Key returnees: Marcus Ankney and Ethan McComb, seniors; Jalen Bundy, Joey Schmitz and Will Spellman, juniors
Top newcomers: Owen Baker and Garrett Messer, seniors; Peyton Byrd and Dylan Meador, juniors
Outlook: The 52.2 points a game the Trojans averaged last season was the second-lowest number in Hahn’s first eight seasons as coach. At the same time, the 48.6 they allowed made them the stingiest group defensively during his tenure. With so many quality shooters on the roster, Center Grove could experience a big bump in the offensive numbers. It starts with Ankney, though McComb, Bundy and Schmitz are all valued holdovers from a year ago. The Trojans’ interior players aren’t as experienced, though Hahn feels it’s a group that also has much promise.
The Trojans will be tested early and often. After opening at home against Greenwood on Nov. 23, they play all but one of their remaining games in 2022 on the road — a Dec. 10 meeting with Martinsville being the exception.
“This group wants to play fast, and I want them to play fast. It’s the most skilled team that I’ve had,” Hahn said. “It’s been a really good fall, and it was a great summer.”
