2009-2010 Season Preview

The 09-10 Roncalli Rebel boy's basketball team will be looking to win their fourth sectional title in six years after not winning any in the history of the school prior to 2005.

Returning for the Rebels this year include two year starters Michael Mislan (7.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Kendell Miller (6.0 ppg, 4.6 ppg). Other returning seniors include Patrick Heckman (2.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg), Curtis Reeser (1.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg), and Scott Hatfield (1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg). Junior Collin Lynch (4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) also returns after starting the last half of the season as a sophomore.

Other juniors up from a 18-2 JV team include Jimmy Baker and Conner Writt. Look for sophomores David Heckman and Ryan Weber to be major contributors by the end of the season as well.

Boys' Basketball News

Mislan Leads Rebels Past Plugs

by: Bob Kelly (R '79)
published: Mar 01, 2010

Speedway ran into more than just a speed bump on the way to the boys basketball sectional competition that tips off in one week. It ran into a wall in the form of the Roncalli Rebels.

The Sparkplugs entered the contest riding a seven-game winning streak, a 14-5 overall record and is West Central Conference champion for the second consecutive season. Speedway also is having its best record since registering a 22-4 mark in their 2001-2002 state championship season.

What looked like a tough matchup on paper for the Rebels turned out to be quite the opposite. Roncalli jumped out to an early lead and did its best to build on the momentum for four quarters, unlike its last game of two nights ago when it took an early lead only to trail for most of the game until late in the fourth quarter pulling out a win over Southport.

Mislan pours in 17 points

Senior Michael Mislan, who achieved a game-high 17 points, scored the first basket on a move in the lane as Roncalli never trailed in the game on the way to a 53-26 victory in front of a near-capacity crowd on a night when it honored seniors on Thursday night.

Mislan said he and his teammates were anxious to tip off to start the game.

"We were ready to play them when we had warm-ups," the 6-foot-7-inch forward said. "We just did not have a letdown the entire game and hope it continues."

Speedway head coach Charles Bennett said Roncalli posed problems that his team has not seen all season.
"The Roncalli kids are strong and smart and they played very well tonight," Bennett said. "(Mike) Wantz does a great job with them and having them prepared for each game."

The Rebels were ready to play this game, ending up with most loose balls leading to uncontested shots in perhaps its most convincing win on its home floor this season. Seniors honored in the game were: Scott Hatfield, Patrick Heckman, Kendell Miller, Mislan and Curtis Reeser.

Bennett said he was impressed by the entire team effort from Roncalli, but the player that stood out for him was Mislan.

"Mislan did a great job tonight," Bennett said. "I thought we could front him on defense but we could just not limit him to just one shot."

Wantz praises Mislan

Roncalli head coach Michael Wantz said Mislan, who has 11 career double-doubles, is playing very well at the right time of the season for Roncalli.

"Michael has been playing very well for us the past six weeks," Wantz said. "I have ridden him very hard, and he just keeps getting better for us."

The Sparkplugs made it 27-15 in the third quarter, but then Mislan hit two consecutive baskets, including one three-point play where he muscled into the lane to get in position for the shot to draw the foul.
Roncalli now plays its next game on Tuesday, March 2, in the Beech Grove Sectional where it meets Northwest, who beat them last week 48-46. Wantz said his team is in a good position heading into sectional play to defend its title.

"We feel good where we are stand at this time," Wantz said. "We just want to keep this momentum and keep building on it with our post play and rebounding."

Boys' Basketball Scoreboard

The following shows scores from the past 10 days (Mar 02, 2010 - Mar 12, 2010).