As he enters his second season at the helm of the Cloverdale boy's basketball team, Karl Turk knows what the final outcome and record was for the Clovers a season ago.
Cloverdale went 2-22 and that is not lost on Turk.
"Reflecting upon last season, certainly the final outcome and record are firmly etched in everyone's mind and serve as a source of motivation. In concert with the record, and more relevant to this year's team, is the amount of perseverance that the 2022-2023 Clovers showed. Usual basketball challenges (height/experience) were coupled with injuries to the point often we only had 6 regular varsity players dressed. Nonetheless I never noted any lack of effort or attention within the group and its that spirit that the holdovers (Tayt Jackson, Noah Betz, Levi Johnson, Scottie McGuire and Liam Ramsay) impart with the new cast. The program made significant strides this past summer as we participated in a full summer schedule in 2023, which he had not done the year previously. The experience gave a great deal of insight into how well holdovers could adjust to new roles and was especially valuable for the 8th graders making the transition to high school basketball this season," Turk told The Putnam County Post.
Heading into this season, Turk notes this year's Cloverdale roster will be a "very unique" one.
"This year's varsity Clovers will be an intriguing blend of players making their way back to the program aligned with the aforementioned five starters," Turk said.
Last year's leading scorer, Noah Betz, a senior, looks to build off last year's 12.4 points per game and continue as the team's best shooter and a well-rounded leader for the Clovers.
Joining Betz in the front court will be senior Eli Kelley, who returns after not playing since his freshman season.
"Kelley has a high basketball acumen, is well rounded, and is the most athletic member of the team," Turk said.
Providing depth in the front court will be senior Liam Ramsay and senior Tyson Bridges, who is recovering from a football injury, according to Turk.
"If Bridges is able to play, it would mark his return to the basketball program after not playing the previous season," Turk said.
In the backcourt, the Clovers feature junior Tayt Jackson, who averaged 8.2 points per game last year and often had the task of defending the other team's top guard.
Returning to the backcourt will be senior Zach Thomas, who did not play last season, and junior Houston Jobe, who returns to Cloverdale after attending South Putnam schools in the past.
"Zach has already emerged as a leader in the locker room and looks to excel at both guard positions. Houston has impressed in fall workouts at both guard positions," Turk said.
In addition, Cloverdale will also lean on senior Scott McGuire, who is a four year member and had his junior season cut short by injury, and junior Levi Johnson, who became a starter late last year.
Turk said the goal this season is simple -- win.
"Certainly winning seasons like an obvious goal; yet, there are many components both physically and mentally that we need to excel in, in order to win. Our challenge is to exhibit winning habits on a more consistent basis. To this point, the players have performed admirably and we are going into our first official practice the best we've been in many aspects in a number of seasons," Turk said.
The second-year coach said his team would like to post its first winning season since 2017-18, capture the first sectional title for the first time since 2018 and the first county title since 2018. In addition, he wants his team to be the best scholars and gentlemen they can be.
"How good can we be? The answer lies within the players," Turk said.
