Hawks look for better things in 2014
By George Starks

UNION CITY- Coming off a deplorable 6-16 season a year ago, the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks are looking for a huge turn around in 2014.

Like any team, the Hawks will be looking to the point guard position.

A year ago, that job would have gone to Jacob Breymier.

Unfortunately, the MV junior suffered a season ending knee injury during football season.

“Last year we had senior Brandon Byers and he did a good job for us but that wasn’t his position,” said Hawks coach Rodney Saintignon.  “Brandon was good on the dribble drive and he could score. We had the scoring punch there but it took away from other areas. With Jacob, he can handle the ball well and can drive the lane. He’s very good at seeing the whole floor. He’s a great passer and because he can see the whole floor well, that make him effective.”

On offense, the Hawks big gun, Dane Blumenstock, will be back. A year ago, Blumenstock was one of the top point producers in the county, averaging just over 20 points per game.

“He was a leader on the floor for us last year and he will be a leader this year as well,” said Saintignon. “With Jacob being out there, Dane will have help because Jacob is a good outside shooter. He will also have help coming off the bench with Tyler Connor. Tyler can also play the point guard position.”

In the post, 6-2 senior Cesar Delgado will be the presence Saintignon will look to keep the boards clean but the Hawks have more than just a starting five.

“We have twelve players that will play,” said Saintignon. “We will have a very deep bench and can play ten kids at any time during the game. Last year, we came out strong and would fall off late in the game only because we got tired and didn’t have much depth on the bench. This year, we have that depth. We can keep fresh legs out there and do what we want to do and not miss a beat.”

With guys like Zach Armstrong. Caden Cox. Dalton and Devon Rinderle as well as Dakota Hines, the Hawks are solid with their starters and the bench.

In comparison, Saintignon looks to run his team much like a guy named Patino did at Kentucky.

“With the horses we have, the key to our success will be solid defense and keeping everybody fresh,” Saintignon pointed out. “When you have five to seven kids that can come off the bench, I think that will help to make us strong. Just keeping everyone fresh on the floor is going to help us improve on both ends of the floor. We have already experimented with the five in/five out concept during summer ball and it worked for us. It’s different when Dane’s not on the floor but we are just as good out there without him.”

Saintignon expressed the concept his team will employ from the opening tip.

“We are looking to run right out of the gate,” said the Hawks coach. “If we can do that and keep fresh legs out there all the time, I really think we will be successful as a team on offense.”

Despite wanting to run on the opposition, Saintignon knows it all starts with defense.

“We are going to press this year only because I know we can,” Saintignon stated. “We have enough guys where we won’t get tired. I expect our defense to create offense for us. We will full court press and I would like to do that all year. I know there will be times when we can’t but we are going to go with that.”

According to Saintignon, if a team’s able to break the press, his team will be ready to get back and set up.

“We have worked on a 2-3 zone as well as a 1-3-1,” said Saintignon. “We have experimented with a 2-2-1 trapping zone. We can drop into a man defense as well but I’m going to let my point guard (Breymier) make that call. He’s the floor general out there for me.’

The Hawks will open up the season at home with Tri-Village on Black Friday.

“That’s going to be a stiff test for us,” Saintignon admitted. “It will be a good marker for us to see how good we are. I remember the game last year and we got beat pretty bad. I don’t expect to see that this year. I think we can make a game of it, win or lose.”