John Glenn’s Drew Rackley puts up a shot over Morgan’s Jordan Work (13) and Marcus Mayle during last season’s district semifinal game at Zanesville High School. Rackley scored his 1,000th point in that win for the Muskies and headlines four seniors back in the starting lineup.

NEW CONCORD – John Glenn expects to be in Columbus by the end of the season.

No one with the Muskies is backing down from those expectations, as a veteran group returns for a program coming off consecutive appearances in the Division II regional finals.

“You don’t run from (expectations), and you have to accept that challenge,” long-time coach Greg Woodard said. “Competing for a state title is our ultimate goal, but we have other goals to achieve along that road, including another Muskingum Valley League title.”

Senior Drew Rackley, the East District Division II player of the year, paces the charge after scoring 20 points and pulling down 6.4 rebounds per game for a 24-1 squad.

Classmates, Matt Weir, Tanner Slack and Austin Blatt, also return. Weir led the area in field goal, free throw and 3-point percentage, while Slack and Blatt were also among area shooting leaders.

Sophomores Jah Blevins and Justin Heacock and juniors Matt Stewart and Zak Harper highlight the rest of the rotation.

“We gelled together a lot last season and get along well,” he said. “We have to do more than score or rebound. We have to have those intangibles like having the toughness to chase down a loose ball. We have to do things we don’t necessarily want to do.”

The Muskies, who have won or shared five of the last six MVL titles, have Tri-Valley and Morgan chasing them in the league.

They also will have tests in the nonleague slate. John Glenn heads to Orlando for a national tournament over five days before New Year’s, while visiting Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in January.

Woodard hopes those games will prepare his team for the ultimate goal.

“Hopefully, we get to play some teams that will challenge us,” he said. “We’re in the top bracket and are supposed to open with a team from Olympia, Washington. It will be great experience for us.”

The one area of weakness will be in the post. The Muskies will start five guards so it will have to be a collective effort after Luke Hendrickson graduated.

“We’re going to have to do it as a group,” Woodard noted. “We’re going to play five guards so we have to defend the interior collectively because we don’t have that big brute inside.”

Looking ahead could also be a concern for the Muskies. Woodard knows this experienced group is aware of what needs to be done to reach March.

“The challenge is taking it one game at a time and one day at a time,” he said. “There are always things to work on. We’ll be able to add things to our game plan with our experience. We’ve been able to have shorter practices which I hope keep us fresher physically and mentally.

“With expectations comes pressure,” he added. “We’re going to face that each time we step on the floor so how we handle it will be crucial to achieving our goals.”

bhannahs@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6763

Twitter: @brandonhannahs

Roster

Schedule

Nov. 27: at Cambridge

Dec. 1: at Philo

Dec. 4: Maysville

Dec. 8: West Muskingum

Dec. 11: at Crooksville

Dec. 18: at Sheridan

Dec. 22: Morgan

Dec. 29-31: Orlando (FL) Tournament

Jan. 5: at Tri-Valley

Jan. 8: New Lexington

Jan. 12: Philo

Jan. 15: at Maysville

Jan. 19: Meadowbrook

Jan. 23: at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary

Jan. 26: at West Muskingum

Jan. 29: Crooksville

Feb. 2: at Morgan

Feb. 5: Sheridan

Feb. 9: Tri-Valley

Feb. 12: at New Lexington