Hauser’s Ledger Gelfius drives to the basket Nov. 10, 2022, against Brown County at Hauser High School.
The Republic file photo
Although Hauser has no seniors on this year’s boys basketball team, it doesn’t mean the Jets will be inexperienced.
Four juniors and four sophomores who have been playing varsity basketball since they were freshman will make up the core of the Hauser squad that will open the 2023-24 season on Tuesday at Brown County.
“There’s no substitute for experience,” Hauser coach Trent Moorhead said. “When you have that experience, the learning and the game just speeds up faster, and that’s been really good to see here early in the season. Having that experience also brings leadership, and we’ve seen that with our juniors and our sophomore guys have shown leadership, as well. We have that experience factor and good leadership qualities with this group that I think will set us up for success.”
Moorhead led the Jets to an 11-13 record, including 3-3 in the Mid-Hoosier Conference, in his first year at the helm. All five starters are back.
“It’s been great,” Moorhead said. “This is a fun group to work with. We had a really good fall that was following up a great summer. That energy and enthusiasm that we built up in the fall has carried over into the season.”
Ledger Gelfius, a 6-foot-1 junior, led Hauser with 12.5 points a game last season. Taeshaun Tungate, a 6-2 junior, added 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals; and 5-10 sophomore point guard Stryker Gill added 6.6 points, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals.
Also back are 5-10 junior Alex Cord (6.0 ppg), 6-1 sophomore Jake Barriger (5.8 ppg), 6-3 sophomore Kam Blair (4.8 ppg) and 6-2 sophomore Gavin Keller (3.7 ppg). Collin Buck, a 6-5 junior, is healthy after missing part of his freshman season and all of last season with injuries.
“He had a good summer and a good fall as well and is looking good,” Moorhead said.
Jentzen Bechtel, a 6-1 junior, also could figure into the rotation.
“We’re trying to improve every day, we’re trying to be the hardest working and most prepared team and we’re trying to develop high-character young men,” Moorhead said. “We feel if we do that, that’s going to set us up for success on the floor, and the opportunities to grow and develop and compete for championships will be there at the end of the season.”
The 2023-24 Hauser boys basketball schedule:
Tuesday at Brown County, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 at Morristown, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 vs. Trinity Lutheran, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 vs. South Ripley, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 vs. Union County, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Edinburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 at Switzerland County, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27-28 at Edinburgh Tournament, TBA
Jan. 5 at North Decatur, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs. Southwestern (Hanover), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 at Franklin County, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 vs. Waldron, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Rising Sun, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 vs. South Decatur, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 vs. Batesville, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 1 at Southwestern (Shelby), 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 at Indian Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 at Jac-Cen-Del, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 vs. Oldenburg Academy, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 vs. Milan, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 22 vs. Greenwood Christian Academy, 7:30 p.m.
