SEASON IN REVIEW: HAWTHORNE VALLEY BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Greg Dedrick
ccSCOOP Sports Editor

04-01-09

The Wildcats who are not traditionally a league powerhouse had a solid 5-11 season that gave them a share of sixth place. Overall the Wildcats went 7-11 to put themselves into the Section II Class D tournament. Hawthorne Valley picked up two non-section victories this year to go along with their five league wins. The Wildcats beat Berkshire once in game action and once due to forfeit while also knocking off Columbia County foe New Lebanon once. The final two league wins for Hawthorne Valley this year were victories over Doane Stuart. 

Once into sectionals the Wildcats were matched up with Salem, a strong team from the Adirondack League. The young Wildcats were outmatched in their post-season contest falling to Salem 71-48. Down by 23 at the half, Hawthorne Valley kept the second half even, falling by that margin. Three players, Christian Peterson, Sjaak Smeele, and Julian Muller each reached double digits in the season ending loss.

Much like Columbia County cohort Germantown, Hawthorne Valley featured one of the youngest rosters in all of Section II. On top of that, it was also one of the largest rosters. Twelve players that finished the season were spread across the junior, sophomore, and freshman classes. The team’s lone senior, star James Jackson who has been the centerpiece for the Wildcats for the previous three years, competed in just three games this season. The rest of the roster included five juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen. Leading the way, with Jackson gone, was freshman Christian Peterson who led the team in field goals and free throws made while ranking second in three-pointers made and free-throw attempts. On the year, Peterson averaged 12.5 points a game while being held to single digits just four times, three of them in the team’s first five games. Sophomore guard Julian Muller also helped to fill the scoring void by knocking down a team high 37 three-pointers this year while averaging just over 12 points a game and knocking down at least one three per contest. Two other players topped 100 points this season for the Wildcats—Sjaak Smeele and Allan Gallardo, who averaged 8 points apiece.
 
The entire team is slated to return, including the top four scorers. Junior Emil DeJong will also return and at 6' 7” will provide the plenty of size up front. Generally a small team, the Wildcats will have 6' 2” Smeele and 6' Peterson upfront with DeJong. 
 
Most Valuable Player: Christian Peterson (Freshman)
Once the Wildcats lost Jackson, someone had to step up for the Wildcats, and although they got big contributions from four different players, it was Peterson who came through the most. After three single-digit games in his first five, Peterson finished the season hot with only one more single-digit game the entire season. He hit the 20 mark twice in the season including 27 in a win against Doane Stuart.
 
Biggest Game: Tuesday, December 9 against New Lebanon
Despite being only the team’s third game of the year, it set the tone for the Wildcats to be a more serious threat this past season in the CHVL, knocking off the Tigers 59-56 for their first win of the year. Jackson was still there but scored only 8 points, while Peterson, Smeele, and Muller all reached double digits in the victory.
 
Most Improved: Julian Muller (Sophomore)
Muller started the season by scoring 32 points and nailing 4 three-pointers in his first three games. After that Muller reached double figures in every contest including games of 20 and 25. On top of the scoring, Muller hit no less than 2 three-pointers in every game this season.
 
Best Returning Player: Christian Peterson (Freshman)
The top player on the team as a freshman should only get better next season and the following two after that. He’s got solid size, and his ability to score inside, outside, and from the free-throw line can only help.
 
Up and Comer: Sjaak Smeele (Sophomore)
Although 6' 2” isn’t the ideal size for a center, Smeele often manned the position and manned it well for the Wildcats this season. He’s got enough size to be dangerous down low and knocked down two triples in the first game of the year and one more apiece in each of the final two games of the season. In the final regular season game of the year before the Wildcats’ sectional loss, Smeele scored a season high 23 points showing the potential that he has in the future.