The De Pere boys basketball team enters the season facing change with star Zach Kinziger leaving, as well as other seniors. De Pere finished 26-2 and went 18-0 in conference play.
The Redbirds are relying on a younger core to step into bigger roles while keeping the standard of success the program has built in the last decade. Even though most of the starting lineup has left, head coach of the De Pere program Brian Winchester’s expectations stay the same.
“Our goal is to compete in sectionals, win the conference, and put ourselves in the position to get to state,” Winchester said.
That mindset sets the tone for the season for the team chemistry.
“We are trying to build a culture with a team-first mentality,” Winchester says. “It’s about communicating and spending time with each other.”
Winchester said he is looking for new leaders to emerge.
“We don’t know yet who’s going to step up,” Winchester said. “Who’s going to lead the floor and lead the defense, and who’s going to be the voice on the floor.”
This team is the polar opposite compared to last year. De Pere was the favorite to make a state appearance and win the conference, whereas this season, De Pere wasn’t even in the top 5 state ranking. De Pere can no longer rely on having a star.
“Everyone is hungry to play,” Senior Guard Jack Bookter says. “Everyone wants a shot at it. It’s all about finding good flow and just figuring things out.”
So far this year, De Pere is 7-1 in total, 4-1 in conference play, with one loss to De Pere’s rival, West De Pere.
Senior Noah Maniscalco leads the team in Points per game with 19.9, followed by Bookter (13.1) and Will Krueger also with (13.1).
