By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

STAYTON, Ore.–  Regis Head Coach Jason Koehnke felt like his team got stronger throughout the six-week season this past Spring.  Capping a solid 9-6 season with a close 55-43 defeat to eventual 2A Title Week Champions in Salem Academy in the opening round of the June Madness.

The Rams lose a handful of starting minutes stemming from Byron Bishop and size in the post from Tyler Voltin, who missed the Spring due to injury, with graduation; but Koehnke is happy with how his senior-heavy Regis team has improved with their first game on the horizon.

“The first couple of weeks of practice I felt like we’ve improved already, so just improving just a little bit at a time.  I feel like we’re taking the next step,” Koehnke said.  “We didn’t lose too many in numbers, but the ones we lost were pretty impactful, especially on the defensive end and that’s what we want to hang our hat on is playing good defense.  So other kids are going to have to step up. 

“But so far it’s been really reassuring.  Everyone’s doing a good job of doing what they can to step up and fill that role.”

Koehnke is expecting Nick Woods to have a great senior year.  Noah Koenig stepped up big as a freshman and is expected to just get better. 

“Both played great on both ends of the court.  I’m expecting a good year out of both of them.  They’re practicing well, they’re playing well,” Koehnke said of Woods and Koenig. 

Tristan McMullen was solid despite him missing a portion of the season due to injury, but Koehnke is expecting Grant Goesch and Porter Vaughn to step in to alleviate the hole left by McMullen until his return.

“Tristan will help us when he gets back.  In the meantime, Grant Goesch, he’s a senior from McNary.  Porter Vaughn is another senior.  Tanner Manning went to Stayton last year, he’s been playing really well,” Koehnke starts.  “We’re Senior-heavy.  We got a couple younger kids playing well too.  Our freshmen, two, have played a lot of basketball and are playing really good basketball.”

The two freshmen, Roman Gould and Isaiah Koehnke are just two of four underclassmen with Koenig and Cole Vogle to be on the varsity roster.  Suiting up with seven seniors and the lone junior in Casey Voltin.

The Rams open up the 2021-22 season Monday at Westside Christian when they play Scio at 4:30pm.  Their first home game will be December 13 when they host Columbia Christian for a 7:30pm game.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald