REPEAT STATE TITLE is GOAL OF WILDCAT BOYS

New Coach Leads Moundridge Basketball

By Staff

MOUNDRIDGE – While the sidelines will present a new look with a new coach leading the team and the loss of two all-state players, the Moundridge boys basketball team still appears loaded enough to aim for a repeat state Class 2A title run.

Gone is Vance Unrau, who after 36 seasons leading the program left for retirement. All Unrau did over the years was go 567-262 in games played, take the Wildcats to 10 state tournament and win five of them, including the 2022-23 season, a fitting way to send him off.

(Coach Vance Unrau)

Gone is Logan Churchill and Landon Kaufman, both two-time All-Class 2A honorees. Churchill was a 6’7” intimidating presence in the paint and Kaufman was a 5’11” director of the offense at guard. Alec Huddle, a player who continually provided valuable play during the title run, also graduated.

What the Wildcats do have is a new coach in Dustan Kanitz. Kanitz spent the past 16 seasons working side-by-side with Kurt Kinnamon in McPherson and we all know the track record the Bullpups have had.

The Wildcats also return a pair of starters in Henry Hecox and Bear Moddelmog. As just sophomores the pair combined for 24.0 points per game plus the 6’3” Moddelmog connected on a hot 40% of shots from beyond the three-point line and the 6’2” Hecox grabbed at least five rebounds per game.

(‘Bear’ Moddelmog & Henry Hecox)

“This is my first season at Moundridge after spending 16 seasons in McPherson,” noted head coach Kanitz. “We return two starters from the Class 2A state championship team. Our 2023-24 roster will have the potential to create matchup problems for most of our opponents.”

Layton Schmidt, a 6’4” sophomore, consistently came off the bench and supplied plenty of valuable playing time as a freshman and both Zach Dixon, a 6’4” junior and London Ward, a 5’10” senior return after having what coach Kanitz calls very productive summers.

(Zach Dixon)

According to coach Kanitz, “Zach (Dixon) is a player who has put in lots of time and made big gains over the off-season. We are excited to see the potential he has for a huge season. London (Ward) is a shooting guard who has really improved his shooting over the off-season. A confident shooter who will be huge to our team success.”

Then we have the top newcomers to the Wildcat program, the Kanitz brothers.

Kreighton Kanitz is a 6’2” senior transfer from McPherson where he averaged 9.0 points per game and shot 32% from beyond the three-point line. Kreighton was also the AVCTL (Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League) Division III Player of the Year as well as being second-team all-league.

Kaizer Kanitz, a 6’0” sophomore point guard who already has made an impact on the Wildcat athletic programs with his play on the football field in the fall. Kaizer has the ability to make decisions to help make this team go.

Another stat worth noting about the 2023-24 roster for Moundridge is the fact that they have 10 players listed at least six-foot tall or taller.

Coach Kanitz concluded his reflections on his first year as at the helm of the Wildcats by adding, “We have good size across our lineup and have a nice compliment of guys that can shoot and score at the rim. This team has the ability to play a physical style and hold our opponents to some low scores. Several of our leaders have important experience playing in big games, which will be crucial. I am looking forward to coaching in the community of Moundridge where they love and appreciate good basketball.”

The Wildcats open the 2023-24 season and defense of their Class 2A state title on Friday, December 1 hosting Elyria Christian. All six pre-Christmas games will be on the Wildcats home court.

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCAT BASKETBALL

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

WILDCAT COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Dustan Kanitz – 1st season; Assistant Coach at McPherson for 16 seasons.

Assistant Coaches > Courtney Moddelmog, Mychael Tripp.

WILDCAT TEAM INFORMATION >

2022-23 Season > Class 2A State Champions; finished 24-4.

WILDCAT PLAYER INFORMATION >

Wildcats Graduated > Landon Kaufman, 5’11” G – 2-time 1st Team All-Class 2A; Logan Churchill, 6’7” F/C – 2-time 1st Team All-Class 2A.

Wildcat Starter Returnees >

Barrett ‘Bear’ Moddelmog > 6’3 jr. starter, 14.0 pts/g; 2nd-Team All-League; Shot 40% from 3-Pt line.

Henry Hecox > 6’2” jr. starter, 10.0 pts/g; 5.0 reb/g.

Layton Schmidt > 6’4” soph.

Zach Dixon > 6’4” jr.

London Ward > 5/10” sr.

Top Wildcat Newcomers >

Kreighton Kanitz > 6’2” sr. transfer from McPherson; 9.0 pts/g; 32% 3-point shooting; AVCTL Division III Defensive Player of the Year; 2nd team All-League

Kaizer Kanitz > 6’0” soph.

FULL WILDAT ROSTER >

#2 > Heath Churchill – soph. PG, 6’0”

#4 > Layton Schmidt – soph. PF. 6’4”

#10 > Henry Hecox – jr. SF, 6’2”

#12 > Adolf Keppel – jr. PG

#15 > Barrett ‘Bear’ Moddelmog – jr. SF, 6’3”

#32 > Braden DenHartog – jr. SF

Other > Jesse Lutz – soph. SG

Other > Kreighton Kanitz – sr. PG, 6’2”

Other > Zach Dixon – jr. C, 6’4”

Other > Keaton Anderson – sr. C, 6’3”

Other > Daniel Dixon – sr. C, 6’2”

Other > London Ward – sr. SG, 5’10”

Other > Kaizer Kanitz – soph. PG, 6’0”

Other > Fynn Burge – soph. SG, 6’0”

Other > Reid Graber –

WILDCAT 2023-24 SCHEDULE >

Friday, December 1 > hosting Elyria Christian

Tuesday, December 5 > hosting Hillsboro

Thursday, December 7 > hosting Iman

Friday, December 8 > hosting Lyons

Tuesday, December 12 > hosting Little River

Friday, December 15 > hosting Cheney

Tuesday, January 2 > at Oxford

Friday, January 5 > at Marion

Tuesday, January 9 > hosting Bennington

Friday, January 12 > hosting Remington

Monday, January 15 > at Canton/Galva Tournament

Thursday, January 18 > at Canton/Galva Tournament

Friday, January 19 > at Canton/Galva Tournament

Friday, January 26 > hosting Goessel

Tuesday, January 30 > at Ell-Saline

Friday, February 2 > at Inman

Friday, February 9 > hosting Hutchinson Trinity

Tuesday, February 13 > at Sedgwick

Friday, February 16 > hosting Berean Academy (Homecoming)

Tuesday, February 20 > hosting Sterling (Parents Night)

Monday, February 26 – Friday, March 1 > Class 2A Sub-State TBD

Wednesday, March 6 – Saturday, March 9 > Class 2A State Tournament in Dodge City

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