John Bohnenkamp for Pen City Current Sports
FORT MADISON - John Hellige likes the togetherness of the Holy Trinity boys basketball team.
But the Crusaders’ head coach is also having to tell them to go home.
“They just travel in a pack,” Hellige said, laughing. “We have a new locker room, and the guys like hanging around in there, just talking or watching TV. Finally I have to tell them to head home. They have to go home, I have to go home. Turn the lights off and let’s go.”
The Crusaders have been together for a while, so it’s understandable. Everyone but one player — Nick Fullenkamp, who graduated last season — returns.
Plus, Holy Trinity had a busy summer and early fall, which was why when it became time to start practice for the season, the Crusaders were way ahead of where they normally would have been.
“It didn’t have a first-practice feel, because of the work we put in during the offseason,” Hellige said. “We played 32 games this offseason, which is a little extreme. But I put it out there and they wanted to do it.”
The Crusaders played in a fall league at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, where they faced teams from larger schools.
“We got to see some big (Class) 4A schools in Iowa and Illinois, schools like Moline and Rock Island,” Hellige said. “But it was just a great experience.”
Holy Trinity’s players have also worked in a weight program off-campus to get stronger, and Hellige has seen the difference in strength.
It showed, Hellige said, when the Crusaders played Wilton last week in a jamboree at Hillcrest Academy in Kalona.
“We showed a lot of character,” Hellige said. “For the first time in a long time, we were the strongest team on the court. That was fun to see.”
The returning production has Hellige just as confident — 88% of last season’s points, 92% of threes made, 90% rebounds, 95% assists and 95% of steals.
“It’s an easy team to coach, because they’ve been together and know what I want, and know what it takes to win,” Hellige said.
Hellige’s son, Luke, was the Crusaders’ leading scorer at 19.2 points per game last season. Conner Gehling, at 13.4 points, also returns.
“Luke’s probably gained about 20 pounds in muscles and is a lot stronger,” John Hellige said. “Conner has really developed his game — he’s getting to the basket a lot easier now.”
Senior Maddox Rung is giving the Crusaders something they’ve needed for a while.
“We haven’t really had that ‘glue guy,’ and Maddox has become that,” Hellige said. “He doesn’t care if he scores. He wants to win. He wants the other team’s best player on defense. He’s fully committed to his defense.”
Junior Adam Sobczak started every game last season.
“He’s a big assist guy,” Hellige said. “Now we have to get him where he can score more.”
Layne Rung, now a sophomore, has seen his game grow in the offseason.
“He can shoot it. He’s smart. And he’s a much improved defensive player,” Hellige said.
Koby Jones, Nathan Box and Tate Green will be key bench players.
“Koby’s really strong,” Hellige said. “Nathan is a little under-sized, but he makes up for that in muscle and sheer grit. Tate Green has really developed as a player and can do a lot of different things for us.”
The Crusaders went 9-13 last season, but the experience, plus the offseason growth, has Hellige confident that record will show significant improvement.
“I really like this group,” he said. “They’re a lot of fun to work with, and they’ve put in the offseason work. I like what we’ve done.”
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