North County Mavericks Basketball 2016

The North Country Mavericks are in their second campaign of the co-operative agreement between Hinsdale, Saco and Whitewater High School and in their second season, the team welcomes a familiar but new Head Coach in Barry Malone, who has been a coach for the Saco Panthers and the Saco-Whitewater Panthers in previous years.

The team was coached by Mitch Capdeville in the 2015-16 campaign, when the team ultimately lost out in the consolation final of the 2016 3C District Tournament in Malta in a 57-44 loss to Lustre Christian.

Though the team has a new coach in Malone, the team has retained plenty of talent and a strong group of upper-classmen which includes three seniors and four juniors.

Senior Cache Younkin will start as the team's point guard. Younkin was named to the all-conference list last season.

"He brings a lot of quickness," Coach Malone said. "He has a pretty good shot when he can spot up. He can attack the basket really well but sometimes he does a little too much, which is something we have to work on."

Junior Trace Simonson was a force last season and was also an all-conference selection.

"Both Trace and Cache are downright athletes," Coach Malone said. "Trace brings a lot of height and he can jump but he's got a nice shot, can attack well, he's got nice hands so he doesn't drop the ball much and he can play inside and outside."

Senior Logan McColly brings some much needed size in the post.

"He's a solid kid down below," Coach Malone said. "He's one that will put a body on somebody; he posts up really well and can attack the basket as long as we can get it to him."

Senior Christian Menge was a part of the Saco-Whitewater Panthers when Coach Malone led the team, but Menge did not see much time on the court until last season. Menge will likely see time as a wing/ guard combo.

"From what I've seen since I've had him, he's improved greatly," Coach Malone said. "He would get tired very easily but he's still running up and down the floor. He's got a nice shot. He's probably one of the most improved kids I've seen that I've had in the past."

Junior Chris DePuydt will likely see a lot of time on the court as a returning starter from last season.

"Chris has got a lot of size on him," Coach Malone said. "We have to work on his quickness but he doesn't make many mistakes and he will give you the most he can. He will defend the best he can but we still need to work on his quickness."

Coach Malone also likes the speed that Sophomore John McColly brings to the team.

"He's kind of a little Tasmanian devil in a way, He gets all over the place," Coach Malone said. "He's got a lot of hustle and heart."

Austin Leatherberry will also bring size and experience in the paint.

"He posts up well in the paint but we have to get him up and down the court a little better," Coach Malone said.

The team will be without junior Wrangler Jones until January as he recovers from a knee injury.

The team has set their goals for the season and with three teams advancing from the 3C district, the most obvious goal is for the team to advance to this year's Eastern C Divisional.

"You want your goal to be able to get out of district," Coach Malone said. "I know they definitely want to be playing on Saturday night in the championship and then from there getting into the divisional and playing in one of those games on Saturday night are a couple of good goals to start with."