Glencoe boys basketball waits for new stars to emerge after losing 13 seniors

By René Ferrán
Over the next two weeks, SBLive Oregon will break down more than 100 Oregon high school basketball teams. Here’s our look at the Glencoe Crimson Tide boys of the Class 6A Pacific Conference.
HEAD COACH
Kevin Bloodsaw, second season (7-17)
2019-20 AT A GLANCE
Overall record: 7-17
League record: 3-9, sixth in Pacific
Playoffs: None
ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED
G Mike Janeway, honorable mention
F Grayson Landon, honorable mention
PLAYERS TO WATCH
F Ben Thornbrue, Jr., 6-5
Thornbrue was an all-Pacific honorable mention selection as a sophomore, averaging nearly 10 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He is the only player with significant varsity experience returning. “He’s very coachable and is someone who’s just a sponge,” Bloodsaw said.
F/C Zack Schlottmann, Jr., 6-3
Schlottmann is one of many juniors moving up from JV who will be counted upon as the Crimson Tide rebuild this spring. “There’s a lot of upside to him,” Bloodsaw said.
F Michael Vandomelen, Jr., 6-1
Vandomelen is an athletic slasher at wing who can create at the rim. “Once he develops his shot, he’ll be tough,” Bloodsaw said.
OUTLOOK
The Crimson Tide won two of their final three games but struggled to a ninth consecutive losing season in 2019-20, and their cupboard is nearly bare this spring after graduating 13 seniors from that team.
The good news, as Bloodsaw sees it, is that the competition for playing time in his “pace and space” offense is wide open for the first time in a long time.
“It’s going to be tough, because the JV kids have no varsity experience,” he said.
While the frontcourt spots look secure, with Thornbrue the focal point of the offense, who will space the floor remains to be determined. Youngsters such as 5-7 junior Richie Vera from the JV team and a couple of 6-0 sophomores, Keith Miller and Cooper Landaker, moving up from the freshman team will have to learn on the fly.
“Keith and Cooper can both shoot from three-point range and help stretch the floor,” Bloodsaw said. “What they lack is experience and court time. Everything is at such a fast pace at the varsity level.”
COACH SAID
“First and foremost, we want to get a season. Once we get that, we just need to throw them on the court, because you learn so much more when you’re in situations. I’m hoping we can get some court time, taste a little bit of competition and build from there.” — Kevin Bloodsaw
