The Atlantic boys basketball team will open up the 2018-19 season tonight with a road game at Winterset. The Trojans will have a new look this season in a number of different ways. Size will be one of those changes as the Trojans graduated a lot of height from last year with 6-7 Austin Alexander, 6-4 Grant Podhajsky, and 6-6 Scott Leonard all graduating. Those three also were among the top 4 scorers on last year’s squad. The top returnee is guard Chase Mullenix who averaged 11.2 points per game as a junior. Logan Reilly, Tyler Moen, and Sam Granner will be among a number of players that will be counted on for more minutes and production this season.

The Trojans also have a new face on the sideline as Jeff Ebling takes over for the departing Alan Jenkins who left to become the Head Coach at Southeast Polk High School. Ebling comes in with a wealth of experience as both a Head Coach and an Assistant at a number of schools in Iowa. He said Atlantic felt like a great opportunity for his family and he feels great about the move so far.

When asked about the style of play he likes his team to have, Coach Ebling said it does depend on the players you have each season and he will let the boys dictate the tempo with their execution.

On the defensive end Coach Ebling said he tends to stick with mostly man to man defense with a few wrinkles thrown in.

Atlantic was 14-9 last season and fell in the Regional Semifinals to eventual State Champion Glenwood. The Trojans are in the midst of one of the most successful runs in program history and it will be up to some new faces to carry the torch. After the opener against Winterset the Trojans will host St. Albert on Friday night and then travel to Red Oak next Tuesday. We’ll have that road contest at Red Oak on KJAN.