High school basketball preview: Vermilion raises expectations for this season

As Vermilion coach Kurt Habermehl nears 30 years at the helm, his program is emerging from rough times. After three straight conference titles from 2017-19, the Sailors have not reached double digits in wins since, but they enter this season with hopes of not just reaching that mark, but contending in the Bay Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference. "We expect to compete for a district championship," Habermehl said. "Last year we were trying to see what we could do, and this year it's being a real good basketball team and getting back to where Vermilion basketball was." The Sailors had four seniors last season, but they combined for just 7.5 points per game as the younger players carried much of the load. Vermilion returns each of its top seven scorers, led by senior Brock Meyers and junior Mason Cooper, who were the only players to average double digits. "We had a young team last year and we have a lot of people coming back," Meyers said. "I think me and Mason can score the ball really well, and we have a lot of other people that will be a huge part of this team." One of the Sailors' biggest issues last year was free throw shooting, as they shot 52 percent from the line as a team, which was a big part of why they averaged a conference-low 45.3 points. "I've been working on my shooting," Meyers said. "I think free throws will be a big thing this year. We were not good at the line last year, and we've been working to improve our offense and score a lot of points this year." "We've got to be a better shooting team," Habermehl said. "We really struggled from the free throw line last year, and I think we probably lost five games because of it." For Cooper, this offseason was all about putting on weight to handle the physicality of being one of Vermilion's key players. "I was just in the weight room a lot trying to get bigger," Cooper said. "Last year I wasn't the strongest or fastest, so this year I put on about 30 pounds in the offseason to be able to use my body to get my shot right." Habermehl knows how important it is for Cooper to be up to the task physically in his junior season. "Last year people were able to take him out of his game a little bit," Habermehl said. "So I think maturity-wise, he's made leaps and bounds and I've really liked what I've seen from him so far." Despite the amount of returning production, there will still be a few new faces in the rotation, led by 6-foot-7 sophomore Luke Richardson. Richardson's presence inside will only make Vermilion's potential shooting improvement more important, as its outside players will need to be able to knock down shots to keep Richardson out of double teams. "We're looking to improve our overall shooting," Habermehl said. "We've got a big inside presence this year with my sophomore, Luke Richardson, who's 6-7, about 260, so to be able to shoot from the outside so people can't double him is going to be huge." With a strong group of returners, led by Meyers, Cooper and Nate Pinkerton, who was third on the team in scoring with 5.3 points last year, and newcomers such as Richardson, the Sailors are looking forward to a big season. "I'm pumped," said Cooper. "I know this season's really bright for us. We've got a lot of high hopes for this team, and I was super excited to get back in the gym with my boys and start playing." Contact Will Cunningham at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.