Brady Days’ three sectional championship seasons have come exactly five years apart.
With the graduation of four players that combined for 39 points per game and hit 123 three-pointers, the Spartans may not be ready for the program’s first ever back-to-back sectional titles.
“Success is contagious and we can grow from it,” said Days, about to embark on his 16th season with the Spartans. “We have guys that played (in the 2021 regional) or were on the bench and got a taste of how special that was.”
Southwestern was 10-10 entering the 2021 sectional then knocked off Hauser (57-44), Rising Sun (51-48) and Morristown (68-67 in double overtime) to celebrate the program’s fifth sectional title – and first since 2016, which was the first since 2011.
The Spartans defeated Bethesda Christian, 57-50, in the regional semifinal before falling 50-48 to Tindley in the championship.
Days has plenty of questions left to answer as the Spartans prepare for Tuesday’s season opener against Edinburgh, a team that was 18-6 last season.
Five seniors lead the roster but none are listed any taller than five-foot, 10 inches.
“We definitely have a different look this season,” said Days. “We have five seniors now and they all wear medium T-shirts.”
Senior Aiden Hartsell was Southwestern’s leading scorer last season at 14.3 ppg. The Spartans will have to develop scorers around him to keep defenses from targeting him in their scouting reports.
Jordan Jones, another senior who filled the role as sixth man last season, averaged 4.6 ppg.
Jones did get several starts throughout the season due to injuries and illness and will be counted on to play a bigger role this year.
Seniors Jonny Joy, Grant Emerick and Caleb Pappano provide veteran leadership for a program trying to find its way as the season nears.
“There is going to be a lot of getting used to the fill-in pieces,” said Days. “We need to see what rotations we have.”
Juniors Matthew Clements (6-3), Jonah DeArmitt (6-4) and Conner Jewell (6-2) are the front-line size but Days is unsure how the rotations will work just yet.
“Do we go short or do we have the big guys in there?” said Days. “It’s all a learning process. We will have to keep looking at the finish line and see what we need to be successful. That may take time to get.”
Days knows this year’s version of the Spartans will not have the long-range shooting prowess of last year’s team that hit 187 3s. The veteran coach also has concerns about defending the opposition.
“We have a lot of newbies that are juniors and seniors playing varsity basketball,” said Days. “They are going to have to learn and grow together.”
Southwestern and Morristown will renew its rivalry Saturday before the Spartans hit the road for games at Triton Central on Dec. 4, Tri on Dec. 9 and Trinity Lutheran on Dec. 10.
Following its home contest with Waldron on Dec. 18, the Mohawks will not play another game at home until Jan. 29 when Indianapolis Herron visits.
The Spartans return to the Monrovia Tournament on Dec. 28-29 before traveling to Waldron for the semifinal round of the Shelby County Tournament on Jan. 7.
Road contests follow at Brown County (Jan. 14), South Decatur (Jan. 15), Edinburgh (Jan. 21) and Waldron (Jan. 28).
The regular season closes on Feb. 22 with a home contest against Christel House.
