Medina boys basketball banking on size, senior leadership to offset inexperience

Chris Hassinger has been coaching basketball at Medina for longer than his players have been alive, including the last dozen years as the varsity boys coach. He’s seen everything over a coaching career that spans 32 years in all.

So having a team that returns just one starter after a so-so season likely isn’t fazing the veteran mentor. He’ll figure out ways to squeeze everything his roster has available to be squeezed.

“We know most nights we will not have the most talent on the floor, but if we believe in the system and each other we can find success,” Hassinger said.

Last season Medina was a modest 11-13 overall and 3-9 in the Greater Cleveland Conference. Six contributors, including four starters, are gone from that team. The Bees’ final season in the GCC will begin as a work in progress.

That one returning starter is 6-foot-5 senior wing Brody Kopkas, whom Hassinger termed “just an unbelievable kid” based on Kopkas’ combination of on- and off-court accomplishments.

He will be joined by seniors Garrett Myers (6-6 wing) and Ryan Harubin (6-3 guard), and 6-1 junior guard Beckett Miller. That trio earned varsity letters and will be counted on heavily.

Four more seniors — 6-11 post Lucas Hogan; 5-9 guard Donte Cargill; 6-2 guard Luke Webb; and 6-0 guard Tyler Minarcin — are joined by 6-foot junior guards Korde Carey, Sean Kungli and Bishop Burch among newcomers who will be counted on heavily.

Two Medina players Hassinger said to keep an eye on are Hogan and Myers, not just because of their size. Hogan now has many Division III schools after him and could wind up with a scholarship offer or two from higher levels, and Myers will look to make the leap from role player to major contributor.

“We have great size and great kids this year who share the ball,” Hassinger said. “Our biggest concern is can we break pressure and control the tempo of the game. Our biggest challenge is the lack of experience. We have a tough schedule at the beginning of the season, so we will see if we can withstand the pressure early.”

The Bees’ schedule includes, in addition to the always-solid GCC, an opener against powerhouse Garfield Heights, nonleague games with Marysville and Horizon Science Academy, and intra-county battles with future Suburban League foes Wadsworth and Highland.

One thing Medina did accomplish last year was a bit of a tournament run. With the new divisional setups compressing the Division I field, the No. 13 seed Bees upset No. 4 Massillon Jackson before falling to Canton McKinley in the district final.

That’s one thing Hassinger said he’d like to see his team one-up this year.

“Would love to see a good tournament run for our kids,” he said. “They play the right way and are fantastic kids off the court.”