PRINSBURG — In search of its first winning season since going to state in 2016, Central Minnesota Christian returns all five of its starters from a team that went 12-13 one year ago.
In senior shooting guards Peter Martin and Jay Marcus, along with senior small forward Austin TeBrake, sophomore Caleb VanderBeek and sophomore point guard Case Mulder, the Bluejays bring back 70 percent of their offensive production and rebounding.
TeBrake highlights the returning starters. Earning the his second straight All-Conference nod, last season, the 6-foot-2 small forward led CMCS with 17.6 points per game. He drilled a team-high 55 three-point baskets on 34 percent shooting while making 74 percent of his free throws. In addition, the big man paced the Bluejays with 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
Martin also was a All-Conference selection, as he was second on the team in scoring at 14.6 points a contest. He had the most trips to the charity stripe (73), along with the most makes (52). Both Martin and TeBrake dished out a CMCS-best 51 assists.
If the Bluejays want to improve on last year, their defense has to improve. The 2018-19 squad relinquished more points per point (62.7) than it scored (62.1).
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CMCS earned a 5-4 mark in games decided by single-digits. The team dropped six contests by 16 points or more, including their last two to end the season.
