RENVILLE — Renville County West won 16 games last season. It was the team’s second consecutive winning season and the first time the program reached the 16-win mark since the 2004-05 campaign.
After years mired in the bottom of the standings, safe to say things are starting to look up for the Jaguars.
Even with momentum on its side entering the 2019-20 campaign, the team has one major hole it will have to replace. Selected to the Tribune’s All-Area first team last year, guard Justin Schrupp is following a season where he earned MVP honors from the Camden Conference North by averaging 27 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
That kind of production is difficult to make up for from two players, let alone one. Riley Ashburn. figures to shoulder some of the load left by Schrupp’s absence. Collecting an All-Conference nod last season, the 6-foot-3 junior forward put up 15 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and team-best 3.2 steals.
“Riley was a good second option for us last year as he worked in tandem with Justin Schrupp,” head coach Matt Huhnerkoch said. “This year, Riley will be looked on to take over as the main scoring option for us. Riley is a good floor leader for us and he will be leaned on to be the coach on the floor.”
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Elsewhere, Huhnerkoch believes junior guard Brandan Hoberg can make a solid impact after spending last year on junior varsity. Hoberg brings quickness and an attacking style that will put pressure on opposing defenses.
