Newcomer Gives Rogers Heritage Hope For Season

By By Paul Nielsen <a href="mailto:PNIELSEN@NWAONLINE

Posted: November 2, 2009 at 5:39 a.m.

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ROGERS — A quick look at last season’s statistics reveals a lot about Rogers Heritage’s first basketball season.

The War Eagles were outmatched and outgunned in every possible category. Some of the stats were not pretty, like a 37 percent field goal percentage and an average of 17 turnovers a game.

That’s why Heritage was 1-25 overall and 0-14 in the 7A-West Conference a year ago.

While disappointed in the season, coach Tom Olsen can point to one particular problem at one key position for much of the War Eagles’ woes last season.

“A lot of games went south when we got in foul trouble with our post people,” Olsen said. “Our depthat the post was pretty limited last year.”

But Olsen and the War Eagles received some offseason help when 6-foot-8 junior Jon Warner moved to town. Warner is the nephew of former Rogers High football and basketball player Ryan Hale. Hale was a defensive lineman at Arkansas for four years, then played two seasons (1999-2000) in the NFL.

Warner played at Modesto (Calif.) Christian High School last season but moved to Rogers following his sophomore basketball season.

“He spent all spring with us and he was with us all summer,” Olsen said. “(Warner) has a really big upside because he is long and athletic. He has great hands and he is an outstanding rebounder.”

Olsen said Warner has already made a big impact with the team.

“Jon has had one of the best falls of any player that we have,” Olsen said. “We do some scrimmaging where we film and do stats. Warner’s stat lines are pretty impressive. He shoots a real high percentage.”

Warner will join seniors Miles Johnson (6-5, 195) and Nick Jordan (6-8, 195) in the post. Jordan, like most of the War Eagles, packed on extra weight and grew an inch since the end of last season.

“All three of those guys will rotate through there,” Olsen said. “They will all be tired when the game is over. Our big guys can all run the fl oorand that will be a strength for us.”

Senior Brandon Brzozkiewicz (5-9) returns at point guard after averaging a teambest 10 points a game a year ago. He hit 36 3-pointers (24 percent) last season and Olsen is looking for a little more offensive output this year.

“Brandon is one of the better point guards in theleague,” Olsen said. “Brandon is such a competitor and he gives us a chance to score out there (perimeter).”

Olsen only has two impact players - Zac Stewart and Mac Olinger - on the football team and that has made preseason practices more productive. Olsen said Cody Oldham (6-3) is penciled in at forward, but most of the other spots in the rotation areup for grabs.

“Practice this fall has be tremendously better,” Olsen said. “We have a group of kids that understand that we have to practice. The kids have done a good job in the weight room. The gains are evident. Our kids are bigger, faster and stronger than last year.

“That’s obviously a big plus that we think will help us tremendously this year.”

Sports, Pages 12 on 11/02/2009

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