While Randolph could have a brand new steward on the sideline this season, the Blue Devils stay on the prime of their sport.
Despite being with out 14-year head coach Kalon Jenkins on account of medical absence, Randolph is as soon as once more a premier contender in Div. 4. Under the management of Dan Kiser, the Blue Devils are a formidable 6-1.
Kiser, who has been alongside Jenkins for greater than a dozen years as his assistant coach, had no intentions of being the top coach this winter. On the Wednesday earlier than tryouts started, nevertheless, Kiser obtained shocking information throughout a telephone name along with his boss.
“I was driving home from school and called Kalon to let him know that I got a new job and he goes, ‘congratulations and oh, by the way, you are the interim coach,’” Kiser mentioned. “I was shocked and of course frightened for Kalon. He just said, ‘you’re ready for it.’”
Randolph overwhelmed the competitors a season in the past, profitable 24 straight video games by 15 factors or extra to seize the state championship. Three function gamers on final 12 months’s state title run in combo guard Isaiah Michel, fellow backcourt mate Camden Rainford, and ahead Dylan Swinton, have stepped in as influence performers.
Juniors Jordan Nash, Mikell Orless, and Jonathan Rivera have crammed in from the junior varsity group to supply a powerful presence on the boards.
“We’ve had a lot of kids who have come up through the program to be impact players this year, maybe more so than they thought they were going to have to be,” Kiser mentioned. “They have assumed bigger roles. Players who were on the bench last year are now embracing the challenges they have of being leaders this year.”
Then there’s Kiser, who is not any bizarre last-minute fill-in as a head coach. Born and raised in Wadsworth, Ohio, Kiser has been teaching for almost 30 years together with a stint as the top coach at Eastern Nazarene College. In the wake of the Blue Devils being with out the reigning MIAA basketball coach of the 12 months, Kiser has steadied the ship offering a veteran presence that is aware of what’s been on the middle of Jenkins success.
“Kalon and I have talked every day during the season. He’ll be laying in bed watching our games on livestream and then we’re sending each other ideas back and forth,” Kiser mentioned. “I am trying to be a representation of him. Winning so far has been terrific, but when we all see our friend and boss standing back on the sidelines that will feel much better.”
A glance forward
A lot of ladies basketball video games are value circling for this upcoming week. Perhaps most notably, Cathedral and its gaudy early season resume travels to Bishop Feehan to tackle the Shamrocks on Friday night time. Andover will make a journey to league rival Central Catholic additionally set for Friday and Walpole is slated to host Weymouth in an intriguing Bay State showdown on Tuesday.
The MIAA introduced on Thursday that the primary Power Rankings replace for winter sports activities will come on Friday, Jan. 13. At the close to midway level of the winter season, the rankings are anticipated to supply early barometer of the postseason image.
Source: www.bostonherald.com