Cogs ready for switch to BNC East

Genoa-Kingston's Mason Lucca (left) and Andrew Oplt lead the Cogs this season. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: November 21, 2011 2:20AM

Genoa-Kingston’s switch to the Big Northern East from the Big Northern West this season comes with a degree of mystery on both sides.

“We haven’t seen some of those teams in two or three years,” said coach Corey Jenkins, who is now in his 10th season.

Then again, it’s possible the Cogs will be able to spring some surprises on the teams in the East with a lineup that includes four of the top seven players from last year’s Sweet Sixteen qualifying club, one that finished 14-17 on the year.

Andrew Oplt, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, and junior 5-8 junior guard Mason Lucca, brother of 2010-11 star Brett Lucca, key the backcourt for a team that considers shooting a strength.

“We’ve spent a lot of time shooting the ball,” Jenkins said. “Our philosophy is build on our strength; take something we do well and do it even better.

“It’s something our teams in the past did well. If we knock down the shots I think we’ll be OK.”

On the interior, the Cogs are not lacking with 6-3 senior Matt Rasmussen and 6-2 junior Adam Price returning at post spots.

“We haven’t had that much in terms of experience and talent in the post area back in a long time,” Jenkins said.

Also in the post are 6-1 sophomore Sal Lopez 6-1, 6-2 junior Gabe Williams, and Oplt’s brother Ryan, a 6-2 senior.

“All of them could be in the mix at different times,” Jenkins said.

Sophomore 6-1 guard Eli Thurlby is a point guard who will see action, and both senior David Garza (5-10) and junior Ben Rabe (5-10) will add to the backcourt depth.

While the Cogs consider themselves sharpshooters, the defensive end is where most of their improvement is needed.

“We don’t want to relax at that end of the floor at all,” Jenkins said. “We bring an intense style of defense. Everybody knows we play man to man.

“And right now we’re a new team learning to communicate with one another. That’s our biggest weakness right now is communicating on the floor.”