Experience key to NCTA's basketball hopes

NCTA mens basketball team.

CURTIS -- Del Van Der Werff, the head basketball coach at Nebraska College of Technical-Agriculture-Curtis rerurns seven letterwinners from a team that finished 15-11 last year.

The Aggies brought in seven new recruits and have the tallest team in school history.

Among the returnees are Ryan Sedlecek, Paxton, 6-foot-9; Chris McNulty, Orleans, 6-8; Nathan Drudik, Elgin, 6-6; Tony Mills, Vona, Colo., 6-6; Levi Durnal, Holdrege, 6-6; Eddie Gardner, Cario, 6-6; and Bret Campbell, Curtis, 6-4.

Durnal was an All-American last year.

Campbell, McNulty and Sedlecek won't be available until second semester due to injuries and ineligibility problems.

Four freshmen guards show promise, said Van Der Werff. They are Seth Domek, Wiback, Mont.; Nick Pascoe, Ogallala; Josh McClain, Repulican City; and Shawn Sullivan of Wallace.

"These four guards have added a lot to the prospective season," Van Der Werff said.

Van Der Werff said the team's goals for the season is a return trip to the National Tournament in Portland, Maine in March.

Van Der Werff now has 389 career wins and needs 11 wins for 400. He is starting his 27th year at NCTA.

NCTA opened the season with four straight losses.

The Aggies opened the season Oct. 31 and lost to Calvary Baptist-Kansas City, Oklahoma Baptist and Eastern Oklahoma of Wilburton in a pre-season tournament.

" I have been extremely pleased by the attitudes of the team this year," Van Der Werff said.

"It seems like the seven freshmen have come on strong in early practices and have fit in with the returners really well.

"During the first semester the squad will be running a shorter lineup since three of the big men are out, but I feel that they are ready to accept the challenge.

The coach said some of the greatest challenges for the NCTA team will be playing in the McCook College Tournament and traveling a lot with the 26-game schedule.

"The returners will have to show a lot of leadership to get us started and then we should be OK."

The Aggies play Barclay College at 7 tonight at Haviland, Kan.

NCTA will compete in the McCook College Classic Nov. 21-22 (Friday and Saturday).

NCTA hosts Nebraska Christian on Dec. 2.