Steffen’s Trojans are reloading for another big year

HARTINGTON — After ending last season at the Nebraska State Basketball Championships in Lincoln, the Cedar Catholic Trojans are set to make another run at heading south at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Head coach Matt Steffen enters his 17th season as the leader of the Trojan fortunes on the hardwood and brings in a more than respectable 258-138 record.

Cedar Catholic ended the season 23-4 and graduated five seniors so there are some shoes to fill.

Before one thinks the sky is falling, the Trojans return plenty of talent to make that trip south next March.

“I feel we have the potential to be a very good team,” Steffen said. “We have quite a few kids coming back who played a lot of minutes.”

Carson Arens and Jaxson Bernecker are returning starters, with Bernecker bringing in 15 points and seven rebounds per game last season.

Grant Arens, Jay Steffen and Nolan Becker also return as well as several players ready to make the next step to the varsity level.

“Our season will hinge on our ability to dictate tempo and execute on offense and defense,” the coach said. “We will also need to rebound well to be successful in games against good athletes in our conference.

“We have size and experience throughout our team. It will be important to get the ball inside and work inside out offensively.”

The Trojan schedule will be tough as always.

After winning the Mid State Conference last season, they are the team to beat this season.

Boone Central, Norfolk Catholic, Wayne, O’Neill, Pierce and Battle Creek are ready in the conference and a couple of state champions from last year, Omaha Roncalli and Dakota Valley from South Dakota will provide a row of great competition this campaign.

Cedar Catholic will also participate in the Northeast Nebraska Tournament in Wayne over the Holiday break and head to Fremont for the Knight Classic just after the New Year.

“We will need to develop a rotation and team chemistry,” Steffen said. “Freeman, Boone Central, Pierce, Amherst, Hastings St. Cecilia and others will be the teams to beat this season - we’ll take them one game at a time and try to improve each day.”