“Tyler is an amazing leader.”
That is how Trinity Lutheran boys basketball coach Ryan Crase described Tyler Goecker.
“He works hard every day and is always focused,” Crase said of the senior. “He did a great job during games and at practice all season long making sure everyone was staying focused. He is a tough kid. No matter how many times he got knocked down, he got back up every time. When everyone else saw that, they got more of a toughness about them, as well. It was kind of contagious.”
Goiecker was a key in helping the Cougars win the Class A West Washington Sectional, and he has been named The Tribune’s Player of the Year in boys basketball.
Goecker topped the Cougars in scoring (428 points, 17.1 avg.), rebounds (7.3 per game) and assists (3.1 per game). His high-point games this season were 31 against West Washington and Scottsburg, and he scored 25 or more in four other games.
Goecker said he took a lot of pride in showing leadership.
“We were missing two starters and we started off 1-9, so that was a big upset to my senior year,” he said. “At that point, I was trying to be a leader and just trying to get the younger guys more experience because they’re going to need it for next year with Jack (Marksberry), Lawson (Woods) and me graduating.
“We’ll have good leadership from Mitchell (Hackman) and Hudson Norton coming back. Other than that, it was trying to keep their heads high and wait for Mitchell and Jack to come back and do the best we could.”
Crase said Goecker is very athletic and aggressive.
“He will take charges and drive in on the other teams’ biggest guy,” Crase said. “I have never coached someone that attacks the basket as fearlessly as he does. This allows him to draw a lot of fouls.”
Goecker topped the Cougars in free throws attempted with 163, making 132 for 81%.
He said he tried to call plays whern he felt the Cougars had an advantage.
“I was looking for a mismatch in most games if there was a mismatch,” Goecker said. “If there wasn’t a mismatch, I would throw the ball to a screen away so another athletic teammate could make a play.”
Goecker liked to play aggressively.
“I think that is one of the greatest things basketball has provided me, being tough at heart, and you can definitely take it as far as you want to take it,” he said. “You’ve definitely got to challenge yourself. If you get one sent back to the third row, you get one sent back to the third row, and you make the next play.”
Goecker was also confident in his outside shooting.
“I grew up playing for Jim Hoffman my eighth grade year (at Immanuel Lutheran) and a couple other middle school coaches that definitely let me shoot the threes,” he said. “I’ve tried to work on my 3-point game as much as I could, and that kind of helped me out.”
Crase said Goecker also was a very clutch player.
“The moment never got too big for him,” Crase said. “Whether it’s a late-game free throw or we needed a late-game basket, he always felt confident when the ball was in his hands. More importantly, he is a great young man with a big heart.”
Goecker said when opponents overplayed him, he used the pick-and-roll offense to his advantage.
Goecker scored 43 points in three sectional wins and said the 72-63 win over Class A No. 7 Edinburgh in the semifinals felt like the championship game.
“Then we came out and beat West Washington by 16 and it was a good end to my career, and we got beat by Barr-Reeve first round of regional,” he said.
Goecker holds Trinity’s boys career scoring record with 1,274 points.
“I want to thank all my coaches, Brian Stuckwisch, Ryan Crase, Jim Hoffman,” he said. “I thank my friends and family for supporting me, and God is No. 1.”
Other All-county team members
Jack Marksberry, Sr. (Trinity Lutheran) – Scored 250 points in 19 games for a 13.2 average with high games of 22 against Henryville and 21 against Barr-Reeve. Shot 56% from the floor (87 of 254) and averaged 4.6 rebounds. Scored 1,003 points for his career.
Cable Spall, Sr. (Crothersville) – Tied school record for points in a season (515, 23 games, 22.4 average). High games of 32 against Medora, Christian Academy of Madison and Shawe Memorial. Made 100 3-pointers (second all-time at CHS). Made 36 3-pointers this season for third on season list. Ranks second on career scoring list with 1,101 points.
Marcus Brooks, Jr. (Seymour) – Scored in double-doubles against Martinsville (22 points on 9-for-9 FG shooting and 13 rebounds) and Franklin (10 P, 10 R). Averaged 8.4 PPG overall. Topped Owls in field goal shooting at 53%.
Casey Regruth. Jr. (Seymour) – Averaged 9 PPG with highs of 18 against Columbus East and Jeffersonville. Topped the team in rebounds 4.7 per game with 12 against New Albany. Shot 44% from the floor and had a double-double against Corydon Central with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Aidan Schroer, Jr. (Brownstown Central) – Topped the Braves in rebounds with 146 (7 per game) and in shooting (64 of 106 for 60%). Had high-point games of 13 against Austin and 12 against Corydon Central.
Carter Waskom, Jr. (Brownstown Central) – Scored 301 points for a 14.3 average with high games of 25 against Charlestown and 22 against Scottsburg. Was named team’s outstanding defensive player and named all-Mid-Southern Conference honorable mention.
Landon Fritsch, So. (Seymour) – Topped the Owls in 3-pointers made with 26. Averaged 9.4 PPG with highs of 20 against Franklin and 18 against Sheridan. Scored in double figures in 12 games and had nine assists against Columbus East.
Eli Meyer, So. (Seymour) – Led the Owls in scoring at 10 PPG with highs of 22 against Jennings County and 19 against Columbus East. Shot 53% from the floor. Earned Hoosier Hills Conference honorable mention. Was first in team steals with 25.
Hudson Norton, So. (Trinity Lutheran) – Scored 377 points for a 15.1 average with high games of 24 against Jac-Cen-Del, 22 against Crothersville and 21 against Henryville and Edinburgh. Made 136 of 323 shots from the floor for 42% and averaged 3.5 rebounds.
Jack Benter, Fr. (Brownstown Central) – Scored 385 points an average of 18.3 with high games of 40 against Corydon Central and 36 against Northview. Topped the Braves in free throws (91 of 109), set school record with 17 free throws made against Seymour and tied school record for 3-pointers with 10 against Corydon Central. Named all-MSC first team.
Honorable mention: Shepard Earl (Medora), Quinten Keasler (Crothersville), Braxton McCory (Medora) and Jacob Moeller (Crothersville)