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Master plan

JANESVILLE — The Master-son Plan has officially started.

Ryan Masterson will coach Janesville Parker High School’s boys basketball team for the first time when the Vikings host Milton in a nonconference game Tuesday night.

The 39-year-old Janesville native takes over a program that has averaged a little more than two wins over the last six seasons. Last year’s team was the most talented in that span and went 6-15, but all five starters graduated, with 6-10 Riley Grafft the major departure.

That leaves Masterson with a young and inexperienced team that has just two letter winners returning in 6-4 senior Jason Knutson and 5-11 junior Jordan Thompson.

“Jordan will be a key player for us at point guard,” Masterson said.

But it will be difficult for the Vikings in the talented Big Eight Conference.

“We’re realistic,” Masterson said. “We’re young, and we don’t have a lot of size, and we’re going to be going up against some talented teams.

“But I’m real happy,” he said. “The kids are doing everything we ask them to do.”

Thompson will be counted on as one of the team’s strengths.

Joining him in the backcourt will be 5-11 junior guard Cody Simonson and 5-10 junior Danny Husen.

Joining Jason Knutson as the top prospects on the front line going into the opener Tuesday are 6-2 junior Tyler Teubert, 6-4 sophomore Creed Knutson and 6-4 senior Jon Carlson.

M. Jay Bouska, a 6-3 junior forward, and 6-4 sophomore Kyle Schroeder also are expected to get serious playing time.

Masterson also expects contributions from 5-10 junior Tanner Moe, 5-10 junior Torry Anderson, 6-foot Matt Fielder and 6-3 junior Dan Lehr.

“We’re focusing on two things,” Masterson said. “We want to do things the correct way. We want to be fundamentally correct. And we want to try to improve throughout the course of the season.

“We want to compete hard every game and get some wins.”

Masterson understands turning the program around will take time and hard work. He spent a lot of time this summer getting youth programs going and talking to youngsters.

“I’m real happy with the overall program and our coaching staff,” Masterson said. “We’re very much on the same page. We have common expectations and are running things the same way throughout the program.”

Masterson was encouraged by the number of players who turned out on the freshman, sophomore and varsity levels. Cuts were required at all levels.

“Over the next few years, you’re going to see different results if we keep doing what we’re doing,” Masterson said.

Parker’s 2008-09 schedule:

(7:30 p.m. unless indicated)

DECEMBER: x2—Milton; 6—At Beloit Memorial; 10—At Madison East; 13—Madison West; 18—At Verona; 20—Sun Prairie; x30—At Delavan-Darien.

JANUARY: 6—At Janesville Craig; 9—Madison La Follette; 15—At Madison Memorial; 17—Middleton; 23—Madison East; 24—Beloit Memorial; 29—At Madison West; 31—Verona, 2:45 p.m.

FEBRUARY: 5—At Sun Prairie; 10—Janesville Craig; 12—At Madison La Follette; 17—Madison Memorial; 26—At Middleton.

x—nonconference