BOYS BB: Peru Bengal Tigers 2023-24 season preview | Sports

New Peru boys basketball coach Travis Smith inherits a veteran team that is the two-time defending Class 3A Sectional 23 champion.

Smith, who has been Peru’s junior varsity coach for the past six seasons, replaced former coach Eric Thompson after Thompson left for Huntington North.

“I think we are off to a pretty good start with the transition,” Smith said. “It helps to have known these kids for several years. The players knew what to expect coming into this, but they have also adapted very well to a different style of coaching. Even if you do most of the same stuff, each coach will still have their own coaching style.”

Smith knows the Bengal Tigers’ winning ways. A high-scoring guard in the Class of 2012, he played for coach Brian Strong in his senior season after previously playing for Thompson.

Peru is ranked No. 12 in the first Class 3A poll of the season.

“Our team has high expectations this year,” Smith said. “We are an experienced team that has won the sectional the last two years. We let the [Three Rivers Conference] slip away from us last year. We are excited for another chance to try to win the conference. Peru hasn’t won a regional game [since the 1997-98 season]. These players know that is a very obtainable and important goal.”

The Tigers return four starters from last season’s 17-8 team — seniors Matthew Roettger (19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds per game), Alex Ross 10.5 points, 7.4 rebounds) and Ian Potts (4.6 points) and junior Gavin Eldridge (12.0 points, 3.5 assists). Roettger was named to the first team of the KT All-Area Team.

“We are expecting great things out of these kids,” Smith said.

Other returning players are juniors Xavier Turner (3.1 points) and Bryce Hill (1.4 points) and sophomore Reis Bellar.

Peru tied for third place in the TRC last season with a 6-3 record. Seven of the 10 conference teams finished 5-4 or better in league play. Defending champion Tippecanoe Valley departed the conference and was replaced by Cass, which made the Class 2A Final Four last season.

Smith said the conference looks deep again this year.

“The TRC is going to be a very competitive conference this year with the likes of Wabash, Manchester and Maconaquah who all finished in the top half last year returning key parts to their teams. There are also a few other new schools and new players coming to teams that were already in our conference,” Smith said, noting Peru expects to be in the thick of the conference race.

To better prepare for the state tourney, Peru toughened its schedule. The Bengal Tigers added games against three Fort Wayne schools (South Side, Snider and Bishop Dwenger) and also Lafayette Central Catholic.

The Tigers hosted Sectional 23 last season and beat Mississinewa, Oak Hill and Norwell to take the title. Delta beat Peru in a one-game regional.

Mississinewa is the sectional host this season.

Peru opened the season by defeating Logansport 69-52 last week. Peru visits Kokomo tonight.