New Leopards head coach wants to build back tradition

Malvern will have a new boys basketball coach of sorts when the season tips off Nov. 15 at Bismarck. Jess Martin, who coached the Malvern girls team for 13 seasons, which included two Class 4A state championships in 2013 and 2014, made the switch to the Leopards following Chris Meseke’s move to Cabot. “I’ve got three boys that are coming up,” Martin said. I just thought it would be a good time to switch over and take a stab at coaching the boys.” A year ago under Meseke, the Leopards finished 19-7 but missed the state tournament. They return four starters from a year ago, including senior Logan Schneider, and juniors Dallas Lewis, Dakovon Blackmon and Aaron Jones. Blackmon averaged 19 points and 4 rebounds per game last season. Schneider averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds. Jones averaged 7 points, while Lewis averaged 6. “Logan is our best inside player,” Martin said. “He’s got size, toughness, a high basketball IQ and can elevate. Aaron is tough and is fearless attacking the rim.” Blackmon, Schneider and Lewis are the best outside players, the coach said. “Dakovon is a great ball handler with court vision and can shoot the 3,” Martin said. “Schneider is a knockdown spot-up shooter. Lewis can hit the open 3 as well.” Martin said the Leopards lost some key players from last year’s team. “It will be tough this year,” he said. “We will take some lumps early until we mesh as a team and try to find our identity. “Hopefully, after the Christmas break, we will come back and be a team that can compete for the top three in conference.” Martin said he is excited for this opportunity to coach boys. “We want to get some tradition back on the boys side,” he said. “Coach Meseke had a few good years here and there, but it fell off for a couple of years. It’s time to build some tradition and get some consistency.”