Senior Cooper Rothenberger has taken over at point guard this season for Junction City. (Photo by Dawn Marie Barth)

As the new boys basketball coach at Junction City, Bart Rothenberger has been careful not to disrupt the balance established by his father, Craig, who guided the Tigers to 615 wins in the last 43 seasons, including the 1994 state title.

From summer team camps to fundraisers to terminology on the court, Bart wasn't going to mess with a winning formula.

“We're not going to change what the old man did,” said Bart, who joined the Tigers after going 416-171 in 21 seasons at seven schools, winning four 1A titles at Mohawk (2001-08). “If it's not broken, don't fix it. I'm very fortunate to be able to follow a legend like that.”

On the surface, it appeared that the cards were stacked against Junction City this season. The Tigers graduated four starters and three first-team Sky-Em League players, including the 4A player of the year in Kaleb Burnett, from a team that went 26-3 and made the state semifinals.

So far, though, Junction City is finding a way. The Tigers are 12-2 and No. 3 in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll, losing only to 5A No. 8 Redmond and 4A No. 4 Marist Catholic.

“There's not very many people that thought we would be 12-2 at this point,” Bart said. “My eight seniors have just bought in. They practiced against those kids every day, and a lot of people don't think about that.”

In Bart's previous head-coaching job, at 2A Toledo in 2021-22, he coached sons Gunner and Cooper. When Bart became the principal and athletic director at 1A Alsea in 2022-23, Cooper and Gunner transferred to Junction City and became starters.

Gunner was first-team all-league as a senior on last year's team. Cooper is the lone returning starter this season, averaging 11.0 points and team-highs of six rebounds, five assists and three steals per game.

Junction City had a void at point guard after the graduation of all-league Court Knabe, and Cooper, who played multiple positions last season, stepped in to take over.

“He's our general on the court,” Bart said. “When he's going, we're going. He's a 5-11 kid that's not tremendously athletic. He is just fundamentally sound. Last year, he was Junction City's glue. He did whatever Dad asked him to do.”

Keivon Riley, a 6-2 senior guard who was the sixth man last season, is averaging 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals. The other starters are 6-3 senior post Levi Walker (6.0 points, 4.5 rebounds), 6-3 senior wing Avery Thomas (8.5 points, 4.0 rebounds) and 5-10 senior guard Jack Gambee (7.3 points).

Thomas, a transfer from Parkrose, has provided a jolt.

“He hasn't really played organized basketball in four years, and he just keeps getting better,” Bart said. “He's starting to understand the game.”

Of the 12 players on the varsity roster, 11 played football. The physical mentality is reflected in the way the Tigers play defense, holding opponents to 43.6 points per game, second in 4A behind No. 1 Baker (40.9). They are living up to the reputation for defense that they gained under Craig Rothenberger.

“My offense is a little different. We're a little quicker and we push the ball better,” said Bart, who played for his father at Junction City before graduating in 1989. “But defensively, I'd do anything to be able to play defense like his teams have. We have the same philosophy there.”

Junction City beat No. 5 Philomath 60-49, No. 7 North Marion 68-46 and 3A No. 3 Valley Catholic 54-52. The Tigers lost to Redmond 41-34 on Dec. 14 and fell at Marist Catholic 44-37 in their Sky-Em opener Friday, ending their league winning streak at 18.

“We ran into a buzzsaw against Marist,” Bart said. “They played incredible defense. The two times we lost were against teams that are as strong athletically as we are and play really good defense.”

Craig Rothenberger has remained as Junction City's athletic director. Bart is coaching a fifth-grade traveling team with him, but as for the high school team, Craig is keeping his distance.

“I've asked him to come to practice, and he's just, 'Nah, I'm just going to stay away,'” Bart said.

Bart still works at Alsea, a 40-minute drive to Junction City.

“I've never been so busy in my life,” he said. “My school district is so understanding. They knew it was a special thing to follow in my dad's footsteps.”