THE GAZETTE
Page B-4
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 z
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW AVALON
n Coach: Kevin Davern 2nd season n Last season: 19-10 n Starters returning: 2 n Last league championship: N/A
BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE
Outlook: The Black Knights return two starters and most of their key players from last year’s team, which went 19-10 and won the St. Anselm’s Abbey School Invitational Basketball Tournament. “It was a great finish but we’re hoping to build on what we did and keep getting better,” second-year coach Kevin Davern said. Look for 6-foot-1 senior guard Zamir Courtney and 6-foot-5 senior center Berthin Mayo to help carry the team through a difficult schedule. “I like the chemistry with the group,” Davern said. The Black Knights will play a forward-heavy lineup with only one “pure” guard, Davern said. “We’re relatively long for a high school team.” The Knights graduated two of its leading scorers: Emmett Sloan and Tracy Johnson.
n Coach: Sean Tracy 2nd season n Last season: 5-17 n Starters returning: 2 n Last state tournament: 2008
— ERIC GOLDWEIN
BULLIS
n Coach: Bruce Kelley 10th season n Last season: 23-4 n Starters returning: 3 n Last IAC title: 2013
n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: 1999
Outlook: When a team has a multifaceted 6-foot-10 guy in the paint, it’s hard not to build an offense around him. The two-time defending IAC champion Bulldogs will certainly look to take advantage of the strength Hofstra University recruit Andre Walker provides inside but they will not be onedimensional because of a slew of interchangeable players, coach Bruce Kelley said. Bullis will also look to spread the floor and create open shots for its collection of scoring options. Among them are senior guards Russell Sangster, who averaged 14 points per game a year ago, Jamaal Greenwood and Aaron Briggs. “It’s almost like we have two different styles of play within the same team,” Kelley said. “We blend what works with what we like to do.”
n Coach: Robert Bean 1st season n Last season: 18-6 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1978
Outlook: The Titans were 2-10 to open last season, but went 9-4 after, including upsetting second-seeded North Hagerstown in the 3A West Region’s quarterfinals. “We may have snuck up on some people last year, but we’re not going to surprise anyone this year,” Einstein coach Rich Porac said. Opponents will focus on slowing down 6-foot-7 senior shooting guard Joe Bradshaw (16.4 ppg). The Titans have height, including 6-4 junior Raheem Hayes, 6-5 junior Gil Reynolds, 6-3 senior 3-point specialist Daniel Seifu, and 6-6 senior wing Abraham Camara. The key, however, may be the one new starter, freshman point guard JD Guerrero (6-0). “The county doesn’t know about him, but he’s very talented,” Porac said.
WALTER JOHNSON
n Last season: 10-13 n Starters returning: 0 n Last state tournament: 1987
n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1979
Outlook: Coach Mark Karver is optimistic despite returning just one player who saw significant playing time. “What this team is good at is they know what they do well and they play to their strengths,” he said. Sharpshooter Alex Horrick is the returnee with some varsity experience. “He comes off the bench and we get better,” Karver said. Post-player depth kept senior center Gabe Foreman on the bench last season, but no longer. “If we can get him the ball down low, good things will happen, and if he plays well, we’ll be at the top of our game,” Karver said. Guard Matt Konapelsky is expected to play a large role in the offense and transfers Wade Bishop, Chris Espejo and Charalampos Argyriadis could have an immediate impact.
— HARVEY VALENTINE
Outlook: Some high school basketball players have very little freedom to use their instincts on the hardwood. There are set plays and they must abide by what is called each trip down the floor. Firstyear Churchill coach Robert Bean said he doesn’t want his team to be like that. “I don’t want to say [mine] is a unique system but it’s one based on reading the defense,” Bean said. Guards Allen Njumbe, Jesse Lock and Bobby ArthurWilliams anchor a group that will rely on its athleticism and fitness to keep opponents under pressure. Once the Bulldogs come together and adjust to the new system, Bean said this year’s Churchill team is one that can still compete for the Montgomery 4A South Division championship.
GAITHERSBURG
n Coach: Tom Sheahin 1st season n Last season: 4-19 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 1998
Outlook: Despite its record last year, Trojans’ coach Tom Sheahin is very excited about his team’s possibilities. “We should be one of the favorites in the region this year,” he said. “We are going to be very quick with an up-tempo attack and pressure defense. Our goal is to average 80 points per game and hold our opponents to 60.” While Dion Etheridge (6-foot-1) is the lone starter returning, Sheahin has plenty of confidence in the rest of his starters: 5-8 senior and Quince Orchard transfer Aaron King (point guard), 6-3 Seneca Valley senior transfer Geron Braithwaite, 6-4 junior forward Anthony Tarke and 6-9 center Zach Coleman. Juniors Tyrik Etheridge (6-0 guard), senior forward Kamonte Carter (6-5) and junior forward Sean Pressley (6-5) add depth.
n Coach: G.J. Kissal 2nd season n Last season: 11-13 n Starters returning: 4 n Last state tournament: None
n Last season: 18-7 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 1996
— KENT ZAKOUR
n Last season: 10-14 n Starters returning: 1 n Last state tournament: 2010
Outlook: Senior forward Josh Hardy and senior guard Dennis Singleton are back and opponents will likely focus on them this winter, but for second-year coach G.J. Kissal, the difference in the Coyotes this year will be their improved and deep supporting cast. Senior guards Xavier Sewell and Caleb Carter should also contribute, along with junior varsity call-ups Austin Duffy, Devinne Greene and Andrew Kostecka. “Dennis and Josh are proven, but I’m most excited about is the improvement I’ve seen from the guys that didn’t get the headlines,” said Kissal, who preaches balance on both ends of the court to his team. “They’ve all made huge leaps forward. We’re more complete and anyone can lead us in scoring on a given night.”
GEORGETOWN PREP
n Coach: Herb Krusen 4th season n Last season: 15-11 n Starters returning: 1 n Last IAC title: 2006
Outlook: With seven seniors, but only one returning starter, the Little Hoyas are gearing up for another run at the Interstate Athletic Conference title. In 2011, they fell in the conference tournament final. In 2012, they bowed out in the semifinals after a 7-3 league regular season earned them a first-round bye. This year is more likely to resemble the former; it will take time to weld the new pieces together. A tough nonleague slate, which began with a win over Gilman and a tripleovertime loss to Boys Latin last week, should prepare them for January’s conference opener. Senior Brandon Green returns to an experienced backcourt, and a promising sophomore class includes 6-foot-6 forward Kevin McDonald and 6-4 guard Trystan Pratapas.
DAMASCUS
n Coach: Butch Marshall 4th season n Last season: 11-13 n Starters returning: 3 n Last state tournament: 1952
n Coach: Andy Luther 8th season n Last season: 3-17 n Starters returning: 3 n Last IAC title: 2010
Outlook: Luther’s slogan for his 2013-14 team is worth printing on its warm-up shirts, if it is not already. “We make being short look good,” Luther said. The Bears’ roster lists five forwards, including freshman Brett Bates, against 10 guards. They won’t scare anyone out of the gym, particularly after posting a single win after December last season. The points they lose on the eyeball test, they hope to make up in tenacity and chemistry. Five seniors return to the varsity squad, among them guards Clayton Collins and Khaleef Bradford and forward Harry Laird, who all started at times last year. Luther said he would like to see his team rack up more assists in each game than they had in the one before.
— JOHN Y. WEHMUELLER
Outlook: Damascus will be small again this year, with 6-foot-2 senior forward and returning starter Stephon Jacob being the team’s tallest player. Jacob, however, may miss some time at the beginning of the season due to an injury, according to coach Butch Marshall. Classmates Connor Burke (shooting guard, 5-10) and Joe Daniels (G/F, 5-9) round out the returning starters. Senior James Ngonda is also expected to start and initiate the offense from the point. “We are super small and if rebounding becomes an issue, we are going to have a hard time all year,” Marshall said. “But Connor, Joe, James and Stephon are all capable of scoring 20 point on any given night. We were about .500 last year so we just hope to improve.”
— KENT ZAKOUR
GOOD COUNSEL
n Coach: Robert Churchwell 1st season n Last season: 12-18 n Starters returning: 0 n Last WCAC title: None
— JOHN Y. WEHMUELLER
LANDON
Outlook: “It’s definitely a rebuilding year,” said Blake coach Marcus Wiggins, whose team lost eight seniors and returns just one starter. That starter is versatile 6-foot-5 senior DeMonte Ojinnaka, who Wiggins called one of the better players in Montgomery County public high school basketball. He averaged more than 13 points per game last season and Wiggins looks for him to increase his rebounding and other statistics. “Being in the Northeast Consortium, I’m pretty sure he had some opportunities to make some changes. It was really nice to see that he was willing to show some leadership and loyalty and stay,” Wiggins said. Ojinnaka will get help inside from junior Jamal Ngana, who returns after a year at Good Counsel, and 6-6 senior Thomas Stanton.
— HARVEY VALENTINE
— KENT ZAKOUR
JOHN F. KENNEDY
n Coach: Diallo Nelson 14th season
n Coach: Marcus Wiggins 8th season
CLARKSBURG
— JOHN HARRIS III
Outlook: For the first time in four years, Diallo Nelson will be breaking in a new point guard. And 5-foot-10 junior Robert Wilson is the heir apparent to the graduated Marcus Murray. “Anyone that knows anything about basketball knows you got to start at point guard,” Nelson said. “So far, I like what I’ve seen. He’s very intelligent and a passer first and, most importantly, can control the tempo.” Returning senior starter and all-around contributor Keif Williams (5-11), who Nelson calls “the best kept secret” in the county, should carry the scoring load. Forward/guard Michael Scott (6-1) and true center Bruke Hawkins (6-7) should also contribute. “I’ve never had a pure post guy before,” Nelson said. “And I’m excited for that.”
Outlook: The Blazers will look to up the defensive intensity in 2013, led by a trio of returning starters in Danny Canary (guard), Damar Bess (forward) and Raymond Burtnick (center). Senior Trey Wainwright returns with varsity experience, and Lonnie Feldman will fortify the low post after transferring from Kennedy. Anthony Davis, Jordan Johnson, Ishmael Sangare and Yosef Yishack will all work into the rotation for coach Damon Pigrom, who looks to run nine or ten deep this season. “We are going to play a lot of people, because we are going to try and really get after it defensively,” Pigrom said. “Coming off of a good season last year and with the pieces we have, I’d like to think we are going to be pretty good.”
JAMES H. BLAKE
— KYLE RUSSELL
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
— KEN SAIN
n Coach: Mark Karver 3rd season
n Last season: 15-9
WINSTON CHURCHILL
ALBERT EINSTEIN
n Last season: 11-14
n Coach: Damon Pigrom 3rd year
— KYLE RUSSELL
— JENNIFER BEEKMAN
n Coach: Rich Porac 3rd season
Outlook: Second-year coach Sean Tracy is looking for some improvement from his Barons in 2013 after a disappointing showing last season. Forwards Kaleb Stewart and Matt Schaengold both return to provide B-CC with a strong presence in the paint. New faces for the varsity program include Karl Baare — who will see playing time at point guard after transferring from Denmark for his senior season — and sophomore Kevin Holston — who will play both guard positions after showing the ability to score from all over the court. “It was a rough season for our seniors last year, who had four coaches in four years,” Tracy said. “We are looking to gel, come together, and be one cohesive unit, and do better than last year.”
MONTGOMERY BLAIR
Outlook: Good Counsel will head into the 2013-14 schedule with plenty of new faces on the bench, including coach Robert Churchwell, a former Georgetown University and NBA player, who will not have a single returning starter on the floor this winter. The Falcons’ probable starting unit consists of Nick Gittings, Shane Eberle, Kyle Turner, Curtis Williams and Dominic Ezeani, a group that Churchwell, a physical education and health teacher at the Olney school, expects will continue to improve over the course of the season. “Our first goal is to simply get better every day,” Churchwell said. “We’ve looked OK in our scrimmages, but we certainly need to improve in a lot of ways.”
— TED BLACK
COL. ZADOK MAGRUDER
n Coach: Dan Harwood 24th season n Last season: 24-3 n Starters returning: 0 n Last state tournament: 2013
Outlook: After graduating a senior class that won 22 or more games and reached the state tournament the past three seasons, longtime Colonels’ coach Dan Harwood says this year will be different. “The last two years we were good from the first day,” Harwood said. “This year is a lot more teaching.” Magruder will execute its traditional offense, which features good shooters, but defensive pressure should be higher. “If we each had 50 possessions in a game, we would beat you,” Harwood said. “Now, we are going to need to get more touches.” Junior forward Joe Hugley (6-foot-6) will take on an expanded scoring role along with seniors Josiah Jones and Danny Schaerr. Guards Kenny Oxman (5-9) and Imani Blackmon (6-0) will also contribute.
— KENT ZAKOUR