Coach: Paul Becker
2004-5 Record: 23-1 (10-0, 1 st place NEMC); lost in regional final
Returning players: Mike Penn, sr., Guard; Jon Siwek, sr., Guard; Shane Hemphill, sr., Center; Steve Stanley, sr., Guard; Kyle Redd, sr., Forward; Kyle Whitford, sr., Forward.
First time on varsity: Tim Warner, sr.; Evan St. Aubin, jr.; Tyler McCoy, jr.; Charlie Wright, jr.;Tom Pinkerton, soph.; Shaun Jordan, soph.
Going their way: Braves have plenty of size inside with three players over 6-4 and several more with linebackers’ bodies. Hemphill and 3-point marksman Penn are returning starters. “We’ll attack the basket with the big players inside first,” Becker says. “If we can do that, Penn, Stanley and Siwek can all hit from outside.” Despite the different look of the team, the Braves hope to contend for another NEMC title. “We consider every game important,” Becker says. “Our goal is to win the first one and go from there.”
Something to prove: No one can replace Darby Decker, the ultimate go-to guy to graduated last June. “Darby scored a lot, and this will be a different kind of team,” Becker says. “Our biggest concern is our transition defense, since we’re not very athletic. If we can’t get back on defense quickly, we can have a world of trouble.”
X-Factor: The Braves’ recent success has built upon itself to where the incoming players have worked to meet their own high expectations. “The kids have seen that it’s a lot of work, and know if they work hard they’ll have good results,” Becker says. “The tradition has built up a will that the kids have to win a lot of games. They know the high expectations they’ve brought on themselves, because every team loves to beat us.” |
