By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Last year I jokingly said I expected the Calhoun boys basketball team to double its win total.
It didn't.
The joke I was trying to make was that had the team won two games last year it would have doubled the total of one win it had the year before. Unfortunately the Red Devils went winless last season and are working on a streak of 24 straight losses.
I think that streak ends tonight. I think the Red Devils will open the 2008-2009 season with a win when they travel to Roane County. I think the monkey will be off the team's back real early this year and tonight's victory will be the springboard to a plus-.500 record.
Why do I feel that way when the varsity team has a 1-44 record over the two years I was an assistant coach while the junior varsity team was winless?
Because this team has more talent than any Calhoun team that I have been actively involved with. It also has more experience as the kids who were getting pounded by older kids - Calhoun had to play sophomores and freshmen against the juniors and seniors (varsity) of the other teams and play freshmen against the sophomores and juniors (junior varsity) - have grown up.
There are eight lettermen returning for the Red Devils this season and two starters joining the team that did not letter last year ⦠at least at Calhoun. Those eight lettermen plus the addition of juniors Zach Moore and Kyle Keesler give the Red Devils depth that they had not had in a while ⦠talent and experience too.
The biggest obstacles between the Red Devils and a good season are:
(1) they must come together as a team. The individual talent is there but that talent will need to mesh together in order for them to become a team; (2) they have to learn how to win. They have to learn how to get another team down and not let them back up. They need to learn how to come back against adversity. Winning is not something the players are used to. They need to become accustomed to winning.
Let's look at some of the Red Devils players:
- Zach Moore: He led the team in scoring, rebounding and steals two years ago as a freshman. He played on Wirt's state tournament team last year. He could be an All-LKC performer if he avoids injury and keeps a good work ethic.
- Kyle Keesler: He did not play last year. But two years ago as a freshman he played a lot of point guard for the Red Devils. He could be the key to the offense if he takes on a leadership role at the point guard spot.
- Justin Gerwig: He became the Red Devils go-to guy late last season and turned in some very solid performances. He should benefit greatly from the pre-season conditioning he got as a member of the cross country team.
- Cai Clothier: When his inside shooting comes around he will be a terror for the Red Devils. He's a tough-nosed player and a hard worker on the boards.
- Chucky Kendall: He has developed a good outside shot and has proven willing to crash the boards. He also plays pretty good defense.
- Harold McCumbers: "Scoobie" is probably the Red Devils leading defensive player. He can also shoot pretty well when he doesn't rush his shot. Also a good free throw shooter.
- Greg Myers. A tough player of the bench and can hurt you with his outside shooting. Also likes to get inside on the boards.
- Anthony Richards: Has steadily developed over the last couple of years. Has a nice soft left-handed shot and is not afraid to mix it up inside.
- Danny Slider: Playing his first year of varsity basketball as a senior. He will learn and improve as the season goes on. He plays inside and rebounds with the same intensity he had while playing on the defensive line for the Red Devils football team.
- Daniel Sims: Trying to recover from a broken leg suffered in football. When he does get back on the court he could prove to be one of the Red Devils best outside shooters. He's already the fastest man on the team.
- Tyler Bennett: He started several games as a freshman last year and turned in several very credible performances, especially on defense where he was often used to hound the other team's leading outside threat.
- Caleb Schoolcraft: Led the Calhoun Middle School in virtually every offensive category last year. He is the only played that moved up from the middle school team to the varsity this season.
- Joe Overbaugh: "Double-Oh Joe" has gained greatly with his playing time last year on the junior varsity as a freshman. He has the potential to be a good man on the inside.
- Stewart Fitzwater: A very smart player. He can shoot pretty well from the outside and is learning the ball-handling scheme the Red Devils want to implement this year.
- Quentin Murphy: "Q Dog" has proven to be a decent shot and something of a tough rebounder for the Red Devils junior varsity team.
- Brandon Sampson. In his first year of basketball he is quickly learning how to be a player. He should be a strong contributor as the season goes along.
- C.J. Myers: He's a lot like the late singer James Brown ⦠he's the hardest working man on the court.
- Noah Sweeney: This is his senior year and despite a lack of size he has never had a lack of heart.
The talent is there. All it takes is for the team to become a team instead of a group of individuals and for them to learn how to win again.
I think both will happen and the Red Devils could easily win more than they lose this year.
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