With a new coach and three starters returning, the Gillett boys basketball hopes to turn the corner this season.
Jeff Cross takes over as head coach after one season as the Tigers’ junior varsity coach. After sitting on the bench last season as a varsity assistant, Cross knows his players well and what they are capable of this year.
Serving as team captains will be returning starters and seniors Dan Torres, Matt Peterson and Evan Bubolz, along with Adam Werner.
“They are all dedicated, hard-working, willing to help everybody else out on the team,” Cross said. “I already let them know I’m going to rely on them to lead the team. I’ll say what I say in the huddle and from the sideline, but on the floor it’s kind of their job to take control.”
Gillett (7-17, 5-11 Marinette and Oconto) notched a playoff victory last year and will have to replace Dylan Roberts, Jake Kasten, Bryce Simpson, Jack Reynolds and Eric Fischer. Roberts (11.8 points per game) and Kasten (9.8) were the team’s top two scorers and assist men last season.
The 6-foot-3 Torres was third on the team in scoring (7.2) and the leader in rebounds (6.2).
“He’s determined,” Cross said. “He wants to lead the conference in rebounds, offensive and defensive – that’s his goal for the year. I think he’s got a good shot at doing it.”
“Evan’s game has actually matured since last year from what I’ve seen in practice so far,” said Cross about his guard. “He’s getting more comfortable with his jumper and he’s getting a lot more comfortable driving the lane. So hopefully on the offensive side he’s going to step up his game and be more of a leader on that side of the ball.”
Junior guard Leeland Kahler will be the final piece to the starting lineup.
Cross is confident each of his players in the starting lineup can put up points.
“Every single person on the team has the potential, which I think is going to make us a little more dangerous this year, because we’re not going to look to just one or two people to score,” Cross said. “Anybody on the floor has that opportunity.”
Cross is going to give his starters plenty of minutes, but he plans to have two or three reserves get some time on the court. Juniors Zach Wiese and Brian Zahn will be the first two guys off the bench.
Cross is really stressing defense in early-season practices and hopes his guys can create turnovers and convert those free looks into points.
“I believe to a point that a good defense will create an offense,” Cross said. “Defensively, I’d like to be as strong as we can.”
Offensively, Cross wants to limit his team’s turnovers and also get better at handling the ball and making free throws.
“Everything’s got to be positive, whether it’s a win or a loss or whatever happens on the court during practice or during a game. Everything’s got to stay positive,” Cross said. “They can’t get down on each other — everything’s got to stay upbeat and push each other.”
Cross hopes to finish with a .500 or better record in 2014-15.
“I believe we can compete for conference,” Cross said. “There are some other good teams in our conference. … I’d like to be in that upper group battling it out for that top spot.”
Peshtigo won the conference title with a 16-0 record last year and lost its top four scorers to graduation.
The Tigers travel to Bonduel Nov. 29 for a nonconference game.
“The players all have that mental awareness of knowing where they want to be, and they have their goals and they know how to meet their goals,” Cross said. “We have to get out to a quick start.”
Categories
