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High School Sports

November 30, 2008

Comets look to replace all five starters

Michael Pineda

VELMA — Another playoff run in football coupled with the graduation of five starters from a 23-5 team has the Velma-Alma boys’ basketball team in rebuild-reload mode.

Tenured head coach Kenny Bare will enter the season, looking to turn last year’s role players into significant contributors. In short, find out who will be able to put the ball in the basket.

“We are almost starting over scoring-wise,” Bare said. “Last year, our junior high went 17-1 and a lot of those sophomores are out for the team. The sooner they can adapt, the sooner we will show progress. I have no doubt about the effort that we are going to play with.

“We are young and inexperienced but we’ve got some good talent. That’s the thing about coaching. You don’t recruit the players you want. You just mold the players you have and someone always steps up.”

One of those expected to step up this season will be sophomore point guard Dillon Morgan. Morgan, who started at quarterback this season for the Comets, is one of those players that got playing time last season.

“He made good things happen last year and he is a good athlete,” Bare said. “People will enjoy watching him play.”

Junior Frank Johnson will back Morgan up at the point and will also be in the running for a starting spot at the two-guard. Also in consideration for the starting nod at the guard spots are sophomores Zach Morse, Peyton Presgrove and senior Blake Sanner.

“As a group, they are athletic,” Bare said. “They can all play some defense and that’s their best asset. We’ve got to get where they can shoot, they need to take the next step.”

The forward and post slots will also have several different players in the running to assume a starting position. Junior Trenten Files saw some playing time last season and will be expected to play a more assertive role for the team.

“Trenten is a strong physical player that did some good things for us last year,” Bare said. “He will be a main cog for us this season.”

Velma-Alma could also have a wildcard in forward Cale Gayanich. The junior transferred to V-A during the off-season and was a starter at Davis last season.

Also figuring into the mix in the post are sophomores Dillon Dennis and Dallas Fox.

“I hope Dillon’s success in football parleys into basketball,” Bare said. “He had a good season in junior high last season.

“Dallas is a big body who knows how to throw his body around.”

Bare sees the first months of the season as a time for growth and looks for the team to peak in time for the playoffs.

“Our fans will see an improvement from December to January and from January to February,” Bare said. “Hopefully we will be real competitive in the playoffs. It will just come in steps.”

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