2009-10 Cape Central Boys Basketball Preview

Central coach Drew Church can't place enough emphasis on his returning experience.

The Tigers are expecting a suc cessful season with four starters back from a team that finished second in Class 5 District 1.

"A lot more experience," Church said. "Last year it was a group where I had only one kid who played varsity basketball. They got thrown in the fire quickly. They have a year under their belt and played a bunch of games. They have experience and understand how to play the game more."

Last season's team went 10-16 but made a run late in district play. This year the Tigers return starters Zach Boerboom, Blake Ozbun, Andrew Williams and James Lane. Dylan Thomas, Kevin Casasola and Terrance Howard also saw significant time last season for the Tigers.

"I'm expecting a lot," Church said. "Boerboom and Lane and Williams are all big kids. The ex perience is huge. They know how to deal with pressure situations, how I coach, what to expect."

The Tigers combine that expe rience with some youth, a key part in building the program.

"We have three or four sophomores up," Church said. "They're just going to have to pay their dues and see how we do things. With the core coming back, that's who I'm expecting to contribute."

A glaring problem last season was the Tigers' guard play. A young rotation that had little experience often struggled. Church expects a year's worth of play will help them improve greatly this season.

"Our guard play is going to have to be big," Church said. "Last year with our guards being new to the system, we had a lot of turnovers, missed layups, rookie mistakes. Cutting down on those things is going to be big."

Church believes the key to success this season is getting the ball inside.

"We have to put the ball inside and let those guys go to work," Church said. "I think that's go ing to be pretty big."

Church is looking forward to more consistent play this season, but he refuses to look too far ahead.

"The way we treat things is a game at a time," Church said. "We have to improve every single day, every time we step on the court, and we go from there. We don't look too far ahead. Our goal is to improve every day. If we do that and have that goal, the end of the season takes care of itself."

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Coach: Drew Church, fourth season

Last season's record: 10-16

Returning starters: Zach Boer boom, jr., 6-6; Blake Ozbun, jr., 6-1; Kevin Casasola, sr., 5-9; Andrew Williams, jr., 6-5; James Lane, jr., 6 5; Dylan Thomas, sr., 6-0; Terrance Howard, sr., 5-10

Remainder of roster: Ross Mc Clanahan, so., 6-0; Vance Toole, so., 5-10; David Watts, jr., 5-9; Matt Ponder, so., 5-11; T.J. Tisdale, so., 6- 4; Derek Adams, sr., 5- 10; Josh Compas, sr., 6-2; Keyon Moore, sr., 6-0; Hunter Kinder, sr., 6-6