The Cedar Spartans senior AA boys are a collection of good athletes who compete hard. Those attributes will help them as they try to build chemistry and develop a game plan to suit their roster.
Coach Rick Hart said there is work to be done at both ends of the court, but he thinks it will come.
“We have to somehow get it inside into our post players and then read the D and go from there,” said Hart. “[On defence] we’ve really got to set up our team defence a little bit, blocking out and rebounding.”
The Spartans’ primary scorer again this season will be post player Brendan McCarthy, and returning point guard Jake Crow is strong in all areas.
Newcomers include athletic shooting guard Eric Sackey and intense swingman Ben Cawthorne.
Cedar’s next game is Jan. 3 at Ladysmith; its next home game is Jan. 10 when Kwalikum visits the Cedar Community Secondary School gym.
The Cedar Spartans Senior girls should be a force in single A. The team moves back down after a year at the AA level and does so with some key returnees.
“We’re going to look forward to having an exciting season with the girls,” said Launa Gannon, Cedar’s co-coach.
The group of veterans is led by top scorer Megan Cawthorne, with Jordan Stotts and Cathy Jordan two other players who are strong at both ends of the court.
Returnee Jessie Sharratt is the team’s point guard and Grade 10 post player Hailey Bradley is one of the young players ready to contribute.
“We’ve got to look to the tall girls, into the post; they’re going to have a big impact this year,” said Gannon. “And the guards have good shots, so we have lots of options.”
Cedar will play in the Superball tournament at Wellington Secondary School in Nanaimo Jan. 5-7, and the team’s next home game is Jan. 12 against Queen Margaret’s at 4 p.m.
Look for previews of the Ladysmith teams in an upcoming issue of the Chronicle.
