Team Preview: McClain Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Coming off a nine-win season, the 2011-12 McClain Tigers will send youth to the court this year, but theirs is a youthful team that wants to learn, according to third-year head coach Brent Eaton.
Eaton said this team is full of high character.
"They want to learn … they really do, and they like each other," Eaton said in describing his team’s strengths as the season nears. "They are willing to help their fellow player to get to practice, do well in school. In drills, they are supportive of each other, and liking each other on and off the court is a high plus."
With any team, there are concerns headed into the season as the Tigers enter the year with just two seniors while losing 30-plus points per game from last season's eight seniors who graduated. Two years ago, the Tigers had nine seniors.
McClain will enter the season with 12 players on the varsity roster, with two seniors in Roger Carroll and Trey Lytle.
"Youth is a concern for us," Eaton said. "We've lost 17 kids in two years … last year we kind of had the same thing, but where last year we were young in terms of experience, we still had older kids. This year, it is just the opposite … we are young in experience, and we are young.
"We have three sophomores and a freshman who are practicing with us full-time and have a chance to play. We have two seniors who played on the JV team last year, and we have a bunch of juniors who played on the JV last year. Outside of Thomas Schrader and Jeremiah Savage ... Evan Mustard played some, but outside of those two, we really don't have anyone with varsity experience coming back."
The youth and inexperience has been talked about between Eaton and his Tiger squad during the preseason.
"Nobody knows what expect from us because we are so young," the head coach said. "Many in the community have never seen most of these guys play.
"This year is more teaching, a lot more teaching. In years with experience, the drills go faster because they understood the concepts. A five-minute drill with an older team takes three minutes, and one with a younger team takes six minutes. There is just a lot more teaching, not as much yelling or motivating. It’s about let's get better at understanding, and once we understand, then we can worry about read-and-react."
With the youth all around the team, Eaton talked about his seniors and how pleased he's been with their leadership.
"Roger's been a real leader in the weight room in the offseason and a real leader in practice. Roger is our upbeat guy, and the kids have responded to him," Eaton said. "Trey is coming off a soccer season where they won almost every game, and obviously Trey has good leadership skills as well. There are two (seniors), but that is enough. You don't need eight or 10; it’s nice to have that experience, but when the two you have are good leaders, that is good for us."
Though there are some questions entering the season with the inexperience of the Tigers, Eaton said there are some things he doesn't question.
"I don't question our effort. I don't question our heart, and I don't question our team chemistry," he said. "In the past, we may have not questioned the effort, but we have had to question a few of those things. We lost everything from two years ago and from last year, but at the same time, nobody cares and neither do I.
"Our kids have to find a way to win, and they will, I believe that. There are no excuses, and we expect to win, and maybe we'll have rocky roads here and there, but like we've already talked about, our goal in practice is simple … win the next one. Win the next drill, the next possession, the next shot and that is where we are going to focus."
As the team is young, their work ethic will become one of, if not the most important part of their team success this season.
"The work ethic is tremendous," Eaton said. "I wouldn't trade our kids for anyone. They are diving on the floor, boxing out all the way out of bounds. We only have one rule, and that is when the ball is near glass, stop. You get the ball, period. Our kids will go to the bleachers to get the ball. I don't question our kids’ effort, not one iota."
The Tigers will have to replace one of the most important positions on the court in point guard this year. MHS has six players who have the opportunity to play guard in Shannon, Mustard, Schrader, Lytle, Carroll and John Turner.
"Finding a true point guard, we had that struggle last year. As the year went on, we found the one we needed, and this year will be the same way. We'll find the one through effort and play in practice. There is no question about it … right now it is about making good decisions and getting the offense started.
"Again, these are kids who want to learn and win. The six players who can play guard have a chance to fit in there."
At the post, Savage and freshman Ryan Faulconer will split time.
"Those two are our mainstays at the post, but we need a third. We need a backup post player and we need a point guard. That is what we are looking for, and it will be a process," Eaton said.
As the Tigers look to fill spots their style of play won't be an up-tempo look, but more of a ball-control offense, an offense where they will take the shot they want, not one in a rush or one that is being forced. It will be methodical, if need be.
"We are going have to defend well, rebound well and make sure we get good shots each time down the floor," Eaton said. "Does that mean we aren't going to run and finish in transition, no, but at the same time this is the kind of group where we have to take good shots.
"I don't care where that comes from. We have to make sure we take good shots. In practice we have a layup, a paint shot and a wide-open jump shot. Those are the three shots we look for and making sure the right people take them. If that means we make 37 passes to get those three shots or the right guy taking it, that's what we'll do, but if it takes one, that's what we'll do."
The defense has a lot of teaching this season as well for the Tigers.
"Our defensive system is complicated. There are a lot of nuances of our defense. It’s got to be a reaction defense, you can’t think. You have to know what you are doing and do it," Eaton said. "It's just a matter of drill, drill, drill and practice, practice, practice.
"We have a tradition for defense that is long before me, and they know it. We defend, and that's what we do first."
This key to the season is simple for the Tigers.
"I see if they want to learn and do they like each other. There has to be good team chemistry. As long as we have those things we can get better and get more consistent.
"I'm excited, and I feel like we have something to prove. We reload and restart. We have to find a way to win … bottom line. No excuses and go get it done.”[[In-content Ad]]
Eaton said this team is full of high character.
"They want to learn … they really do, and they like each other," Eaton said in describing his team’s strengths as the season nears. "They are willing to help their fellow player to get to practice, do well in school. In drills, they are supportive of each other, and liking each other on and off the court is a high plus."
With any team, there are concerns headed into the season as the Tigers enter the year with just two seniors while losing 30-plus points per game from last season's eight seniors who graduated. Two years ago, the Tigers had nine seniors.
McClain will enter the season with 12 players on the varsity roster, with two seniors in Roger Carroll and Trey Lytle.
"Youth is a concern for us," Eaton said. "We've lost 17 kids in two years … last year we kind of had the same thing, but where last year we were young in terms of experience, we still had older kids. This year, it is just the opposite … we are young in experience, and we are young.
"We have three sophomores and a freshman who are practicing with us full-time and have a chance to play. We have two seniors who played on the JV team last year, and we have a bunch of juniors who played on the JV last year. Outside of Thomas Schrader and Jeremiah Savage ... Evan Mustard played some, but outside of those two, we really don't have anyone with varsity experience coming back."
The youth and inexperience has been talked about between Eaton and his Tiger squad during the preseason.
"Nobody knows what expect from us because we are so young," the head coach said. "Many in the community have never seen most of these guys play.
"This year is more teaching, a lot more teaching. In years with experience, the drills go faster because they understood the concepts. A five-minute drill with an older team takes three minutes, and one with a younger team takes six minutes. There is just a lot more teaching, not as much yelling or motivating. It’s about let's get better at understanding, and once we understand, then we can worry about read-and-react."
With the youth all around the team, Eaton talked about his seniors and how pleased he's been with their leadership.
"Roger's been a real leader in the weight room in the offseason and a real leader in practice. Roger is our upbeat guy, and the kids have responded to him," Eaton said. "Trey is coming off a soccer season where they won almost every game, and obviously Trey has good leadership skills as well. There are two (seniors), but that is enough. You don't need eight or 10; it’s nice to have that experience, but when the two you have are good leaders, that is good for us."
Though there are some questions entering the season with the inexperience of the Tigers, Eaton said there are some things he doesn't question.
"I don't question our effort. I don't question our heart, and I don't question our team chemistry," he said. "In the past, we may have not questioned the effort, but we have had to question a few of those things. We lost everything from two years ago and from last year, but at the same time, nobody cares and neither do I.
"Our kids have to find a way to win, and they will, I believe that. There are no excuses, and we expect to win, and maybe we'll have rocky roads here and there, but like we've already talked about, our goal in practice is simple … win the next one. Win the next drill, the next possession, the next shot and that is where we are going to focus."
As the team is young, their work ethic will become one of, if not the most important part of their team success this season.
"The work ethic is tremendous," Eaton said. "I wouldn't trade our kids for anyone. They are diving on the floor, boxing out all the way out of bounds. We only have one rule, and that is when the ball is near glass, stop. You get the ball, period. Our kids will go to the bleachers to get the ball. I don't question our kids’ effort, not one iota."
The Tigers will have to replace one of the most important positions on the court in point guard this year. MHS has six players who have the opportunity to play guard in Shannon, Mustard, Schrader, Lytle, Carroll and John Turner.
"Finding a true point guard, we had that struggle last year. As the year went on, we found the one we needed, and this year will be the same way. We'll find the one through effort and play in practice. There is no question about it … right now it is about making good decisions and getting the offense started.
"Again, these are kids who want to learn and win. The six players who can play guard have a chance to fit in there."
At the post, Savage and freshman Ryan Faulconer will split time.
"Those two are our mainstays at the post, but we need a third. We need a backup post player and we need a point guard. That is what we are looking for, and it will be a process," Eaton said.
As the Tigers look to fill spots their style of play won't be an up-tempo look, but more of a ball-control offense, an offense where they will take the shot they want, not one in a rush or one that is being forced. It will be methodical, if need be.
"We are going have to defend well, rebound well and make sure we get good shots each time down the floor," Eaton said. "Does that mean we aren't going to run and finish in transition, no, but at the same time this is the kind of group where we have to take good shots.
"I don't care where that comes from. We have to make sure we take good shots. In practice we have a layup, a paint shot and a wide-open jump shot. Those are the three shots we look for and making sure the right people take them. If that means we make 37 passes to get those three shots or the right guy taking it, that's what we'll do, but if it takes one, that's what we'll do."
The defense has a lot of teaching this season as well for the Tigers.
"Our defensive system is complicated. There are a lot of nuances of our defense. It’s got to be a reaction defense, you can’t think. You have to know what you are doing and do it," Eaton said. "It's just a matter of drill, drill, drill and practice, practice, practice.
"We have a tradition for defense that is long before me, and they know it. We defend, and that's what we do first."
This key to the season is simple for the Tigers.
"I see if they want to learn and do they like each other. There has to be good team chemistry. As long as we have those things we can get better and get more consistent.
"I'm excited, and I feel like we have something to prove. We reload and restart. We have to find a way to win … bottom line. No excuses and go get it done.”[[In-content Ad]]