Eastern Pike 08-09

[Eaglesnest]

Notre Dame will bother alot of teams then next season. They are liable to be in the thick things...

[J-Bird]

I think Western will be the top team for next year with Eastern, Green, and East following close behind for second. Eastern returns everyone from the team last year, which included 3 juniors and 7 sophomores. This team has the guards to play fast tempo or the bigs to slow it down. Last year they looked to slow it down almost every possession. If this team can look to fast break a little more with a talented core of guards, they can get some easy layups they may not have gotten last year. The eagles never had a true starting five last year either, it was being tampered with even going into the sectionals. A team should have a true starting five by atleast game 7 or 8 and especially before the sectionals. The Eagles should be improved enough next year to contend for the SOC and possibley bring home the title.

[Eaglesnest]

I hope you are right J-Bird and the Eagles can be right there. Still, I disagree with a couple of your comments. For one, after watching several games, I don't feel the eagles are "quick" and loaded with guard talent. They struggled with ball handling, pressure, and guarding opposing quick teams. Helton struggles going left. McVey and Lawhorn both struggle against quickness and had trouble getting their shots off due to the pace of the game. Good news is that these flaws can be overcome with hard work. Bad news is, I hear that the "guards" haven't been anywhere to be found in open gym to work on improving.

Second, starting line-ups should change based upon match-ups and who is working hard in practice or performing well in games. It appeared to me that Eastern had about 8 guys who were all pretty equal in talent and ability. Therefore, it only makes sense to me that different players would start at different times.

Who do you think should start? Who was "head and shoulders" above that deserved to start no matter what?

Bottom line: Get in the gym Eagles and lets do something next year. It won't happen on accident and without hard work!

[crossover]

Starting lineup for Eastern:
Osborne
Helton
Deweese
Williams
Wheeler

Thats a nice and athleitc group there.
These five could press and run and gun and get some nice easy layups.
Eastern needs to play at least 4 guards at all times cause the post players there are just to slow and to weak to play 2 of them at a time. The main problem i seen last season was the lack of basketball knowledge AS A TEAM. Every team has to have 1 or 2 go to guys and the rest are just roll players and until some of those players there learn there spots then its never gonna work for them.

[Eaglesnest]

Interesting five Crossover.

Only one that I am not sold on is Williams. He seems to be loaded with talent, but his effort and decision making is very questionable at times....

You are also right about the center's lack of speed, although there are several other guard/forwards that lack quickness as well. Maybe if some of the JV players work hard and could contribute next season the eagles could press beyond just using "situational" lineups.

[crossover]

nest,

I said williams cause he his very athletic. If he could improve on his defense and get some rebounds he could contribute very much. He just needs to learn his roll but i guess that involves most of the team also they just need to learn there rolls.

[Eaglesnest]

nest,

I said williams cause he his very athletic. If he could improve on his defense and get some rebounds he could contribute very much. He just needs to learn his roll but i guess that involves most of the team also they just need to learn there rolls.

Agreed. I hope he does what is needed and not the things that he like to do. I hope this team gels and works hard. I know folks outside the area don't expect anything from this team due to their talent level. I'd love to see them work hard and beat out some of the more talented teams next season!

[claypantherfan]

I don't think that you should count out Clay this year that have some young talent that can put up some points and they've been working hard in the open gyms and few to the weights so don't count them out yet.

[J-Bird]

Eaglesnest, I was basing their speed and talent on the hardwork I hope the eagles put in this offseason. This ealge team played with alot of sophomores last year that are loaded with potential for the future. I agree with you that this team has to work hard in the offseason if they want to improve. Otherwise they will be returning everyone with no improvement. Hopefully, the players are working out themselves and if they plan on improving, playing every day. Shootouts do not start until school is out. Perhaps those will have better turnouts and team will learn to gel better.
What I meant with the starting situation is I just felt it was important that players know their role heading into a game and know what is expected of them. Now, if a player has comes off the bench and plays exceptionaly well and works his butt off in practice, then perhaps a change in the starting lineup should be made. My though of the starting lineup being set is, this way players aren't sweating and anticipating game from game which player will start for the next game. They understart their role, and if they want to crack the starting lineup they will work extra hard in practice and games to earn a starting role in that position.
This was only the first year under Coach Fitch when this group of kids spent most of their young playing time learning Caldwell's sytem. After one year the players should be more adjusted to what is expected of them. This was Coach Fitch's first time as a Varsity head coach as well. I'm sure he'll make adjustments in the offseason as well. People can't expect a first year varsity coach to be as seasoned as a someone who has coached for 20 or ever 10+ years. Hopefully the next season will have a better outcome for the eagles. It all starts in the offseason though. Hopefully this eagle team goes to as many shootouts and camps as possible in order to improve themselves for next season. Keep working hard in the offseason Eagles and only good things will happen next year.

[Eaglesnest]

Good points J-Bird.

We are on the same page. All players need to know their role and put the needs of the team first! Individualism will keep a team from reaching their potential.

And I agree that year 2 of the players in Fitch's system should pay dividends.

I would say that coach Fitch did as well as could be expected with the young team last year. I would say it was difficult losing when the Eagles are not used to it...even though we should have expected a few lean years. Still, I think that Fitch knows the game and will do a good job if they give him the time to build the program. I remember when he was at Minford. Heck of a player and did a fine job coaching at Minford and I hear the same from Mohawk land.

Patience will pay off. I say much improved and more competitive this season and should even be better year after next!

[crossover]

nest,
If any year is a year to be good its next season. The year after next the two best players on the team wont be there. So i take advantage of what they got now. Osborne will be an all-state player next season and Helton will be an all-district player. These two will be a huge loss to the team and there wont be anybody to fill there spots when their gone. When you have your whole team back and especially with one of the best players in the league on that team i wouldnt be worrying about the year after next.

[Eaglesnest]

Cross,

I hope you are right about next season, but the league should be much stronger next year than what it will be the year after(which is why I thought their record may actually be better year after next).

You are right, Losing Osborne and Helton will be a blow.

Osborne is the best player on the team, but I'm not sure he is All-state material (I don't mean that as a slam. He plays hard!). If he wants to be all-State, he definately must improve on his outside shot and ball handling. If he doesn't improve on those things, he will not be an All-Ohio selection.

As for Helton, good athlete but can't go left at all. A little mouse also told me that he hasn't been working on it either. If that is the case, he may be lucky to start (being a senior that didn't work to get better) and most certainly won't be All-District. However, I don't mean that as a slam. He has the ability. If he combined some hard work with that ability, He will give people fits next season.

If the Easgles are to do better in 2008/2009 than what they will do in 2009/2010, then those 2 players must step up and lead by example and put in the time to get better! Time will tell if they will do it! I for one hope they do!

[bleachercoach03]

First of all the eastern eagles went 4-17 losing in the sectional semis to the miller falcons without there new coach at the helm because he was suspended for inappropriate technicals at symmes valley. Also new coaches dont always struggle, but with the amount of talent to mold as underclassmen, having mostly sophomores i believe that coach fitch had a perfect situation to step into as a new coach to the high school level in general. The eagles have a ton of talent at the guard positon, and moldable post players with potential as well. The eagles should contend and have a winning season with the right instruction.

[Eaglesnest]

Bleacher,

I didn't attend the Symmes Valley game(who wants to drive that far?), but was told by many who were there that the ejection was the worst thing they had seen in basketball. I was told the coach never even spoke a word to the official and that he must have mistaken something he heard from the crowd? Who knows? Were you there? What was your take? Have you asked your new coach what happened?

I agree again that there is potential in these boys. All I have been saying is a player that I know says that the kids that need to be there and work the most are "no shows."

I respectfully disagree that there is a "ton of talent" in the guards. Explain your perspective on that one?

[felix22]

Eaglesnest,

I attended the Symmes Valley game when Fitch got the technicals.The first call was a real technical as Fitch did argue and disagree with the refs the whole game.The second technical was a complete mistake as I heard from people sitting behind the bench said that Fitch said "Can I have a timeout?" and our belief is that the ref misunderstood.

[seetherfan]

a agree that eastern should look to push the ball alot more this year and try to get easy baskets and my starting 5 to do that would be

bryan osborn: about 6 foot.. pretty fast can handle the ball.. good passer shooter and rebounder can drive in well

nate deweese:about 6 foot 3.. pretty fast.. handles the ball well.. good passer and needs to work on 3's but can shoot really well from 20 feet and in and can drive in and rebound

jacob helton or derek lawhorn: both can handle the ball.. jacob needs to work on his left hand but can help out with shooting and horn needs to work on decision making last year had some trouble with turn overs but can help with shooting

dakota vanhoose: about 6 foot 2.. fast and strong he can push people around inside and he could really help the eagles push the ball he would help with rebounding

cole wheeler: about 6 foot 3.. he is a little lazy and likes to cry when thing isnt going his way but if he gets out of that he could be quick enough to be in the starting 5

i would put nate at the point he pushed the ball acouple games last year going coast to coast for easy buckets and dribbles with his head up.. i would put jacob or lawhorn at the 2 guard just because jacob cant go left right now but he could still dribble alot from there and get open more for 3's
bryan at the 3 spot it doesnt matter where u play him he is going to get his points and make things happen
dakota at the 4 and cole at the 5 spot

[crossover]

seetherfan,

I like your thinkin. The Eagles definitely need to push the ball more next season. Someone told me that coach Fitch didnt let them run because they would make turnovers and wouldnt get back on defense. Well the way i see it they done that anyways even when slowing it down so why not just go ahead and push it and get some more points. They were a bad shooting team and you would think that a bad shooting team would want to get up more shots, thas only common since to me. Most people think that the guard play for Eastern is bad but it really isnt its just alot of those players were young and tried to do to much. This year when those player learn there roll they will settle down and do more to contribute.

[seetherfan]

i agree

[Eagle eye]

I agree with the majority that say the Eagles have a lot of talent. There were only 3 juniors and how often do you hear of a sophomore dominating a game? When you compare the juniors and sophomores from the Eagles to the seniors of the other teams, it's obvious the Eagles won't be as good. However, when you say the Eagles lack talent, that's just not true at all. Also, people are acting as if these guys only play during the season. I've never known a player to endure the disciplinary actions of winter practices weeks on end and not have the desire to play the game during the offseason. Why would someone waste such a large portion of the year playing this extremely competitive and time-consuming sport if they didn't love it? Open gyms are great, but it's definitely just as important to work alone on fundamentals. With that being said, I have my starting five and why...
PG) Helton - Partially becuase he is too short to play anywhere else and partially because he is so strong with the ball. He may not be great with his left hand, but that loss outweighs the benefits of starting someone else in his place. Also, he is very quick and a good shooter.
SG) Lawhorn - Definitely the best pure shooter on the team. It seemed he was intimidated at the beginning of the season last year and had trouble with turnovers, but he is among the top definsive players and plays with the most intensity.
SF) Osborne - His amazing athletic ability allows him to get to the basket, block shots, rebound, and play great defense. He's not a solid outside shooter and also has some trouble with turnovers, but he's a great scorer and the most consistent player on the team.
PF) Wheeler - Great post moves. He's very collective and doesn't force anything. His only weaknesses, as far as post players, are that's he's not strong enough for that position yet, and he's only 6'2". He has the moves, the speed, and the jumping ability to be a great player.
C) Montgomery - His height and strength are crucial to this team. With the next tallest player on the team measuring in at about 6'2", you can't expect to win a game without utilizing height somewhere in the picture. He can be a vital presence in the paint and given a little dedication, Kevin will be a rebounding machine.

[felix22]

Eagle eye,

I agree with your starting five.Here are my reasons.

Helton-Remember the game against Western that they played @ Eastern that went into 2OT. In that game Helton had around 8 three pointers to bring them back from a good sized deficit.

Lawhorn-Towards the middle to end of season he didn't get as much of an oppurtunity to play as the coach never played him as much as what he needed to.

On the others same here.

Keep your eye on Williams and Edler on the bench.Edler can shoot.