Berkley

Berkley High boys basketball has lots of new faces

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Donna Agusti Berkley High’s Evan Dickson looks for an open teammate as Duane Harris guards him in a recent practice. Photo by Donna Agusti Berkley High’s Evan Dickson looks for an open teammate as Duane Harris guards him in a recent practice. Photo by Donna Agusti Berkley’s Damon Eldridge looks to get by teammate Leondra Steen during practice. Eldridge is the Bears’ lone returning starter. Photo by Donna Agusti Berkley’s Damon Eldridge looks to get by teammate Leondra Steen during practice. Eldridge is the Bears’ lone returning starter.

BERKLEY — Though Berkley High boys basketball graduated the vast majority of its team and returns just one returning starter, the Bears’ expectations aren’t wavering.

“That’s always our goal, to win the division championship and district. I don’t preach anything less,” coach David McGlown said. “I don’t want them to think it’s OK to finish third. No, we want to finish first, no matter what is going on.”

Though McGlown does concede that winning may take shape after a few games.

“We have a lot of work to do. We had nine seniors last year, so we have a lot of new guys that need to get acclimated with playing varsity basketball and the speed that it goes,” McGlown said. “It’s totally different than JV and freshman basketball. You have to think so much faster and react so much faster. … That’s why we have to go hard every time, all the time — just like we’re in a game.”

Berkley finished 13-9 overall last season, and senior point guard Damon Eldridge is the lone returning starter. Eldridge averaged six points and five assists a game, but expects his role to increase this season.

“I need to step up and score more also, and get them all more involved,” Eldridge said. “I have to be a leader and a captain out there.”

McGlown agreed.

“He’s the coach on the floor, and he knows that. I was a point guard myself, and I just want him to do the things that I did and learn the things that I did on the court,” the coach said. “It’s a demanding position.”

Eldridge said the key this season is on defense.

“Our defense needs to get better. We’re not as big this year, so we really have to learn to get physical and play tough,” he said.

McGlown is confident it can happen.

“That’s why we come to practice every day,” he said. “We don’t come to practice so we’ll be better next year. We want to win now.”

Catch the Bears against Plymouth Canton at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Canton.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062.