Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Small squad, big hopes for Cutthroat boys

Basketball season is here for Fish


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Spencer Harris, an aggressive junior, will figure prominently in coach Mike Wade?s plans for the Cutthroat boys this winter.

Youth was abundant for The Community School boys' varsity basketball team last winter and the Cutthroats took their lumps, winning four of their 18 games and going two-and-out in the league tourney.

That one year of hard knocks could pay dividends for the Cutthroats in their 15-game 2006-07 season that opens today, Wednesday at Hansen and returns to the Fish Tank in Sun Valley Thursday, Nov. 30 against a good Lighthouse Christian Academy team.

Although the varsity is small in numbers with nine players, the Cutthroats have a chance to play spoilers in the tough seven-team Northside Conference of small schools.

Head coach Mike Wade said, "I think we'll win more games than last year."

Starting his 24th season at the Cutthroat helm, Wade (87-160 in 13 varsity years) is lucky to have welcomed back his top three scorers from last season—seniors Christian Cairncross and juniors Mac Whittington and Spencer Harris.

Together, they accounted for two-thirds of the Cutthroat 45.9 ppg offense led by second-leading rebounder Cairncross (12.7 ppg including 51 of the team's 73 3-pointers), top board man Whittington (10.5 ppg) and Spencer Harris (8.5 ppg).

Wade said, "We have three really solid guys coming back, which is one of the reasons I'm encouraged about the season. I think we'll be more competitive in the second tier of Northside schools behind the teams to beat—Carey and Richfield.

"Shooting has always been suspect for our Cutthroat teams. But I think our shooting will be better this year."

Team captain Cairncross is a 5-11 wing who was the squad's Most Valuable Player last winter. Although he can crash the boards, he's more of a #2 shooting guard. Wade wants him catching the pass instead of making it once the offense crosses the mid-court line.

At 6-5 with a year of experience, second-team All-Conference player Whittington might be the biggest player in the Northside, Wade said.

"Mac is working hard," Wade said. "When you have a big guy who can run the court like Mac does, you have an offense. But all our players have come in highly motivated. They're working hard."

Spencer Harris, a 6-0 wing, is an aggressive, versatile player who made things happen coming off the bench for last year's squad. Wade said, "Spencer can attack the basket, rebound and play good defense."

The big Cutthroat question mark is who is going to deliver the ball to the big three up front? Last year's junior guards Alden Remington and Brendan Nelson didn't return. So 5-11 junior Ian Ingram and sophomore Eddy Albarran are making the big leap from the JV.

Wade said, "Ian and Eddy know we have high expectations so it will be trial by fire for them."

The only Cutthroat senior besides Cairncross is 5-7 wing Si Park, who hasn't played organized basketball. Park is very quick and can handle the ball and shoot. Wade said he's more of a defensive specialist, like Brendan Nelson was.

Joining Whittington in the post is 6-2 junior Max Harris, who saw limited action last year. Newcomers to the varsity are sophomores Casper Brun and Lucas Vorsteveld. There is no junior varsity team this year because of lack of players.

First-year assistant coach is Rob Gardner, who has been providing strong support to the post players, Wade said.




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