Union Basketball Preview
MODOC –Union’s boys’ basketball team will face several obstacles this year, and depth and experience will definitely be two of them.
Lost to graduation this year are Champ Ellis (29.9 ppg; 11 rpg) and George Barnes. Barnes was a team leader in practice and in games. His presence will be missed.
Ellis scored nearly 30 of the 41 points averaged per game for Union last season. The team offense centered around him, and he always delivered. The Rockets will have to rebuild and learn how to score without the state standout.
Union boys’ basketball coach Dan Carmony knows that this season will be one of building and learning. “It’s a challenge. We’re a work in progress,” commented Carmony. “From where we are now to where we will be at the end, we hope we can see that we’re much better.”
The Rockets have three players returning to play this season, Braydon Adams, a 6’0” senior, and juniors Gage Rice and Austin Abbott.
Adams will be counted on to score, rebound, and handle the ball. He was the second leading scorer on last year’s team averaging just over six points per game. He scored 15 in the MEC Jamboree in just two quarters of play showing he is an offensive threat.
Rice plays hard and will be relied on more this season to handle the ball and get open for some shots. He plays hard, and his experience will help the newcomers.
Abbott is great at setting screens and helping scorers get open. The Rockets will also look to Abbott to rebound.
Four newcomers fill out the Rockets’ roster. Ryan Lindsay, Kaylob Burris, and Danny Burris haven’t played organized basketball for several years, and Gabe Brooks is playing for the first time.
Lindsay, a 6’5” junior, will give the Rockets an inside presence. Carmony is counting on him to help on both ends of the floor.
Kaylob Burris, a 6’0” sophomore, will fill in helping the team offensively as well as defensively.
Danny Burris, a 6’0” junior, has good hands and has a knack for being around the basketball.
Brooks has had to learn a lot in a short time, but he’s picked up on organized play quickly and will help wherever needed.
With only seven players on the roster, depth is going to be an obstacle. Carmony hopes to be able to utilize time outs to help rest his team during games and plans to give time off once the season starts.
The Jamboree allowed Coach Carmony to see his players in a scrimmage situation, a luxury he lacks day to day with only seven players. He was able to see areas that they need to work on, commenting that they needed to do a better job rebounding and getting more shots off.
Union opened its season Tuesday at Randolph Southern. They host Fayette County Home School at 2:00 on Saturday.
