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Jacks look to break out in 08-09
Quincy basketball loaded with eight seniors and plenty of experience
Kurtis J. Wood/Post-Register
Power forward Eric Martin soars for a dunk in practice. Martin averaged 14.4 points per game last season and looks for a better 2008-09 basketball season with his Jackrabbit teammates.
By Kurtis J. Wood
Post-Register Sports
The Jacks have all the key ingredients for success on the basketball court.
Some would say it starts with point guard Jay Cedergreen, while others may say it will start with returning Central Washington Athletic Conference All-league forward Eric Martin. Both are main cogs for the Jacks this season, but by no means are they the only pieces to the Quincy machine this winter. To get back to contender status, the 12-man varsity roster will have to dive head first into coach Wade Petersen’s world of math - C to the third power.
“The kids call it C cubed,” Petersen said. “There are three things we need to fix: chemistry, composure and class. These are things we told the kids they need to buy into to have success.”
Jesse Gonzales, Cory Keller and Adam Richardson were major players last season, while Daniel Guzman, Skyler Perez and Luke Grigg were role players looking for more impact in the CWAC chase this season. They also added Ian Dearie and Javier Gordillo to the full-time roster and they will swing Jordan Booth and Luis Sorto, both of which, saw limited varsity time last season.
This team may have similarities to the ‘05 team which made a run at the state title. They had current Gonzaga Bulldog Chris Pontarolo-Maag at point and Matt Medina at the wing for a strong one-two punch and a host of seniors to fill out the rest of the roster.
This season it looks to be Cedergreen and Martin filling the one-two punch and a total of eight seniors on the roster.
“The likeness is that they're all upperclassmen now,” Petersen said. “So we will have a lot of seniors with major experience. Jesse and Eric have played all four years and Jay is in his third year.
“We have experience...we have eight seniors and these are guys who have played all four years.”
But the similarities end there, as this season the Jacks will not have just one go-to scorer. The key is spreading the wealth among themselves.
“We’re not relying on one guy,” Petersen said. “We have some variety, which makes us more dangerous.”
The Jacks also have the ability to change the speed of the game to mastch there opponent.
“They're going to be nights where we want to go fast and night’s where we slow down, depending on the opponent,” Petersen said.
Another goal, which has been a program goal for the past eight years of Petersen’s tenure, has been holding teams to less than 60 points.
“If we keep teams under 60, we will have a good chance to win,” he said. “We will be in every ball game if we hold teams to under 60 points.
“I really think we will be a good team.”
The point
Cedergreen (6-0, point guard) was not a huge threat scoring last season at just 4.3 points per game or a threat in the paint at 1.3 rebounds per game, but he led the team in assists (46) and charges taken (16). He also is heading into his third year as a starter and he is only a junior.
“He’s got a lot of experience,” Petersen said. “He’s got a full two years under his belt in our system for leadership and breaking the press.”
Cedergreen’s work in the off-season has already paid dividends before they first game tip-off. He has a 34-inch vertical jump.
“I think he is our leading vertical jump, so he’s really improved on his leaping ability,” Petersen said. “He’s just a hard worker. He put in a lot of time.”
His backup is Javier Gordillo (5-8, point guard).
The wing and guards
Martin (6-3, power forward) was honored for his efforts last season, by virtue of his All-League second-team selection. The four-year varsity player put up 14.4 ppg and 6.6 rebounds, while padding his stats with 40 assists, 34 blocked shots and 26 steals. He is the Jack-of-all-trades on the court for the Jacks.
“He’s moved to more of an interior player for us,” Petersen said. “We kind of did that last year.”
Martin will also find time in the perimeter.
“He can move outside and make a move on his guy,” Petersen said. “He is the complete package.
“He just got stronger and bigger.”
Keller (6-1, shooting guard) and Richardson (6-3, small forward) are two players who return for a second season at the varsity level. Both have the ability to light up the scoreboard.
“Both are three-point threats on any given night,” Petersen said. “They can get hot.”
Guzman (5-8, shooting guard) and Perez (5-10, small forward) will come off the bench, as they did last season.
Perez and Guzman are spark plugs off the bench,” Petersen said. “Skyler gives defensive energy and Guzman makes things happen, because he is so quick.”
Grigg (6-1, small forward) returns for a second season, after finding court time in the second half of the season.
Petersen said Booth (5-9, shooting guard) and Sorto (5-8, shooting guard) are solid additions to the lineup, because both know the system.
Down low
Gonzales (6-3, center), another four-year varsity player, might be the ace in the hole. The senior averaged 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds last season. This season, those numbers should inflate to reflect his off court work.
“Jesse is bigger,” Petersen said. “He’s improved his upper body strength and improved his game on the court and is a threat to score double digits.”
Dearie (6-1, center) will be the back up in the post.
High flying
Martin, Cedergreen, Richardson, Gonzales and Dearie all have the ability to dunk. This adds another dimension to the squad and more for the fans to watch.
“We have (some) guys who can dunk. I told the kids if you are going to dunk, you’re going to have to practice,” Petersen said. “We have some hugh flyers and that’s contributed to being in the weight room.”
