By Chris Parker
Marion C. Early boys basketball has a new head coach in Bryson Crowell this season. It is his first basketball coaching experience after serving as head tennis coach at SBU.
“I was drawn to this program because of the people and the community,” Crowell said. “I have always dreamed of being a basketball coach. I spent some time with this school, as I did my student teaching here. The people and players are really what drew my interest.”
The Panthers return nine players who saw varsity action for a team that finished 9-18 last season.
Senior Blake Salyer along with juniors Keegan Back, Kohyn Raney, Lucas Cutler and Gavin McKinney all saw action in at least 21 varsity games last season.
Salyer averaged 3.7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
“He will bring speed and getting downhill as well as a big rebounding presence for us,” Crowell said.
Back scored 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
“He will bring a lot of experience, poise, and scoring for us at the point guard position,” Crowell said.
Raney contributed 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
“He will bring size, length and scoring for us at guard,” Crowell said.
Cutler averaged 1.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.
“He will bring the energy and intensity for us,” Crowell said.
McKinney played in 21 varsity games as a sophomore and is the leading returning scorer averaging 8.2 points per game.
“He will bring a lot of shooting and floor spacing for us,” Crowell said.
Juniors Cash Graves and Darren Bruegman along with sophomores Connor Colf and Luke Francks all saw action in five to eight varsity games last week.
“Our biggest strength will be the experience that we are bringing back,” Crowell said. “We have a lot of young men that played a lot of varsity last year. They now have that year under their belt and are ready to build on it.”
Byron Bolton (freshman guard), Aiden Foster (freshman guard), Warren Jones (senior forward) and Eli Baker (senior forward) are newcomers to watch.
Crowell is looking to build up the team’s confidence this season.
“I think we need to improve with our confidence,” Crowell said. “They were young last year and with an up and down season I think their confidence took a hit. I think if we can get them to believe in themselves again this year that would be a great thing.”
Marion C. Early opens the season Dec. 1-6 at the Morrisville Tournament.
“I would consider it a successful season if our players learn, grow and get better all the time,” Crowell said. “There is nothing better than seeing players accomplish something that they never thought they could. So, getting better every day will eventually lead to that.”
