White-washed Barrie boys basketball reloads

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007

White-washed Barrie boys basketball reloads

by James Peters | Staff Writer

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With just one senior on the roster plus the loss of Mr. Everything Eric White to graduation, the Barrie boys basketball team will go through a period of adjustment this season.

‘‘We’re very young,” said Mustangs coach Jack Mitchell, who lost an average of 18 points, six steals and six assists a game with White, also the team’s point guard. ‘‘We’re again in a position where we’re playing a lot of juniors and freshmen. We’re in a rebuilding stage. We’re trying to do a lot of teaching, allowing these young players to get familiar with our system.

‘‘They need to learn the importance of developing good practice habits and learning how to play at the varsity level. It’s something you can’t rush. We have to get these kids up and competing.”

All that said, Mitchell’s lineup still boasts some experienced players in senior point guard Adrian Masone (6-0), junior combination guard Bobby Yancey (5-10), junior forward Sam Howard (6-1) and junior center Nick Whited (6-2).

Masone, the team’s leader, Yancey, an athletic guard who averaged about 11 points a game last year, and Howard, a strong inside-outside scorer and rebounder, all saw significant time during last year’s run to the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference tournament semifinals that included a near miss at a North Division title, losing that crown to Jewish Day on the last day of the regular season.

Also in the mix will be two talented freshmen in forward Miles Jackson (6-3) and guard Chris McDowell (6-1).

The Mustangs have captured three of their first five games of the season, including a win over North Division rival Jewish Day. Its lone league loss during that time was to Hebrew Academy, while it fell to Cesar Chavez in the final of Barrie’s own tournament.

‘‘We have a tendency to start slow and then you see their confidence gained as the game continues, particularly in the Hebrew Academy and Jewish Day games,” Mitchell said. ‘‘They’re tough, tenacious teams. Both games we were down by double digits. We’re seeing progress but we have to learn how to play the first quarter.”

Fast facts

Location: Silver Spring

Nickname: Mustangs

Head coach: Jack Mitchell, 5th year (55-59 record)

League affiliation: Potomac Valley Athletic Conference

Last year’s record: 19-12

Last league title: 2001-02

Players to watch: G Adrian Masone, G Bobby Yancey, F Sam Howard