Finding identity is an early issue

BOYS BASKETBALL

By Mike Molaro, Sports Writer
   Take care of the basketball, build confidence, and deal with game stress.
   These are three of the keys Pat Tarrant is looking for from his Lawrence High School boy’s basketball squad this season.
   The Cardinals—who lost Joe Mitchell, Bayshawn Welles, Army Dickerson, Pat Beighley, Rob Wilborn, and Mike Schaeffer to graduation—are also focused on rebounding from last year’s 6-15 campaign in which they really never reached their comfort zone.
   ”Last year we didn’t find our identity until late January,” Tarrant said as he begins his 18th season at Lawrence when the Cardinals host Colonial Valley Conference foe Princeton tomorrow evening and hopes this team finds its identity earlier this season.
   ”The guys we lost were great guys to coach. We started slowly last season but in the second half we were one of the toughest defenses in the area. We want to carry out that tough defense into this season.”
   Lawrence had trouble scoring points a year ago, due mostly to the inability to keep control of the basketball. In scrimmages against Delaware Valley (Dec. 1) and North Hunterdon (Dec. 4), the Cardinals seem to have remedied that malady.
   ”Last year, we had a lot of challenges with turnovers,” added Tarrant, who is second to Hightstown’s Don Hess (28 seasons) among Mercer County head coaches in longevity. “One of our keys to success this season is keeping the turnovers down. We have been looking good in scrimmages. In our first scrimmage against DelVal, we did some good things and made some mistakes. We had a big improvement against North Hunterdon.”
   Leading the returners for the Cardinals this season are their two leading scorers, junior Corey Thomas and sophomore Nick Brackett. The point guard spot will be shared by juniors 5-11 Terrance Bailey and 5-10 Brian Burnett.
   Senior forwards 6-1 Adam Hanson, 6-1 Adrian Harden, and 6-3 Kuesheon Johnson will see key minutes and 6-4 senior forward Tomai Young provides depth up front. Bobby Langley, a 6-3 senior forward, 6-2 swingman Phil Annand, and 5-10 senior guard Kamiel Kowal give Lawrence solid depth off the bench. Senior guard Noel Powell is nursing an ankle injury but should be ready for tomorrow evening’s season opener against the Little Tigers.
   Juniors Brian Kelly, JT McGahrin, Chris Boutte and Dave Shillabel should also make nice contributions. Brandon Gouton, a 6-6 junior, will start the season with the junior varsity but may see varsity action.
   ”These guys, especially the juniors, who been waiting their turn,” Tarrant said. “They want to step in and do well. We have new faces. It will take time to build team chemistry, get as a team, and find out who we are. We want to build our confidence with each game experience. We also have to learn to deal with game stress. That’s a lot different from scrimmages.”
   After Princeton, the Cardinals face Monroe in a non-league game Saturday before getting back to CVC action against Nottingham and Notre Dame then take on Pennington in the John Molinelli Memorial Tournament at Hopewell Valley.
   ”I wish we didn’t start the season this way,” added Tarrant. “We have a lot of tough games right out of the chute and we will find out early where we are.”
   Building on last season’s late season defensive success, Lawrence will play mostly man-to-man with some zone peppered in. Offensively, the Cardinals will look to get the ball and go.
   ”We have team speed and we will run when we get the chance,” Tarrant said. “Brackett and Langley can go. We want to make sure we play smart basketball on offense and don’t throw the ball away. We want to keep the turnovers down.”
   The Cardinals may not challenge for CVC supremacy this season, but they will make sure opponents know they were in a battle.
   ”The league this year is pretty wide open,” added Tarrant. “Some teams are strong and some teams are like us and lost a lot of guys.”Every season is a journey with a new group of guys. Our main goal is to improve every day. If we do that, I think we’ll surprise some people. We will come to play every game. That is something our fans can count on.”
   NOTES: The Cardinals had their final scrimmage Tuesday against Montgomery.