THE 2010-11 BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

When last we talked about Gaffney basketball, the Indians had just wrapped up a 26 and 2 season and a 4A State Basketball Championship. The Tribe defeated Lexington 71 to 57, back on March 5th 2010. It was the Gaffney Indians 4th 4A State Basketball Championship in 8 years. So how does the 2010-2011 edition of the Indians look? Lets find out.

GAFFNEY BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Gaffney Indians will start the 2010-11 basketball season in the same position that they ended last season, Ranked Number 1 in the State in 4A. Lets first look at who the Tribe lost off of last years championship team. They lost South Carolina Player of the Year Josh Corry, starting post player Chase Smith, their tallest player, in 6'4" back-up post player, Bo Wray and shifty starting wing player Dominique Byers. These players will be hard to replace.

Lets look at who the Tribe returns from last season. They return their floor leader in point guard Dershawn Dawkins, who excelled last season especially during the championship run, last season's 6'3" Soph sensation Quinshad Davis, last season's 6'4" 8th grader L.J. Peak, who starred during the championship run, 6'0" wing player William Smith, 6'1" wing player Zevonta Shands, 6'3" post player Chase Wright and 6'2" swing player Michael Wright. Dershawn Dawkins is the player that will make the Indians offense go, as he has been named as an "Elite 5" player in the state of South Carolina this season. So the Tribe returns 7 players from last season's State Championship team.

Lets look at this season's newcomers. You have Ron Best, Tee Hardy, 9th grader Shaquille Davidson, O'Bryant Davidson and Coby McDowell. These young players will step into reserve rolls. Depth is a key to Gaffney's success at running their full court defensive game. So some of these newcomers could play key stretches during the season.

Projected Starting Line-up..... 6'4" Quinshad Davis and 6'3" L.J. Peak at the Post positions. The Wing positions should be 6'1" Zevonta Shands and 6' William Smith. The Point Guard will be 5'11" Dershawn Dawkins.

Keys to the Season..... (1) Find a consistent three point shooter and scorer to pick up the scoring slack from the loss of Josh Corry. (2) Last season's roll players Shands, Smith, Michael Wright and Chase Wright adapting to bigger and more productive rolls this season. (3) The continued development of big young guys Quinshad Davis and L.J. Peak. (4) Some of the newcomers to play key productive minutes. (5) Defense to step it up a couple of notches, especially early in the season till offense comes around.

Season Outlook..... I look for the Gaffney Indians to be very good and to improve as the season goes along. I would be shocked if they are not playing in Columbia, the first Friday in March, for another shot at a State Championship.

The Region 3 4A Outlook..... This looks to be a very strong region. Lancaster is very good and ranked in the Top 10. Northwestern is very good and Spartanburg moves into Region 3 and they will have a new Head Coach and should be good. Rock Hill should be pretty good and Clover is an improved team.

It should be another exciting High School basketball season for the Gaffney Indians. See you at The Burial Ground.

Until Next Time.