11-19-2011, 03:57 PM
BURGIN â Every winter for 32 years, Don Irvine has been on the bench for a basketball game.
But this is the last one for the Burgin boys coach in his second go-around with the Bulldogs.
âMy last son (Sam) is graduating, and weâve got a good senior class. And with (assistant) Tim (Abbott) passing away earlier, that took a lot of wind out of my sails. So itâs time. Iâve never put it out there that Iâll never be back helping or doing something at some time. But right now, itâs time to retire.â
But Irvine still has one winter to go, and he likes the team heâll put out in the floor.
âWeâve got most of the guns back. I think weâre very physical. Weâre not as physical as Iâd like us to be, but I donât think we ever are, as far as rebounding,â Irvine said. âBut as far as getting after loose balls and giving you hustle plays, weâre good about that. Weâre just so much bigger than we were last year. But our guards are small. Weâre big inside and small on the outside.â
Junior Alex Beckerson averaged 14.9 points and 8 rebounds per game last year. He is joined by 14-point-per-game scorer Austin Shewmaker, who won a 12th Region 3-point contest this summer, as the top returning scorers.
Senior guard Travis McEachern will play both guard spots and small forward.
On the inside, Sam Irvine, a 6-5, 210-pound senior is expected to be âa rockâ for the Bulldogs, according to his father and coach. âIf we can get him to rebound and play stronger in the paint, heâll be one of the keys for us,â¿Don Irvine said.
Senior Myles Hills and junior Nick Beckerson are also going to be counted on inside. Returning in the backcourt for Burgin are juniors Jared Robbins, Jared Powell and Caleb Goodpaster along with sophomore Mason¿Myers.
Keys to the Season
Shooting and ball-handling are going to be the keys to success for Burgin.
âI think our defense is good enough. Our rebounding, weâll survive rebounding-wise,â¿Irvine said. âI just think weâre going to have to take care of the ball against these quicker teams.â
Player to Watch
Alex Beckerson was not healthy last season after a cross country injury.
âHeâs been healthy this year and hopefully that will contribute to him playing stronger in side,â¿Irvine said. âHeâs working on his hands a lot, his hand-eye coordination.â
Top Newcomer
Nick Beckerson saw limited time last year, and has grown from 5-10 to 6-2 over the summer and gotten stronger.
âHeâs very aggressive. Heâs going to be our next post guy thatâs coming along,â¿Irvine said.
Biggest Concern
Irvine hopes when the Bulldogs play bigger guards, they can still be effective.
âOur deal is, you get in and play some of these teams that have 6-1, 6-2 guards and youâve got a 5-8 guard of the same speed, so youâre at a disadvantage. And last year we had trouble shooting the ball at times. When we weâre good, we were very good and we when we were bad, we were horrid.â
Top Returning Players
Alex Beckerson, 6-5 Jr. F, 14.9 ppg, 8 rpg.
Sam Irvine, 6-5 Sr. C, 9 ppg, 4 rpg.
Travis McEachern, 5-10 Sr. G-F, 6 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg.
Jared Robbins, 5-9 Jr. G, 4 ppg, 3 apg.
Austin Shewmaker, 6-1 Sr. G, 14 ppg.
But this is the last one for the Burgin boys coach in his second go-around with the Bulldogs.
âMy last son (Sam) is graduating, and weâve got a good senior class. And with (assistant) Tim (Abbott) passing away earlier, that took a lot of wind out of my sails. So itâs time. Iâve never put it out there that Iâll never be back helping or doing something at some time. But right now, itâs time to retire.â
But Irvine still has one winter to go, and he likes the team heâll put out in the floor.
âWeâve got most of the guns back. I think weâre very physical. Weâre not as physical as Iâd like us to be, but I donât think we ever are, as far as rebounding,â Irvine said. âBut as far as getting after loose balls and giving you hustle plays, weâre good about that. Weâre just so much bigger than we were last year. But our guards are small. Weâre big inside and small on the outside.â
Junior Alex Beckerson averaged 14.9 points and 8 rebounds per game last year. He is joined by 14-point-per-game scorer Austin Shewmaker, who won a 12th Region 3-point contest this summer, as the top returning scorers.
Senior guard Travis McEachern will play both guard spots and small forward.
On the inside, Sam Irvine, a 6-5, 210-pound senior is expected to be âa rockâ for the Bulldogs, according to his father and coach. âIf we can get him to rebound and play stronger in the paint, heâll be one of the keys for us,â¿Don Irvine said.
Senior Myles Hills and junior Nick Beckerson are also going to be counted on inside. Returning in the backcourt for Burgin are juniors Jared Robbins, Jared Powell and Caleb Goodpaster along with sophomore Mason¿Myers.
Keys to the Season
Shooting and ball-handling are going to be the keys to success for Burgin.
âI think our defense is good enough. Our rebounding, weâll survive rebounding-wise,â¿Irvine said. âI just think weâre going to have to take care of the ball against these quicker teams.â
Player to Watch
Alex Beckerson was not healthy last season after a cross country injury.
âHeâs been healthy this year and hopefully that will contribute to him playing stronger in side,â¿Irvine said. âHeâs working on his hands a lot, his hand-eye coordination.â
Top Newcomer
Nick Beckerson saw limited time last year, and has grown from 5-10 to 6-2 over the summer and gotten stronger.
âHeâs very aggressive. Heâs going to be our next post guy thatâs coming along,â¿Irvine said.
Biggest Concern
Irvine hopes when the Bulldogs play bigger guards, they can still be effective.
âOur deal is, you get in and play some of these teams that have 6-1, 6-2 guards and youâve got a 5-8 guard of the same speed, so youâre at a disadvantage. And last year we had trouble shooting the ball at times. When we weâre good, we were very good and we when we were bad, we were horrid.â
Top Returning Players
Alex Beckerson, 6-5 Jr. F, 14.9 ppg, 8 rpg.
Sam Irvine, 6-5 Sr. C, 9 ppg, 4 rpg.
Travis McEachern, 5-10 Sr. G-F, 6 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg.
Jared Robbins, 5-9 Jr. G, 4 ppg, 3 apg.
Austin Shewmaker, 6-1 Sr. G, 14 ppg.
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