Auroraadvocate.com - Experienced hoops squad may surprise

by Brent Hovey

Correspondent

Aurora -- Last year, the Aurora boys basketball team had a tendency to make costly mistakes or mental errors which led them on a path to a loss.

Last year, the Aurora boys basketball team was young and inexperienced.

But this year it returns almost all of those young, inexperienced players, but now they are older and experienced and ready to cash in on the talent they showed flashes of last year.

Second-year head coach Brian Force said while it's tough to say exactly where his team is at this point in the preseason, it's safe to say it is well ahead of where it was last year.

"We've established our work ethic -- the approach we need to take every day in practice and in the weight room," he said.

"We're able to coach more. Last year, we focused more on our approach, but this year we're focusing on the little things we need to do to be successful. I'm excited. The youth we had is growing up and taking on leadership roles."

The once raw and inexperienced back court of Trayvon Nash and Joe Mimms are back for the third straight year. Force said the two juniors have showed signs of being ready to have big years.

"JOE IS COMING into his own as a leader and a player," said Force. "He talks about doing the right things and sets the example with his work ethic, and it's earned him the respect of his teammates.

"Trayvon was our leading scorer last year and he has improved since then. We talk about him on the offensive side, but he makes things happen defensively and creates a lot of plays in the open floor."

Upfront Aurora will be led by senior Ty Watson, who had an up-and-down season last year after not playing basketball previously, but is primed to have a solid senior campaign.

"He gives us a physical presence and is a great leader," said Force. "Not only has his physical game improved, but his mental approach and his day-to-day habits have, too."

Seniors Mitch Knapp and Brandon Walker will be up front with Watson.

"Mitch has a nice post game and is a physical presence," said Force. "Brandon can start or come off the bench. He's a hard working kid who can shoot from the inside or the outside."

Senior Alex Kovalik and sophomore Troy Watson should contribute off the bench.

Force is excited about the team because of the way it has worked, and hard work usually translates to success.

"I'm just impressed with the kids in general," he said. "They're very coachable."

The Greenmen will be a physical, defensive-minded team. A lot of times teams that play that way do so because they have limited options on offense. Not this team.

THE LOCALS' defense should lead to instant offense. Force said the boys like to get out and run, and the defense can generate easy baskets.

"Our team is a man-to-man pressure defense, and we'll trap in the half- and full-court," he said. "Our kids are good in the open floor, so we're going to run."

Force said he's talked about "winning in bunches" with his team.

"We want to get those two to three runs a game where we score 6, 8, 10 straight points and let our guards create," he said.

"We want to play fast but balanced. We've got to know when to attack and when to pull it out and play half-court."

More than anything, what has Force looking forward to this year is the group of guys he is coaching. They're hard working and dedicated to the program.

But above all else, they are committed to each other and have shown a great camaraderie.

"They're such a cohesive unit," he said. "When your best players are the hardest working it sets a good example and can lead to something special.

"I don't know how many games we will win, but this team with the camaraderie I've seen, it's the kind that leads to a successful season."

Aurora opens the season on Dec. 8 at Twinsburg.