Repeat performance possible?

Blue Devils appear to be rebuilding, but may once again be reloading

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006

Second-year Springbrook coach Tom Crowell looks out on the practice floor and sees a gaggle of new, unfamiliar faces. In his debut season with the Blue Devils, he led a team that surged near the prominence of the 2003-2004 squad that won a regional title, finishing 18-6 before falling to Southwestern (Baltimore) in the 4A North region semifinals.

But nine seniors from last year’s team are gone, so Crowell has to rebuild from the ground up. Gone is ‘‘King” David Brewster, an All-Gazette first-team guard who plays at Richmond. His 19.5 points per game led the squad a year ago, and his all-around dominance was the primary reason for the Blue Devils’ resurgence. Though power forward Sheridan Price, who added over 16 points a game, was another, and is also gone.

All three other starters, Andrew Dickson, Brainerd Erhiawaren and Darryl Kornegay, left too meaning Springbrook has an entirely new starting lineup.

‘‘We’re starting mostly seniors, but these kids were behind our other kids last year,” said Crowell. ‘‘But we do have a good group of kids that have been together ever since their sophomore year.”

Their leader may be their one junior. Two-guard C.J. Garner brings quickness, speed and range to the Blue Devil offense, and may be able to replace a good chunk of Brewster’s perimeter scoring. His backcourt mate will be point guard Othello Banaci, who has similar quickness and touch.

Not nearly as big as they were last year, Springbrook’s biggest player in their center Marcus Cotton (6-foot-3) who is two inches shorter than Brewster was at the shooting guard position last year. But Cotton has the long arms that can still make him a presence down low. He also has good leaping ability, and Crowell looks to exploit his frame down on the block. Their other big man, Eric Johnson, will be Cotton’s tag-team partner. Both will see a bunch of touches this year, as the Blue Devils strive to become a more inside-oriented team. Finally, Micah Perry will be the swingman, and gives Springbrook another outside shooter.

Many of the Blue Devils saw minutes last year off the bench, so they are not totally unfamiliar with Crowell’s up-tempo, pressing style of attack.

‘‘We have good athletes but we haven’t yet been tested, obviously,” said Crowell. ‘‘We don’t know what’s going to happen.”