Boys face rebuilding with senior duo
By Dan Rzewnicki, Editor in Chief
December 8, 2011
Head Coach Damian Davies is at the center of the swirl of activities of Blue and White Night, a tradition Davies started when he took over the backetball program in 2003.
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The Blue Devil boys’ basketball team squeaked into the playoffs last season after upsetting Serra Catholic in what the Valley News Dispatch called “the game of the year.” The boys beat Jefferson Morgan in a qualifying game before losing in the first round playoff game.
However, last year’s team relied on a strong host of seniors, and graduation depleted the Blue Devil lineup. This season, the Devils return only one player who received significant varsity playing time.
Fortunately for the Devils, that player is senior DJ Oberdorf who led the team in scoring by averaging nearly 16 points per game before injuring his knee at the end of the season. With a fully recovered knee, Oberdorf is sure to be the heart of a young Blue Devil team.
Senior Andrew McDermott stands as the only other senior for the team. While he never received much varsity playing time, his 6-feet-3-inch frame combined with sharpshooter accuracy from behind the arc will make McDermott a key addition to the starting lineup.
Returning head coach Damian Davies expects the two seniors to lead the team through the difficult start to the season. The team always begins the season with a host of very strong non-conference opponents, and Davies said that many of the younger players can be easily discouraged in the midst of these challenges.
Davies admitted that the season will serve as a “learning year” for the younger players, but expects the players to progress as the season does.
The Devils earned a playoff berth six out of the last eight seasons, and Davies expects the two seniors, with help from a host of underclassmen, to return the team to the playoffs this year.
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