Cobden boys will rely on underclassmen

The Cobden High School boys basketball team will rely on underclassmen for success during the 2009-2010 season.

“We’re going to have to have some of our younger kids step up,” Cobden coach Jeff Shillinger said. “But we’re fairly athletic.”

Shillinger has only two starters returning from last year’s 11-13 squad to build a team around.

The starters returning are seniors Alex Sweitzer, a 6-0 guard, and Steve Draper, a 6-3 forward.

Sweitzer averaged 9.1 points and 1.3 rebounds a game last season.

Draper averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds a game.

Shillinger said Sweitzer should be a 3-point shooting threat for the Appleknockers.

Other seniors on the squad are Jeff Wright, a 6-2 forward, and Alan Brumleve. a 5-9 guard.

Juniors vying for playing time are Robbie Lehr, a 6-1 guard, and Bo Gearhart, a 6-4 center, who averaged 4.2 rebounds a game.

A sophmore who could see varsity action is R.J. Millis, a 5-7 guard.

“We’ll try to key on rebounding and playing defense,” Shillinger said. “If we show up and play our game, we can be competitive.”

Shillinger looks for a lot of similarity with other teams in the South Egyptian Conference race this season.

“I think our conference is going to be competitive,” he said. “It will be a close race.”

The Appleknockers open their season this week in the 34th annual Christopher Turkey Tournament.

Cobden begins tourney play with the host Bearcats. Cobden was to have played again Wednesday.