By Greg Gielczyk
WEST BRANCH – It’s an experienced group that will be tipping off the boys basketball season at Ogemaw Heights this year, including two junior guards who started as sophomores for the Falcons last season.
They are Merik Hodgins and Tyler Eedy, who are both listed at 5-foot-9 and have the speed to race past most defenses to either take the ball down the middle, or snap it back out to a more open teammate.
Ogemaw is also counting on senior Tyler Bailey, who saw a lot of time last year, and Trevor Likavec, who came off the bench and showed a lot of hustle as well as Alex Somerfield, who is a good shooter and gives the Falcons some decent looks when he comes in.
Everyone else played on the junior varsity last year, and will need time to form a solid chemistry with the more experienced hands, even with a summer playing together and working through open gyms.
Last year’s junior varsity squad went 17-3, while the varsity finished 7-14 but improved from last year and the year before that.
Jacob Rhine will give the Falcons’ an inside presence at 6-foo-5. Head coach Michael Weiler said that Rhine had a nice summer and should give them rebounding strength, as well a defense inside the paint.
Trevor Brown also played on the junior varsity last year and can play either the three or four spot on the wings, according to Weiler. He doesn’t compound mistakes, and is a solid player.
Another junior expected to be a major contributor is Jere Getzinger, who at 6-foot-4 gives the Falcons another big body. Weiler says he’s kind of a quiet kid who just goes out and does his thing.
Filling out the 11-player roster are Brett Gemmill (6-2), Calvin Beck (5-10) and Brennen Hill (6 foot).
“We had weekly four-player workers and open gyms,” Weiler said. “We went up to Gaylord team camp and got some games in there, had a couple of scrimmages. Hodgins and Rhine played AAU ball and got a lot of games in this summer.
“I was just trying to watch them move without having set plays, reading the defense and getting used to each other a little bit. It helps out tremendously, just being comfortable with each other and knowing what each other wants, and what they’re looking for.”
Because of the crop of newcomers, Weiler has done a bit of refresher courses of the motion offenses and in-bound plays.
This week, the Falcons looked at expanding that quite a bit.
Ogemaw has to do a lot of traveling as an independent, and plays a pretty tough schedule that includes contests against Gaylord, Clare, Standish-Sterling, Tawas and Beaverton. Bay City Central should be good with a bunch of players returning.
“I think we will be better than we were last year,” Weiler said. “We got guys that want to put in the extra work. If we don’t add to our win total this year, I’d be surprised. We have a motion offense in, and we’ll have some offensive sets that we like to run.
“We’ll run a set, and when that breaks down, it’ll run right into our motion. We’ll have 10 or 12 plays. Defensively, we’re going to start the season in man-to-man and get right after it.
“You got to know your man principles even when you run the zone. We’re looking to get that instilled in the younger guys, and hopefully be abel to change it up on the fly come mid-season.”
