Beech High senior Ben Buhrow is one of two returning starters for the Buccaneers.
Beech High senior forward Noah Chatman releases a one-handed shot during a game last season.
The Beech High School boys basketball team has a mix of experienced seniors and inexperienced sophomores.
However, Buccaneer head coach Darrin Joines is optimistic that it will blend into a successful 2015-16 campaign.
“Our team has probably understood their roles earlier than any team I’ve had in a while,” Joines – whose program compiled a 17-11 record and suffered a loss to Gallatin in the District 9-AAA Tournament quarterfinal round last season – said. “We have three guys who have played. Everybody else hasn’t. We have several guys in our rotation early on who haven’t played in that Tuesday and Friday-night spotlight.
“It’s a long season. We don’t have to be ready in December. We have to be ready by January and February. I’m confident that by Jan. 4, we’ll be settling in like they usually are. I like this team.”
Beech could open the season without its players who also play for the Buc football team, including sophomore guards Ty Dean and Nelson Smith and senior guard Devin Smith. Dean and Nelson Smith will likely be in the starting backcourt once they arrive.
“I have confidence that, with experience, we’ll be fine,” Joines said.
Senior guard Ben Buhrow is a returning starter on the perimeter.
“I think people are going to be real surprised at how good of a player (Buhrow) is,” Joines said. “He’s confident. He’s bought in.
“Ben is one of the most complete players on our team. He can play in either spot (on the perimeter or in the post area). The way we play Ben will be dictated by who guards him. He’s really shooting the ball great, and he’s become pretty physical. We’re quite a bit more physical than we’ve been because of our size.”
The 6-foot-4 Buhrow is expected to be joined in the starting lineup by 6-foot-5 forwards Noah Chatman and Caleb Walton.
“It’s a positive,” Joines said. “We’re not probably as quick in some spots, but we’re definitely longer. We’re going to be tough to shoot over. People are going to have to drive through us, and we should be good on the boards.”
Joines believes that the development of both Chatman and Walton will be evident.
“They both have really improved,” Joines said. “Noah has come out of nowhere. He wasn’t even a varsity player as a sophomore. With the jump he made last year … he’s made another jump. He’s handling the ball a little bit. I’m not afraid to let him bring it up against pressure.
“(Walton) has gotten bigger and stronger. With those three guys, we’ll be a pretty impressive looking group.”
Sophomore guard A.J. Robertson, junior forward Heath Pentecost and junior guard T.J. Downing are among those who will provide depth off of the bench.
“We had a good summer,” Joines said. “The team I have right now it pretty motivated and dialed in to what we’re about and who we are. I think we have that trying-to-prove-ourselves mentality. The good teams we’ve had, they’ve had that. You want that little bit of a chip on your shoulder. We have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder.”
The Buccaneers lost three players to graduation, including senior point guard Derrick Wilcox. Wilcox and junior guard Sawyer Taylor were first team All-County selections last season, but Taylor – the team’s leading scorer – transferred to Station Camp last spring.
Joines expects Mt. Juliet – the Region 5-AAA runner-up last season – to be among the district favorites this season.
“Mt. Juliet is the best team,” Joines said. “They have everybody coming back. I think that most would agree that they are the team to beat. At the end of the year, I think most would agree that they were the best team in the league … but, you never know. Stranger things have happened.
“Our goal is always to be in the top half of the league no matter what. We want to be in with a chance (to advance) at the end (of the season).”
Beech plays a Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association Hall of Champions game at Clarksville on Tuesday and will host Stewarts Creek for another Hall of Champions game on Friday.
The Buccaneers open the regular season by hosting West Creek on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and they will open district play by hosting Station Camp on Friday, Dec. 4.
Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.