Sports

Guard-heavy Commodores will run, run and run some more

Cory Semper likes to be in control. The Bayside coach prefers calling out set plays in a halfcourt setting, one of his team’s strengths last year.

That plan has been scrapped this winter, and Semper may have a harder time getting used to the Commodores’ up-tempo style than his players.

“It’s going to be an adjustment for me,” the third-year coach said. “But for us to be competitive, we have to do that.”

Bayside, indeed, will have to take advantage of its quickness to succeed. Aside from 6-foot-7 senior forward Uzonna Akazi, the Commodores are extremely small – 6-foot-2 forward Ryan Tomplin is their next biggest player – and Akazi isn’t necessarily a dominant post player; he’s more of a dual threat.

Coming off a third-place finish in PSAL Queens AA and trip to the borough finals, Bayside does have depth in the backcourt, starting with standout junior Austin Williams, entering his third year as a starter. The 6-foot-1 Williams, who holds a scholarship offer from Iona and has interest from Quinnipiac, Marist, Drexel, St. Francis College and the College of Charleston, averaged 12 points per game last winter. He improved his all-around skill set, such as distributing the ball and helping out on the boards, over the summer playing with the New York Panthers.

“I think he’s gonna have a big year,” Semper said. “He’s making the extra pass, he’s not worrying about getting his shots up. He’s more worried about the win-loss column, which is great.”

He will start alongside Christ the King transfer Brandon King, a strong, skilled 6-foot-1 junior with limitless range, and much-improved 5-foot-11 sophomore Daquise Andrews. Five-foot-seven speedster Cantrell Barker, the team’s sparkplug, will be Bayside’s sixth man.

The plan is to run as much as possible – off rebounds, turnovers and even made shots.

“Bigger teams are gonna want to pound it in and rebound the ball, get second and third shots,” Semper said. “We have to rebound as a unit and push the ball, get as many layups as we can. Last year we were very good at running halfcourt sets, now we’re just trying to get shots up and get in transition.”

For that to work, Bayside will have to rebound well. It’s been the coaching staff’s primary focus in practice, everyone helping out Akazi inside. When asked what will determine the Commodores success, Semper answer was simple: “Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding.”

“We’re gonna score our points. If we lose games, it’s gonna be because of rebounding. We’ll have to make up for our size by pressing and trapping more,” Semper said. “We have to rebound as a unit. We’re concentrating on everyone crashing the boards.”

zbraziller@nypost.com