It’s going to be Winter time all season for St. Francis Prep.
The Terriers boys basketball team’s lone returning starter is 6-foot-3 forward Andrew Winter, a tough-minded senior who will defend and has a nose for the basket.
“He’s the one guy who’s gotta show the way,” legendary SFP coach Tim Leary said. “He’s a quiet kid, so he’s not gonna lead by talking about it, but he does do the right things. He’s improved himself. We’ve gotta kind of feed off him.”
Winter will have to do a little bit of everything this year for St. Francis on an inexperienced team. He’ll likely be the team’s leading scorer and rebounder.
Leary is excited about some emerging players, though, who will share the load. Darren Cordero, a 6-foot-2 forward, will likely play alongside Winter down low. He’s a football player, so he’s tough, athletic and can score a bit.
Cordero played some off the bench last year, but the starting backcourt might be completely new. Michael Fields, a lightning quick guard, is up from the JV and Gabe Gonzales, the baseball team’s athletic second baseman, returns to the court after focusing on the diamond last year.
“They’re both very quick,” Leary said. “Once we get the experience, the guard area should take care of itself.”
The longtime coach also expects James Chavez, a 6-foot-1 guard, to make an impact. Leary calls Chavez the team’s fastest player.
But he, like the rest of this group, has played very little varsity minutes. St. Francis is hungry, though, and is not content with letting its youth define the team.
“Up to this point, this group has worked very hard – probably harder than last year,” Leary said. “They’re definitely listening.”
The Terriers, who have to shoot well from the outside to maximize their potential, will likely play an up-tempo style and press on defense to take advantage of their speed and lack of size. They’ll have the depth to do it, too.
SFP has been solid in scrimmages with Monsignor McClancy and St. Mary’s so far, though the learning curve will increase once CHSAA Class AA league games begin.
Still, Leary is cautiously optimistic.
“You just have to keep playing and improving,” he said. “Everybody makes the playoffs at the end. You want to be playing your best basketball then.”
After all, it’ll still be Winter time.