Head coach Mark Buckman is the first to agree that his Aberdeen boys basketball team is unlikely to outmuscle many opponents. Nor can they rely on their experience in early season contests.
Instead, the Bobcats hope to take foes out of their comfort zone in an effort to improve upon last season’s 8-12 record.
“We plan to outrun bigger teams, make them play at our pace and (make them) uncomfortable,” Buckman said.
Aberdeen opens the season Nov. 29 at home as part of a co-ed doubleheader with Forks.
The Bobcats will be giving away size to nearly every team they face this season. Cody Sayres, a 6-foot-4 junior with no varsity experience, is the lone AHS player over 6-2.
Smooth-working junior point guard Ben Dublanko is the only returning Aberdeen starter. He is expected to do the bulk of the ball-handling and will also be counted upon as a scoring threat.
Buckman is also projecting Alonzo Coburn, a 5-10 senior guard who came off the bench last season, and 6-foot junior wing Javier Bojorge as starters.
Beyond that, the Cats will do their share of mixing and matching in early season tests.
Jeshua Manwell, a 6-1 senior, will likely see considerable action up front. Other candidates for starting jobs include Sayres, 6-2 junior Derrell Shale, 6-foot senior Bryan Sidor, 6-foot sophomore Giovanni Pisani, 6-1 senior Austin Timmons, 5-9 senior Dayln Barragan and 6-1 senior Daniel Elrod.
With plenty of backcourt depth, Buckman believes his team has the personnel necessary to play the pressing, trapping style that will be necessary to overcome the lack of size.
“We plan to bring intensity every night,” he said.
The Aberdeen coach is candid, however, in pinpointing Aberdeen’s greatest area of concern.
“Rebounding is no doubt our biggest weakness,” Buckman asserted. “We found that out during the offseason.”
One plus for the inexperienced Cats is that they will have a full month to work out the kinks before beginning play in the Evergreen 2A Conference. Even their non-league schedule is heavily front-loaded with home games.
“In the first couple of games, we’re going to find out a lot about our team,” the Aberdeen coach contended.
The Cleverly brothers, Aric and Aaron, return as Bobcat assistants. Brian Morrill and volunteer aides Ryan Farrer, John Kingery and Ryan Harless round out the AHS staff.
Buckman sees Chehalis as the clear favorite in the Evergreen 2A Conference, with Black Hills also rated high.
