The CMHS boys' basketball team enters the 2007-2008 season with high expectations. The Eagles return all but two players from last year's squad that posted a 12-8 record, but suffered an early playoff exit in the opening round at the hands of the Blue Mountain Bucks. Coach Nelson Mayhew is in his third season with Canaan, and fully expects this team to be knocking on the door of The Barre Auditorium come season's end.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles should have little trouble putting up points consistently. Point guard and offensive catalyst Connor Daley is the key in guiding the Eagle's attack with his ability to handle and distribute the ball. He combines a deadly outside shot with an uncanny ability to get to the basket that often sets up his teammates for easy hoops. Last year's leading scorer Zack Daley has proven that he can score frequently in a variety of ways, and is primed to have another solid year. He will look to expand his game from the paint and become a more lethal threat from both the inside and outside. Center Jake Smith and forward Jeremy Schichtle provide muscle inside, meaning the Eagles should be able to hit the offensive glass for plenty of second chance scores. The impressive overall speed of the frontcourt in addition to the backcourt should make for constant fastbreaks and numerous easy layups in transition.
The big question mark with this team is on the defensive side of the ball. Coach Mayhew has stressed that to be a successful team, the effort on the defensive end needs to be relentless. Senior guard Jason Charest has been a lock-down defender throughout his career, often playing opposite the opponent's best scorer. Coupled with the toughness of Connor Daley and the quickness of Adam Brousseau, the Eagles should be able to match up and shut down most opposing guards. The interior defense has the size and ability to control the paint and glass, but needs to be more consistent. Smith is a monster on the boards, but must avoid getting into early foul trouble to establish himself inside. Zack Daley has the leaping ability to snatch rebounds over smaller defenders, but sometimes gets caught out of position when dealing with larger opposition. After improving his speed in the offseason, Schichtle now has the size and quickness to become an elite rebounder. If this group can work together, Canaan should be winning the battle of the boards in every game this season.
The Eagle's bench figures to play a big role in the upcoming season. The second unit should provide a spark of intensity instead of just a break for the starters. Senior Dan Kenny and junior Adam Brousseau are extremely quick and supply much-needed intensity on the defensive side of the ball. TJ Hill provides size off the bench and is capable of snagging a few rebounds and garbage baskets. Also look for freshmen Anthony Havalotti and Eli Smith to get some action after spending half of the previous year practicing with the varsity squad.
The Eagles are depending upon a team composed primarily of upperclassmen, including seven seniors, all of whom figure to play major roles in the success of this team entering their final year. With a core of experienced players, all signs point to this season being special.