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Waite boys begin life in new-look City League
Coach: David Pitsenbarger
Last year: 7-14 (4-6 TCL)
Key players: DeVonte Hughes, 6-0, G; Rayshawn Hampton, 6-2, G; Eric McNair, 5-9, G;
Kevin Carter, 5-8, G; Travon Howard, 6-1, G; Keron Merriweather, 6-3, PF; David
Tompkins, 6-3, PF; Alred Sanchez, 6-1, G
Forecast: With the Waite Indians, it is not a question as to whether or not the talent
is there, but whether or not the players will work together as a cohesive unit.
The team is lacking in experience and has no returning starters from last year's squad,
but does have its share of stellar athletes who possess the ability to create trouble for
opposing defenses.
Gone from last year's team are Henry Newson (6-4, 195 lbs.) and Antoine Jackson (6-3,
230), who helped to provide some size and bulk upfront, as well All-City League gurad
Ke-Sean Harris and small forward Dishon Harris.
“Our biggest trouble area is lack of experience at the post,” said head coach Dave
Pitsenbarger. “We have some decent size, but the lack of experience is an issue.”
Offensively, the Indians are like most teams in the City League in that they are guard-
oriented and like to use their athleticism to their advantage.
In the backcourt, the Indians have DeVonte Hughes, Kevin Carter, Travon Howard,
Rayshawn Hampton, Eric McNair and Alfred Sanchez with David Tompkins and Keron
Merriweather in the post.
“We go four guards, one big -- we may even go five guards,” said Pitsenbarger. “We
try to create a lot of offense from our defense. I think we're pretty good, we have
five or six guards that can shoot and also penetrate. That's the strength of our team,
our guard play.
“We definitely like to push the ball. There will be times when we walk it up (and) run
the halfcourt (four out, one in) if we need to, but we like to push the ball.”
Pitsenbarger is hopeful about what Merriweather, a 6-3, 240-pound power forward,
can bring some
“He's used to handling the ball; we hope to create some mismatches with that.”
On defense, the Indians intend to play primarily man defense and occasionally mix things
up, employing gimmics
“We want to keep the opponent guessing, not let them get comfortable against our
defense.”
This season, the Indians will have a schedule that looks different that it did in years past,
as the City League has changed in landscape with St. John's, Central Catholic, Whitmer, Clay
and St. Francis having left during the offseason to form, with three other schools, the
Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC). That leaves the CL with just six teams: Waite,
Start, Rogers, Scott, Bowsher and Woodward.
When Pitsenbarger was asked about his thoughts on the new-look of the CL, he had this
to say.
“It's not a big deal – I enjoyed playing the other teams; it's nice to play a variety of teams
and at the (different) venues. It's take some of the excitement away, (but) at the same
time, it gives everyone in the City League a chance to compete. I have mixed emotions
about it.”
For Pitsenbarger, the team's success is not contingent upon its athletic ability, but rather
its ability to work together as a cohesive unit.
“We (must) play as a unit and have chemistry and (be) willing to hustle and sacrafice.”
Waite girls look to return to prominence
Coach: Manny May, 14th year
Record: 122-123
Last year: 6-13 (4-6, TCL)
Key players: Seniors Marquia Fitch, 5-7, G; Catherine Craig, 5-7, G; Sinffiney Watts, 5-11, F.
Juniors Kre'Ana Henry, 5-11, F; Kayla May, 5-4, G. Sophomore Taylor Works, 5-10, G-F.
Forecast: Last season, the Waite Lady Indians, who were coming off a season that saw them
advance to the Division I State Final, were hit with a dose of reality, struggling to a 6-13
record that saw their season end with a loss in the sectional semifinals to Northview, 68-40.
This season, Waite, which has won the City League title in four of the last eight seasons, looks
to return to top of the league and hopes to make a run in the postseason.
Waite enters this season with a schedule that will look vastly different from those of years past.
Gone from the City League are Central Catholic, Clay, Notre Dame, St. Ursula and Whitmer who
left to form, along with Fremont Ross, Findlay and Lima Senior, the Three Rivers Athletic
Conference (TRAC).
That leaves Waite as part of a six-team conference that includes league favorite Rogers and Start,
which advanced to the state semifinals last season, Bowsher, Scott and Woodward.
The non-conference schedule features some big schools, among them Shaker Heights, Dublin
Coffman, Detroit Country Day as well as Perrysburg and Inkster, a school out of Michigan.
Despite having only six juniors and seniors, the Lady Indians do have one distinct advantage: size.
The Lady Indians have three players who stand just south of 6-feet tall, them being senior Sinfinney
Watts (5-11), junior Kre-Ana Henry (5-11) and sophomore Taylor Works (5-10). These three players
give Waite the potential to create matchup problems for other teams. Watts and Henry, who was
the team's leading scorer and rebounder last season, look to solidify the post positions while Works
will team with Marquia Fitch, Catherine Craig and Kayla May to form a solid backcourt.
Craig is the point guard, Fitch is set as the starting small forward, and May and Works are
currently competing for the starting shooting guard position.
The team is rather young, with just five juniors and seniors, but gained vital experience last season
as the team had to replace four standout players from the state runner-up squad of '10.
Head coach Manny May, now in his 14th season at the helm, likes for his team to create
opportunities for themselves in the open court
“We like to get out and run, but sometimes you're going to have to slow it down. If we don't (run),
we go at it with a half-court offense.”
On defense, he said they'll primarily play man-to-man but will occasionally throw in some zone as
well.
When asked what it will take for his team to be successful this season, May had this to say.
“I think it's all about our mentality and our mindset. If we play well, pressure on defense, execute
n offense, good things can happen. We 14-, 15-, 16-, 17-year-old kids -- we have to get to them to
want to work (hard).”
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