Clay boys basketball coach Rob Belegrin realizes that his team isn’t ready to be a factor in the Toledo City League yet, but he hopes his Eagles with four returning starters can be competitive in every game this season and improve on its 3-17 record a season ago.

However, those hopes seem to already be diminishing as the Eagles have started the campaign on the wrong foot, losing their first three games.  The Eagles lost their opener on the road at Northview, and then fell victims to a good Perrysburg Yellow Jackets team, and last week were defeated in a close battle, 52-47, at Rossford.

The Eagles have led games at halftime this season and they led 21-17 against Rossford, but fouls proved costly as Rossford hit 25-of-32 shots from the stripe to sink Clay. Coach Belegrin knows just how crucial it is for his team to get its first win of the season Friday night when the Eagles host Toledo Christian at Harold Potter Field House.

“It’s very important to get our first win,” says Belegrin. “We’ve been playing good basketball, but we have had first half struggles and we need to learn how to finish. We will get there.”

Austin Achter is the team’s leading returning scorer from last season, a season in which he averaged 9.8 points. (Press file by Scott Grau)

Toledo Christian is expected to challenge powerhouse Ottawa Hills for the TAAC title this season.  Coach Dave McWhinnie’s Eagles are coming off of a good season (12-10, 8-4 TAAC) and have many skilled athletes.  Oregon native Nick Rightnowar is a senior leader and good scorer. He averaged eight points and his teammate David Westmeyer averaged five, but both players will surely add more scoring this season and Coach Belegrin knows his team is up for a challenge.

“They’re a very well coached team. Nick Rightnowar is a great player and Dave McWhinnie is one heck of a coach. This will be another tough game for us,” Belegrin said.

Clay will have to rely on junior point guard Ross Achter, who led the Eagles with 13 points last week against Rossford.  Achter, the quarterback of the offense, has good speed, and can dial it up from the perimeter when he needs to.

His cousin, Austin Achter, will have to play a part if the Eagles want to get in the win column.  Achter is the team’s leading returning scorer from last season, a season in which he averaged 9.8 points.

The Eagles were plagued last week against Rosssford in the paint, as Mitch Stewart torched them for 24 points and grabbed 15 defensive boards, meaning the inside forces for Clay — Chris Pennington and Doug Waldmannstetter, who scored ten points against Rossford — will have to step up big and take advantage of their height.

“We need to work harder in practice.  We have talented big guys, but they need to work harder, keep improving, and play physical,” added Belegrin.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed