Coach expects consistency, leadership from seniors

Last season for the West Side Greers Ferry Eagles, the year started and ended against the same team but with different results. “We played just about as good as anyone in the first game,” head coach Shane Davis said. West Side defeated eventual state champion Guy-Perkins 82-81 to open the season but lost to the team in the first round of the regionals 70-49. “We peaked a little early,” Davis said. “They were the better team. Their record speaks for itself.” West Side finished the year 19-15 and returns three senior starters, including forward Trent Bentley, post player Joe Paul Freeland and guard Austin Watters. “For Bentley, he’s got to be more consistent and play at a high level,” Davis said. “Our conference is going to be wide open, and we are going to be right there in the middle of the pack. “For us to be at the top of the pack, we need him to play consistently.” Bentley was third on the team last year in points scored, averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game, while Freeland had 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Watters had 3.5 points per game, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals. “We kinda peaked too early last year, especially with the opening-night-buzzer win against eventual state champ Guy-Perkins,” Davis said, “but we still qualified for regionals. “We are hoping for more consistency, which has been what we have been seeking for a while.” For example, the coach said, Freeland had 15 to 20 points against Guy-Perkins in the first game but managed just 4 in the last. Senior Dawson Gardner averaged 4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game last season. He led the team with a school-record 31 charges taken and 2 game-winning shots vs. Guy and Pangburn. “All three (Bentley, Freeland and Gardner) have shown they can play at a high level. We just need them to be more consistent on a nightly basis,” Davis said. Davis said Watters comes off the bench and brings a different element of speed. “He is real fast and plays hard and is a good kid,” Davis said. Perimeter players include senior Brice McClendon; sophomores James Davis, Robbie Schmidt and Braden Magness; and junior forward Robbie Schmidt. “A lot of our success is going to depend on our guard play,” Davis said. “We need these guys to provide an outside threat for us and are expecting them to do just that.” Davis said he likes where his team is from an inside standpoint. “I am expecting big things from our big guys,” the coach said, “and need Joe and Trent to both have monster years if we are gonna be able to compete on a nightly basis.” Davis said they lost three 1,000-point scorers to graduation, but he still expects West Side to have a shot to be in that top four at the end. “We’ve had some of our best practices the last week or so, and our seniors are leading the way,” Davis said. “I think they know it is now or never. “I think they are going to try to have a memorable season.”