Two seasons after the Live Oak High boys basketball team
featured the area
’s tallest frontline, the Acorns have completed a transformation
to the complete opposite. Now, LO is a quick, athletic bunch with
no starter over 6-4. But don’t believe for a moment that Coach
Brett Paolucci’s expectations have shrunk with the team’s
height.
Two seasons after the Live Oak High boys basketball team featured the area’s tallest frontline, the Acorns have completed a transformation to the complete opposite.
Now, LO is a quick, athletic bunch with no starter over 6-4. But don’t believe for a moment that Coach Brett Paolucci’s expectations have shrunk with the team’s height.
“We don’t have the height but we have the athleticism,” Paolucci said. “We’re going to be trying to use that to our advantage, beting other teams down the court in transition. There will be teams that we can’t compete with around the rim, so we have to stress boxing out.”
Paolucci said LO will also have to focus especially hard on its usual harassing, pressure defense this season.
LO will rely heavily on a trio of returning all-league players in seniors Matt van Keulen (6-2 forward) , Brandon Powell (6-2 forward) and Doug Porras (5-11 guard) for leadership gained on last year’s squad, which finished the season 22-5 overall (8-2 in league, second-place finish) and advanced to the CCS quarterfinals.
“They’re definitely going to have to step up as leaders,” Paolucci said. “I have to give a nod to previous seniors who have set the bar pretty high for these guys.”
Other key players for the Acorns will be 5-9 senior point guard Jordan Racz, who impressed Paolucci during the summer, 6-4 senior center Kevin Toombs, and 6-0 senior guard Michael Taylor.
Top newcomers include 6-3 junior forward Dustin Bynum and 5-11 sophomore guard Mubarik Abdullahi.
