CHIMACUM — Mark Bennett, an assistant on last season’s Chimacum boys basketball team, has moved over on the bench as head coach for the Cowboys this season.
Bennett said he is focusing on building up his team’s skills and emphasizing team work in the early going and he believes his team is listening.
“Mostly to get them to play together as a team and to work hard enough as a team that they have a legitimate expectation to win,” Bennett said.
“I think they have. I think we have done exactly that, they are playing well together.
“We’ve been so focused on developing skills and teamwork with our team that right now we aren’t worrying about what the competition shows.”
Assistant job available
Bennett joined the coaching staff as an assistant after the season began last year, and so far this season he’s still looking for an assistant coach.
“It’s difficult to do justice to 19 kids (varsity and JV) with only one coach,” Bennett said. “If anyone is interested, give the athletic director a call.”
The assistant coach position is listed at tinyurl.com/PDN-CHSHoops.
Bennett said with a roster with just one player over 6-foot-1 in height, his team will be pushing the pace offensively.
“We are relatively small, so we will be quick, given that Jacob [Williamson] is the only guy over 6-1. So everybody is eligible in that regard [handling the ball].
And the Cowboys will pressure the ball defensively.
“That’s how you get your fast breaks, so we will play a lot of man defense and a little bit of zone,” Bennett said. “We will let [opponents] figure [what zones we will play] out.”
Seniors Issac Purser, Cole Dotson and Jonah Diehl will be joined by Williamson, a 6-5 junior who stands out on the football field for the Cowboys, along with Henry Brebberman, Cody Clark and Tanner Carstensen, a sophomore that will provide some speed in the backcourt.
Hunter Cerna, Clayton Smith and Giuseppe Glanz, a first-year player as a senior, will provide depth.
Bennett said he wasn’t sure how the Olympic League 1A Division would shake out.
“I’m so new, and our league is so small, it’s impossible to answer that question,” Bennett said.
“Our first game is at home Monday against North Mason and I know the boys are looking forward to getting the season started.”
Boys Basketball Chimacum Cowboys
• Coach: Mark Bennett (1st season, assistant on team last season)
• Last season: 0-14, fourth in Olympic League 1A.
•Returners: Cole Dotson (Sr., G/F, 5-11) Jonah Diehl (Sr., F/C, 6-0); Issac Purser (Sr., G/F, 5-8); Henry Brebberman (Jr., G, 6-0) Cody Clark (Jr., F/PF); Jacob Williamson (Jr., F/P, 6-5); Tanner Carstensen (So., F, 6-1)
•Varsity Newcomers: Hunter Cerna (So., G/F, 5-7); Clayton Smith (Fr., G/F, 5-8) ; Giuseppe Glanz (Sr., G, 5-7)
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
