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Men's
Basketball |
2007-08 Season Preview
Moraine Valley men's
basketball team aims for nationals this spring
Coming
off a 19-win season in 2006-07, Moraine Valley's men’s basketball team is
looking to finish the upcoming season with 20 or more wins and earning a spot at
the national tournament in March.
"We had
a great season last year, and of course we want to improve upon it with an even
better showing this season," said head coach Dedrick Shannon. "Our first goal
will be to compete for the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship,
and if we can do that, I think we’ll be a major contender in post-season play."
"The
talent on this year's team is deep," Shannon said. "We have skill players
available at every position that are ready to compete for a conference title."
Contributing to the Cyclones' campaign this year will be second-year starter
Larry Woods (Shepard High School, a 6'6" guard/forward who recently was named
one of the top 120 junior college players in the nation and a first-team
pre-season All-American. Woods, who was the team's leading scorer last season,
will be supported by Larrell Gary (Whitney Young High School), a 6'1"
second-year guard who will establish his leadership on the floor. Roy Beard, a
6'8" forward/center who transferred from East Central Oklahoma also is expected
to make a big presence under the boards. Outside shooter and steadfast defender
Evon Mosby (Rich South), a 6' first-year guard, also will be a key player for
the Cyclones this season, as will 6'5" second-year guard/forward Brandon Price
(Marist High School) and 6'4" first-year guard/forward Durrelle Garmon (Prosser
High School). Additionally, 5'10" first-year guard Julian Ibarra (Reavis High
School) will bring a 21 point-per-game high-school average into collegiate play.
Several
supporting roles also will be crucial to Moraine Valley's success this year,
including the talents of McKinley Bell (Harper High School), a first-year 6'4"
guard/forward; Donny Malic (Andrew High School), a second-year 5'9" guard; Scott
Erickson (Andrew High School) a second-year 6'2" guard/forward; Dominique Sanders
(Eisenhower High School) a first-year 6'2" forward; D'Ron Walker (Evergreen
Park), a first-year 6'2" guard/forward; and Rob Sankey (Curie High
School), a first-year 5'10" guard.
"We
have a solid team this year," Shannon said. "If
these kids commit to the team and to their
studies, this season will have some real potential."
2006-07 Season Review
Cyclones look to reload this off-season, compete for conference championship in
’08
The men’s
basketball team advanced through the playoff round of the Region IV Tournament
before being handed a loss by a second-seed tournament team. The Cyclones
notched a 19-13 record (7-7 in conference play).
“We had a good
season,” said head coach Dedrick Shannon. “Our guys played really hard and I’m
impressed with what we’ve done. Next year, with the talent of our sophomores and
the help of some incoming freshmen, we’ll have the talent to compete for a
conference championship.”
Team members
earning post-season recognition included forward Larry Woods (Shepard High
School)—first-team All-Region IV and first-team All-Conference; forward John
Chimino (Marist High School)—first-team All-Conference; and guard Mahmood
Ghouleh (Reavis High School)—second-team All-Conference.
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