Small Clones thinking big

By Shane Mettlen

Published: December 2, 2008

When people were thinking about feasting on turkey the day before Thanksgiving, the Eastern View boys basketball team was in the gym, running.

The Cyclones ran in the hall before the practice began and they ran on the court during practice, making it clear that undersized team knows great conditioning is going to be a key to success.

“Over the past two scrimmages I realized we had a lot of work to do,” Walter Wright said. Wright took over the team after head coach Eugene Logan stepped down last month. “Practice is pretty intense because we have to get in shape. We have to work on conditioning drills to get ready for Louisa.”

The Cyclones open the season tonight on the road against the Lions, who are led by Kerry Wynn, a 6-5 presence in the post. Eastern View is led underneath by Andrew Hoffman, who got minutes off the bench for Culpeper County High last year. Hoffman is a solid rebounder and showed flashes offensively for the Blue Devils, but will give up three inches to the Wynn.

So Eastern View will look to its speed and quickness on the perimeter for an edge, which means its important to be in better shape than its opponents, hence the intense running.

Starting at guard for the Cyclones will be Stevie Strother, who started last season at CCHS and Blake Smith, who was also a varsity Blue Devil a year ago. Also in the lineup is Mo Safren, who transferred to Eastern View after starring at Highland School the past couple of seasons.

“Now that I’ve had a chance to evaluate everybody and see them in a test position I’m going to have to put more responsibility on guys that can handle it,” Wright said. “Mo Safren is our leader and he’s going to have to be prepared to play each and every night because he is our go-to guy offensively. Stevie and Blake have to put excellent pressure defensively on guys to create turnovers and easy baskets.”

Stother and Smith weren’t asked to score much for Culpeper last year, but will be called upon to do so more this season. The Cyclone guards say they are up for the challenge.

“We’re working on our fundamentals and getting everything down pat,” Smith said. “Every basketball wants the ball in his hand and we’re no different.”

The Cyclones will also ask their guards to crash the boards.

“We’re not a very big team,” Strother said. “For us to win we’re going to have to box out and get those rebounds. We don’t want to give the other team any second chances because we’re such a small team.”

Eastern View could get some help underneath later in the season if 6-5 senior Roger Davis becomes eligible for the second semester. But until then the Cyclones are working with what they have and working to get into better shape than their opponents.

“We’re just getting out of football season and we’re not in basketball shape,” Safren said. “But I think we’ll be pretty solid once everyone gets into basketball mode.”

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or

Cyclones’ schedule
Dec. 2: at Louisa, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4: at Luray, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 6: at North Stafford 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10: vs. North Stafford, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13: vs. Luray, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 16: at King George, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: vs. Caroline, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 22: at CCHS, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29: WMHS tourney
Dec. 30: WMHS tourney
Jan. 6: at James Monroe, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: vs. Courtland, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13: at Chancellor, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16: vs. Spotsylvania, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: vs. Louisa, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: vs. King George,
7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: at Caroline, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3: vs. James Monroe,
7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: at Courtland
Feb. 10: vs. Chancellor, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 13: at Spotsylvania,
7:30 p.m.

Cyclones’ roster
Belial Williams
Nick Glascoe
Nick Donovan
Damian Geer
Blake Smith
Mo Safren
DaShawn Robinson
Brandon Scott
Drayton Shanks
Kevin Young
Stevie Strother
Davon Noakes
Andrew Hoffman