Eagle Ridge boys basketball team begins season with new look

Those who needed high-speed cameras to track the exploits of the Eagle Ridge Christian School boys basketball team the past few seasons can take a much-needed breather.

These are not your father's Eagles.

This year's edition of the Eagles is trading in its frenetic, fast-paced attack for a more basic, defense-first philosophy that head coach Andrew Mellies hopes is better suited for this season's youthful roster.

"The last two years, we had a very fast, very deep team," Mellies said. "We were able to push the tempo and utilize a full-court press. We had a lot of speed, a lot of athleticism."

That fast-paced attack paid dividends in the past as the Eagles claimed the Missouri Christian School Athletic Association state title in 2014 and added a fourth-place finish at state this past spring. But Mellies knows pushing a smaller, younger squad to duplicate those efforts is a futile gesture.

"This year, we have a lot of younger guys," he said. "We're focusing more on playing good half-court defense, stressing the fundamentals.

"We're not the team that wants to push the tempo."

The early-season slate promises a few growing pains as the Eagles transition into a more pedestrian-paced attack. Eagle Ridge dropped its first game of the season, 58-43, at Bethel Christian Academy in South Roxana, Ill., back on Nov. 13.

Mellies said that transition is going well, and the Eagles will only get better with time.

"We have a very disciplined team," he said. "They work together very well. What they lack in talent, they make up for in hard work and discipline."

Players to watch

Junior Hunter Jones led the Eagles with 18 points in the loss to Bethel and is one of four new starters for Eagle Ridge. The only returning starter is senior forward Caleb Friedrich, who also hit double figures in the season opener with 10 points.

Junior Anand Patel added nine points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles.

"We have a couple of good forwards," said Mellies. "Caleb is a very smart player."

Mellies believes one of his team's strengths is the inside tandem of Friedrich and Patel.

"Our strength lies moreso in the paint because we have some size we can rely on," he said.

Until the Eagles can find consistent scoring, they'll rely on their defense in an effort to improve on last year's 16-13 finish.

"We're focused on what we have to hold our opponents to defensively," Mellies said, "until we figure out what we have offensively."

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Head coach

Andrew Mellies

(9th year)

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ROSTER

No. Player Year Ht.

0 Steven Raffety 7 5-0

2 Karsten Sowers 9 5-10

3 Caleb Friedrich 12 6-3

4 Caleb Cobb 12 5-9

13 Anand Patel 11 6-0

21 Brendan Lewison 10 5-6

22 Bradley Hess 8 5-8

23 Hunter Jones 11 6-2

24 Logan Schwieger 7 6-0

35 Michael Roth 9 5-8

STARTERS GONE

Lane Henson

Richard Mason

Josh King

Jordan Cliff

STARTERS BACK

Caleb Friedrich

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SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

11/13 @Bethel Christian Aca. 6:30 p.m.

11/17 @Thomas Jefferson 6:30 p.m.

11/20 Crosspoint Christian 6:30 p.m.

11/24 @Liberty Christian Aca. 6:30 p.m.

12/1 Westwood Baptist Aca. 7:30 p.m.

12/5 Liberty Christian Aca. 6:30 p.m.

12/8 Rivers of Life Christian 6:30 p.m.

12/11 Providence Classical 7:30 p.m.

12/15 @Westwood Baptist Aca. 6:30 p.m.

12/18 @Comm. Christian Aca. 8 p.m.

1/5 Delta 6 p.m.

1/8 Bethel Christian Aca. 6:30 p.m.

1/11 @Kelly 6 p.m.

1/15 @Crosspoint Christian 6:30 p.m.

1/19 Comm. Christian Aca. 6:30 p.m.

1/22 The Fulton School 7:30 p.m.

1/26 @Rivers of Life Christian 6:30 p.m.

1/29 Thomas Jefferson 7:30 p.m.

2/2 @Providence Classical 6:30 p.m.

2/5 @The Fulton School 6:30 p.m.

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LAST SEASON

LEADERS

Points: Lane Henson (16 ppg)

Rebounds: Richard Mason (8 rpg)

Assists: Caleb Friedrich (2 apg)

RECORD

16-13