Sailors plan to pick up the pace

VERMILION — Vermilion was the only boys basketball team in the SBC Bay Division to average fewer than 50 points last season. Sailors coach Kurt Habermehl slowed things down by design, but he's ready to get back to the brand of ball he prefers. "We weren't very fast," Habermehl said. "This year we're probably not as good of shooters, but we're pretty fast. I'd rather play that style and get some baskets in transition. We want to get out and go and get back to where we were a few years ago." Vermilion finished 6-17 overall and 4-6 in the Bay last season. Habermehl, who welcomed a handful of football players after the Sailors recorded their first-ever football playoff win, has no choice but to be patient with a condensed November. "The biggest issue so far is getting the entire team together," he said. "The state didn't do us any favor by moving up football and not moving back basketball. I'm sure basketball is going to look a little rough for the first couple of weeks." The Sailors tip off their season Wednesday night at Western Reserve. The home opener is next Tuesday against St. Paul. Vermilion lost its two top scorers from last season — AJ Gerber (13.4 points per game) and Riley Kearns (11.5) — but has five letterwinners returning. Habermehl is looking for a breakout season from 6-foot-3 junior Brock Meyers, the team's top returning scorer at 5.8 points per game. "He can be one of the better players we've had the last couple of years," Habermehl said. "He has to understand that he's the guy. We need him to be more aggressive on offense." Senior point guard Dominic DiFucci returns after scoring 2 points per game and adding 1.5 assists. "He's very quick, a good defender," Habermehl said. "He does a good job of controlling the ball." Caleb German, a 6-2 senior, is "long and can run the floor." He averaged 2.6 points per game last season. Vermilion can turn to a couple physical frontcourt players in junior Collin Angney (2.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and senior Terrence Anders. "(Angney) led the conference in sacks and got up the next morning and ran cross country. He just goes," Habermehl said. "He's our best defensive player." Mason Cooper, a 6-1 sophomore, who scored 11 points two games last season, could push for a starting role at guard. "He can play," Habermehl said. "He has to mature a little bit, but once he figures it out he'll be good for us." Three other sophomores made the varsity roster, including 6-3 Drake Hooks, Luke Habermehl and Noah Penton. "When you mix them in with our seniors, it's probably the most athletic group we've had in four or five years," Habermehl said. "We can play up and down the floor like we want to." Habermehl said more help is on the way in the freshman and junior high classes. "It's coming. We need to figure it out with this group," he said. "We've been working in five sophomores and a couple juniors." Vermilion's first three SBC Bay games are on the road (Dec. 6 at Willard, Dec. 21 at Edison, Dec. 27 at Margaretta). The Sailors started 4-3 last season before losing 11 straight. "We play six of our first seven games on the road and we don't want another slow start," Habermehl said. Roster No.&emsp;&emsp;Name&emsp;&emsp;Pos.&emsp;&emsp;Ht.&emsp;&emsp;Yr. 2 Dominic DiFucci G 5-9 12 3 Noah Penton G 5-7 10 4 Brock Meyers F 6-3 11 5 Jerimiah Lopez G 6-0 11 11 Collin Angney F 6-2 11 12 Nate Pinkerton G 6-0 12 13 Caleb German F 6-2 12 22 Terrence Anders C 6-3 12 30 Mason Cooper G 6-1 10 32 Luke Habermehl G 5-10 10 33 Adam Gerber G 6-0 11 42 Drake Hooks G 6-3 10