Optimism is high in Independence as the Blue Devils return four starters from last year’s squad that finished 11-13 overall.
The Blue Devils have settled into head coach Marc Holliday’s system and enter the season riding high after a strong summer league performance.
“I am optimistic about our team going into this season,” said Holliday, who is in his third season as head coach. “This will be year three in our system, and I have some tremendous kids who have bought in. We have had a strong summer competing against great competition and are primed for an outstanding season.”
Holliday has been very impressed with the overall work rate of his squad.
“Our best strength as a team is how hard we play,” he said. “When we are all actively engaged from the bench to the five guys on the floor, we are a tough team to deal with.”
The Blue Devils won’t be without their challenges.
“Our main challenge as a team will be to incorporate our freshmen,” Holliday said. “Teaching them to compete as hard as our returning players and to be as comfortable on both ends of the court will be a process.”
Three seniors, a junior, and a sophomore comprise the projected starting lineup.
Sam Crooks, a 6-foot-5 senior guard/forward returns to the starting lineup for the third year. He averaged 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in earning honorable mention All-Ohio and second-team All-Chagrin Valley Conference honors.
He needs just 148 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
“Sam is the unquestioned leader of our team,” Holliday said. “He has been a member of our Leadership Council since his sophomore year. Sam is always willing to do whatever it takes for our team to win. He is the ultimate competitor.”
Senior Rocco Ressler and junior Matty Jirmasek both earned honorable mention All-CVC honors last winter.
Ressler, a 6-foot-4 forward and three-year starter, averaged 6.4 points and 8.5 rebounds last season, and Jirmasek, a 5-foot-9 guard and three-year starter, averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per contest.
“Rocco has a motor that never quits. He is relentless on the glass–one of the area leaders in rebounding last season. This summer he worked hard on improving his range and now has the ability to help stretch the floor for us,” Holliday said. “Matty has started every game of his high school career. This summer he began to embrace a larger leadership role for our team. He is learning to be an extension of me on the court. His activity on the defensive end of the court along with his unselfishness offensively, make Matty a tremendous teammate.”
Senior Noah Terrano is the fourth returning starter and sophomore Anderson Jolliffe will make his first appearance in the starting five.
Terrano is a 6-foot guard who averaged 7.9 points per game and shot 40 percent from behind the arc and Jolliffe is a 5-foot-4 forward.
“Noah has worked hard to be a complete player. His tenacity on the defensive end of the court really helps to set the standard for our team. Noah has always been able to shoot it from deep but now he has an outstanding midrange game to go along with that,” Holliday said. “Anderson cracked the varsity rotation last season as a freshman. He had a tremendous summer expanding his game. He is learning from our four returning starters how to play hard on both ends of the court. Anderson is a tremendous rebounder with soft touch from deep which will help to space the floor for us.”
Two seniors, two juniors, a sophomore, and two freshmen will provide depth.
Marky George, a 5-foot-11 guard, and Braeden Lisowski, a 5-foot-11 forward, are the seniors.
“Marky brings outstanding touch from the outside,” Holliday said. “Braeden is a tremendous teammate who has wholeheartedly embraced our ‘Mudita’ mantra. His ability to shoot the basketball and scrap for everything make him the kind of player you want on your side.”
Liam Rienerth, a 6-foot-3 guard/forward, and Jakob Jurkiewicz, a 5-foot-10 guard/forward, are the juniors.
“Liam is our glue guy who can do a little of everything. He has the ability to create for others as well as shoot it from deep. Defensively, he is an outstanding team defender and rebounder,” Holliday said. “Jakob is an athlete with a lot of upside on both sides of the court.”
David Crooks is a 5-foot-11 sophomore guard, Bobby Jackson is a 6-foot freshman guard, and Max Digeronimo is a 6-foot-2 freshman guard/forward.
“David is one of the hardest workers in our program. What he lacks in size he more than makes up for with grit and determination,” Holliday said. “Bobby is an elite athlete who can do a lot of things on the basketball court. His anticipation skills make him an impact defender. Offensively, he can slash to the basket and shoot it from deep. However, what really makes Bobby special is his ability and willingness to create open looks for teammates. “Max is a hard worker who comes to practice every day ready to learn. He is absorbing a lot from the older, more experienced players on our team. Max brings a soft touch from the outside along with the ability to push the ball in transition.”
Independence will lean on its team mantra Mudita, which is the vicarious joy that comes from celebrating the success of others to achieve its goal of winning a CVC title.
“In order for us to be successful this season, everything starts on the defensive end of the floor,” Holliday said. “If we are getting stops then we can get out in transition and get great looks at the basket.”
