Boys basketball starts Dec. 5

-- Submitted by Yosemite High correspondent

(Updated: Friday, November 27, 2009, 11:15 AM)

The 2009-2010 Yosemite High boys basketball team will begin the season as a young, inexperienced team with only one returning starter from last year's team -- senior Detri Dunn.

The only other player with starting experience is senior Ben Siverly. Three-year letterman Jackson Glines was injured during football season and will undergo surgery in December -- missing the entire basketball season.

Fifth-year coach Mark Siverly will rely heavily on Dunn and son Ben to lead the team.

"Teams will have difficulty guarding Dunn on his drives to the basket," said Coach Siverly. "With his speed, he's also a tough defender. Ben is our outside threat and will take over the point guard position this year."

Also returning from last year are seniors Garrett Yoder and Tyler Wilhite. Both came off the bench last year and will give the Badgers some experience.

Many of the players from last year's North Sequoia League JV championship team have moved up to varsity this year including junior guards Cody Essary and Logan Alberta and sophomore guard Justin McMillen. Also moving to varsity are forwards junior Caleb Cederblom, sophomore Harley Glines, senior Ryan Nelson and center, junior Evan Ewert.

"Essary is the quickest guard on the team and will give the Badgers a defensive presence," said Siverly.

With the inexperience, the Badgers will have to be quick learners, according to the coach. The Badgers start the season on Saturday, Dec. 5, at home against Mariposa. Tip-off for JV is at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. for varsity.

The Badgers will then play in the Kerman Kiwanis Tournament, the Holiday Invitational Tournament at Hoover High School and the Sanger New Years Tournament.

"We will be ready for league when it gets here. The pre-season tournaments are a notch up from what we played last year and will help us to improve every game," said Siverly.

The coach feels the the North Sequoia League is up for grabs, with Kerman and Sierra being the favorites.

The coach said losing starting point guard Jackson Glines to injury and point guards Mike Elsberry and Chris Elsberry to moving puts a little more pressure on the remaining players.

Former Badger and Reedley Junior College player Larry Ramirez returns to Yosemite as the JV coach.

Boys Basketball

• Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 and 7 p.m., Mariposa at Yosemite
• Saturday, Dec. 5, TBA: Porterville Frosh Tourney in Porterville
• Tuesday, Dec. 8 & 9, TBA: Kerman Varsity Tournament in Kerman
• Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., JV Minarets at Yosemite
• Dec. 10-12, TBA: Fresno Christian JV Tourney at Fresno Christian
• Dec. 11-12, 4 and 6:30 p.m., Sanger Frosh Tourney in Sanger
• Friday, Dec. 11, TBA: Kerman Varsity Tournament in Kerman
• Dec. 16-19, TBA: Dinuba JV Tournament in Dinuba
• Friday, Dec. 18 and 19, TBA: Hoover Varsity Tournament at Hoover
• Saturday, Dec. 19, TBA: Yosemite Freshmen Tourney at Yosemite
• Monday, Dec. 21 and 22, TBA: Hoover Varsity Tournament at Hoover
• Dec. 28-30, TBA: Madera South JV Tourney at Madera South
• Jan. 6-9, TBA: Sanger Varsity Tournament in Sanger
• Wednesday, Jan. 13, 5:30 and 7 p.m., McLane at Yosemite
• Thursday, Jan. 14, 5 and 6:30 p.m., Firebaugh at Firebaugh
• Wednesday, Jan. 20, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Sierra at Yosemite
• Friday, Jan. 22, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Liberty at Liberty
• Wednesday, Jan. 27, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Washington Union at Washington
• Friday, Jan. 29, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Chowchilla at Yosemite
• Wednesday, Feb. 3, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Kerman at Yosemite
• Friday, Feb. 5,5 and 6:30 p.m., *Sierra at Sierra
• Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5 and 6:30 p.m, *Liberty at Yosemite
• Friday, Feb. 12, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Washington Union at Yosemite
• Wednesday, Feb. 17, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Chowchilla at Chowchilla
• Friday, Feb. 19, 5 and 6:30 p.m., *Kerman at Kerman

* League Game